Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
Welcome to 31 Debt Free Missions! This year on Queen of Free, during each day in January, we will provide 31 concrete debt free missions or challenges for you to take on to #SlayDebt and take charge of your finances this year. Each mission will take you less than an hour (some will only require 15 minutes). Whereas, 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth (which I’m reworking this year and reposting in January, too) focused on some of the philosophical changes you need to make in order to be successful with money, 31 Debt Free Missions are action steps to put into place after you have your thinking straight. Even better, during the month of January, we’re revisiting each of these challenges in order to sharpen our money saving and debt slaying skills.
Are you ready? Your mission is as follows:
Day #28: Find A Group
Friends, it’s been a bit of a difficult week. I’ve been reminded over and over again just how much we need each other in this world. We need cheerleaders to stand by our sides and encourage us. We need people who are brave enough to ask if we’re doing OK. We need individuals who are even more bold and call us out when we’ve stepped out of line. We need community. We need each other.
A friend of mine did a funeral this week for someone who committed suicide. A family, a community, a church were left stunned. As my friend attempted to comfort the grieved, to make sense of the tragedy, he repeated the phrase “You’ve got to run with the pack. You’ve got to be brave enough to tell others when everything’s not OK.” more than once.
He’s right.
To do anything in this life, you need to have a group of like-minded people surrounding you. Our pastor last week talked about just how much your relationships affect everything in your life from your weight to your finances to your personal choices. Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Stop and consider that for a moment.
If you don’t like the idea of becoming like the 5 people you spend the most time with, you need to find a group in your pursuit to pay off debt, a group of people who will encourage, support, and even commiserate with you.
Financial Peace University
We’ve always been fans of Dave Ramsey and love the idea of his Financial Peace University (FPU). It’s a 9 Week course that takes you through some of most essential lessons on learning to manage money well and pay off debt. Plus you gain the benefit of meeting other people who are on the same journey. At $93, it seems a little pricey, but it’s worth it.
Library Classes
Many libraries offer classes on a regular basis to help people manage their money more effectively. I’ve actually spoken at dozens of libraries over the last 7 years. You may find a group of others pursuing freedom there, too. Best of all most of their events are free.
Online Platforms
If you’re not already, I’d highly encourage you to join the other Money Saving Lords and Ladies in the Court of the Queen of Free. On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest we spend plenty of time chatting about the best ways to save money and pay off debt. Even if you don’t have someone to sit down physically across from, you can find a friend or two online to encourage you in your efforts.
Church Small Groups
If you’re part of a faith community, you need to join a small group (some churches call them life groups, community groups, C groups, D groups, discipleship groups). In these groups, you find other people trying to live their lives like Jesus. And you can share your struggles and life aims. We’ve been leading a community group for over 8 years and we would not have been able to pay off a dime without their support.
Run with the pack, friends. Take an hour to begin investigating who you need to spend time with to pay off your debt.
Did you see the previous Debt Free Missions? Knock them all out this month!
- 1. 31 Debt Free Missions: Take the Restaurant Challenge
- 2. 31 Debt Free Missions: Run Your Credit Report
- 3. 31 Debt Free Missions: Set Up a Tax Box
- 4. 31 Debt Free Missions: 5 Memberships to Ditch
- 5. 31 Debt Free Missions: Adjust Your Withholdings
- 6. 31 Debt Free Missions: Quit Using Credit Cards
- 7. 31 Debt Free Missions: Go to the Library
- 8. 31 Debt Free Missions: Eliminate Cable
- 9. 31 Debt Free Missions: Pantry Prep
- 10. 31 Debt Free Missions: 3 Phone Calls to Pay Off Debt
- 11. 31 Debt Free Missions: The Bank Field Trip
- 12. 31 Debt Free Missions: Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
- 13. 31 Debt Free Missions: Hit Unsubscribe
- 14. 31 Debt Free Missions: Stop Money Leaks
- 15. 31 Debt Free Missions: Maintain Your Car
- 16. 31 Debt Free Missions: Save Money on Prescriptions
- 17. 31 Debt Free Missions: Kill the Fees
- 18. 31 Debt Free Missions: Change Car Insurance
- 19. 31 Debt Free Missions: Reorganize the Game Closet
- 20. 31 Debt Free Missions: Build your Budget
- 21. 31 Debt Free Missions: Appliance Maintenance
- 22. 31 Debt Free Missions: Saving Money on Gasoline
- 23. 31 Debt Free Missions: Start 5 Savings Accounts Today
- 24. 31 Debt Free Missions: Sell Something (NOW)
- 25. 31 Debt Free Missions: Organize Receipts
- 26. 31 Debt Free Missions: Switch Phone Service
- 27. 31 Debt Free Missions: Start a Cash System
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
