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! A new feature this year on Queen of Free, during each day in January, I will provide 31 concrete 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 Days 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, I’m revisiting each of these challenges in order to sharpen my money saving and debt slaying skills.
Are you ready? Your mission is as follows:
Day 11: Unsubscribe
Subscriptions creep in places where we least expect them. E-mails appear in our inbox. Magazines come each month right on time. Boxes come to our door with speciality snacks or clothes or razors. We receive catalogs and deal dailies. Our phones ping with notifications. Monthly we pay for video streaming or free shipping or music on demand.
Don’t get me wrong, our lives can benefit from subscriptions. However, when you’re pursuing a debt free life, nothing is sacred. Every expense is on the table. Every influence is scrutinized. And some of us would have a less cluttered life – financially and emotionally – if we had fewer subscriptions.
What should you cut and what should you keep? I’m so glad you asked.
Axe Anything That Stirs Up Discontent
Receive a catalog that causes you to want more? Do those daily coupon offers for restaurants make you want to spend more than you can? Nix them. Now. You know your weaknesses much better than I do, but I am guessing a number of your e-mails and catalogs could go lickety split. If you feel the desire to spend as soon as it arrives, it needs to move along.
Eliminate Anything That is Not Necessary
Sweet friends, I promise it’s not my desire to steal your fun or special joy in life. I know you love your monthly box of clothes or craft supplies or kids toys but if you are paying off debt, you need to press pause on that subscription. I’m not saying that you can’t re-subscribe again someday but if you really reflect on if the subscription is a want or a need I’m am guessing it’s not a need (don’t hate me because I promise I’m saying this for the good of your finances.
Drop Anything that Absorbs too Much Time
Spending the whole day binge watching Friends on Netflix (um, don’t ask how I know Friends is on Netflix)? Then it might be time to eliminate that subscription. Running to and from your phone every time it brrrrings from that group text or app notification? You need to unsubscribe from things that simply waste your time.
It’s canceling time, friends. Get your unsubscribe on during this debt free mission. The only exception to this unsubscribe business I would make is those subscriptions that help you save money and pay off debt (ahem, not that you get my subscription or anything). Get after it, Lords and Ladies. Just hit cancel.
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!
