
In My Minimalist Update I spoke of having paid down $15,000 in debt as one of my biggest minimalist lifestyle accomplishments. Before writing this article I went back to my credit card and bank statements for accurate details to share with you on how I did it and what I did. To my surprise I discovered that I had much more than $15,000 in debt. I had $12,929.63 with Visa, $4,227.08 with Carmax (my car note), and $1,946.71 with American Express, a total of $19,103.42 of money owed at the end of December 2009. I’m still completely shocked while writing this. So what did I do differently? And how in the hell did I do it?
If any of you have seen or read The Secret you may be familiar with the theory of what you focus on becoming your reality more than your deepest desires. My husband just reminded me that in December 2009 I was completely freaked out about how much I owed and my stress levels were on their maximum high. Forgiving myself for having created these circumstances as well as thinking about how wonderful it would feel to be financially independent was the beginning of my emotional journey. It was my debt that turned me to minimalism. It was actually a blessing in disguise.
The first blog that I read was Man Vs. Debt. It was the first insight that I received that freeing myself of debt was actually a possibility. I didn’t want the weight of owing money to rule my life and I knew that I needed to make some serious lifestyle changes as soon as possible.
1. Make Financial Observations
I looked to see where I spent most of my money annually. I am sad to say that most of my money went towards beauty products, clothing, and eating out. I wish more of the money had been spent on my dance training and massages but I’d be lying. That was a very tough thing to admit, but it was the truth. By looking at how I was spending my money I decided to make some changes immediately. I was going to have to stop shopping excessively and also create a new form of beauty which is how Minimalist Beauty was born. I was now letting go of favorite cosmetic brands to begin my DIY beauty methods. I also stopped shopping at my favorite stores and revisited Crossroads and Goodwill if I needed something. In general I stopped constantly shopping all together. Did I want to continue paying the minimum on my credit cards and keep the balance at a stand still, or was I really ready to take some action? Paying the debt down became my top priority!
2. Stop Eating Out!
It is so true that most of our income goes towards food. Even more of that income goes towards restaurants than groceries though. I love eating out! There is nothing more exciting that going to my favorite vegetarian restaurants like Real Food Daily, Vegan Express, Seed, Flore Vegan, M Cafe and so many others in Los Angeles. Always being on the go, I still haven’t been able to prepare all of my food ahead of time. My change here was that I’d pick up a lