Let’s have a heart-to-heart. Debt has a way of sitting in the background of your life like that one houseguest who:

• eats your food
  
• leaves their stuff everywhere
  
• and somehow makes you feel guilty for being annoyed 😅
  

And the worst part? Debt doesn’t just cost money. It costs mental space.

It’s the little voice that pops up when you’re trying to enjoy life:

• “Should I really be spending this?”
  
• “What if something happens?”
  
• “Why am I still stuck?”
  
• “I’ll start sorting it out next month…”
  

If that’s you, I want you to know this:

You are not broken. You are not “bad with money.” You are not a lost cause. You’re just carrying a financial load that needs a clear plan and a system.

So welcome to your Debt Detox. No shame. No guilt. No financial flogging.

Just a kind but strategic plan to start getting debt out of your life, so you can get your financial house in order and breathe again.

First: Let’s Call Debt What It Is (Information + Behaviour)

Debt happens for lots of reasons:

• cost of living pressure
  
• unexpected emergencies
  
• relationship breakdowns
  
• reduced income
  
• business cash flow swings
  
• supporting family
  
• poor advice
  
• or just… life doing life
  

But here’s the important bit:

Debt is rarely a maths issue only.
It’s usually a behaviour + system issue too.

And that’s actually good news.

Because behaviour can be adjusted. Systems can be built. And progress can happen even if you don’t have a “perfect month” ever again.

Step 1: Stop the Bleeding (Before We Talk Payoff)

Before you start throwing extra money at debt, you need to stop new debt from sneaking in the side door. Because paying off debt while still creating new debt feels like:

• bailing water out of a sinking boat
  
• with a hole in it
  
• while someone keeps tipping in extra buckets.
  

Here are the top “bleeding points” to fix first:

✅ Freeze the “easy debt”

• Buy Now Pay Later accounts
  
• store cards
  
• extra credit cards you don’t need
  

You don’t have to close everything immediately (unless that’s safest for you).
But you do need to stop adding to it while you’re trying to clear it.

✅ Reduce temptation

If you keep using the same card for spending and debt… your brain can’t separate them. Here’s a simple strategy:

• everyday spending comes from a Spending account

• debt repayments happen automatically from a Bills account

Less decision fatigue = more progress.

✅ Build a small buffer (yes, even with debt)

If you don’t have a Stress Buffer (hello last week’s blog), you’ll keep using debt for emergencies.

Start with $500 – $1,000 in an emergency fund.
Then the debt plan becomes stable.

Step 2: Get the Full Picture (Because Avoidance Is Expensive)

If you’ve been avoiding logging in to all the accounts… I get it.

Debt admin is emotionally annoying. But clarity is power. Do a simple “Debt Snapshot”:

For each debt, write:

• lender
  
• balance
  
• interest rate
  
• minimum repayment
  
• due date
  
• type (credit card, personal loan, car loan, ATO, BNPL etc.)
  

This is not to punish you. This is to create a plan based on reality.

And if you’re thinking, “I’m scared to see it all,” remember this:

The number already exists. Seeing it doesn’t make it worse. It just makes it manageable.

Step 3: Choose Your Payoff Method (Snowball vs Avalanche)

There are two popular strategies and neither one is “better.” The best one is the one you’ll stick to.

Option A: The Snowball Method (Motivation First)

You pay off the smallest debt first (while paying minimums on the rest). Why it works:

• you get quick wins
• your confidence grows
• momentum becomes addictive

This method is amazing for people who feel overwhelmed and need emotional wins.

Option B: The Avalanche Method (Math First)

You pay off the highest interest debt first (while paying minimums on the rest).

Why it works:

• you reduce interest faster
• you pay less overall
• it’s the most cost-efficient

This method is great for people who love optimisation and can stay consistent without needing quick wins.

My professional take?

If you’ve struggled with debt for a while, snowball often wins because it builds belief and behaviour. If you’re already disciplined and just want efficiency, avalanche is gold.

Either way: Pick one method and commit for 90 days before you change direction.

Step 4: The “Extra Repayment” Rule That Changes Everything

Debt paydown needs one consistent thing: A fixed extra repayment amount.

Not “whatever’s left at the end of the month” (because there’s never anything left). A planned amount. Even $20 – $50 extra per week matters. The amount is less important than the consistency.

Where do you find the extra repayment?

• plug money leaks
• money map your spending
• stop convenience spending creep
• renegotiate bills
• direct “found money” (refunds, bonuses) into debt

Your plan doesn’t have to be dramatic.
It just has to be steady.

Step 5: Stop Paying “Stupid Interest” (Yes, I Said It)

Interest is the tax you pay for not having a system. So let’s reduce it where possible.

✅ Call and negotiate (script included)

Yes, you can ask for:

• a lower interest rate
• a better repayment arrangement
• a temporary hardship plan
• fee waivers (sometimes)

Here’s a simple script:

“Hi, I’m reviewing my finances and I want to make sure I can manage this debt properly. I’d like to request a lower interest rate and/or any options available to reduce my repayments while I work through a plan. What can you offer?”

If they say no:
“Thanks. Can you note my request on the account and tell me what conditions would need to be met to review it again?”

(And then you call again in a month. Persistence is a strategy.)

✅ Consolidation (only if it helps behaviour)

Consolidation can help if it:

• reduces interest 
• simplifies repayments
• and you stop creating new debt

But if consolidation becomes “a clean slate to spend again”… it’s not a solution. It’s a delay. The best consolidation is the one paired with a system.

Step 6: The Most Overlooked Debt Strategy: Sinking Funds

This is where people mess up debt paydown without realising it:

They start smashing debt, feel proud, and then… BAM.

Rego. Insurance. School costs. Birthdays. Christmas. Car service.

They go back into debt because predictable expenses weren’t planned for. A debt detox plan must include sinking funds for predictable bills. Even if it’s small:

• $20/week into “Car costs” 
• $15/week into “Christmas”
• $10/week into “School”

This prevents the relapse. And yes debt relapse is a thing. Not because you’re weak, but because your plan didn’t include real life.

 

Step 7: Avoid the “All or Nothing” Trap

Debt paydown is not a personality test. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need a plan you can follow when:

• the kids are sick
• work is chaos
• the car needs repairs
• you’re tired
• it’s raining
• and life is being dramatic

So here’s the “real life rule”: Progress beats perfection. Every time.

If you can’t do extra repayments this week, keep minimums going. If you overspend, reset next week. If you slip up, you don’t quit – you course-correct.

Debt doesn’t get cleared by one big heroic moment. It gets cleared by consistent boring decisions over time. And boring decisions build wealth. That’s the plot twist.

Step 8: What To Do If You’re Seriously Struggling

If you’re at the point where:

• you can’t meet minimum repayments
• you’re using debt for essentials
• you’re behind on bills
• or you’re feeling crushed emotionally

This is not the time for tough love. This is the time for support and options. Practical steps:

• call lenders early (hardship options exist)
• get help setting up a priority payments plan
• stabilise essentials first (housing, food, utilities)
• then tackle the rest

Debt can feel heavy, but you do have options and you deserve guidance through it.

Want a Debt Plan That Actually Fits Your Life?

Join the Membership.

If you’re thinking:

“I know what to do… but I can’t stay consistent.”
or
“I need someone to help me build the system.”
or
“I want to stop feeling ashamed and start feeling in control.”

That’s exactly why the Membership exists.

Inside the Membership, we don’t just talk about debt. We:
✅ Create your personalised debt payoff plan (with your real numbers)
✅ Set up your Money Map so spending stops sabotaging repayments
✅ Build your Stress Buffer so emergencies don’t become new debt
✅ Set up sinking funds so predictable bills don’t derail you
✅ Keep you consistent with support, education, and accountability

You don’t need to “try harder.”
ou need structure, strategy, and someone in your corner.

Join the Membership and let’s detox the debt properly – so your financial house feels stable, calm, and yours again.

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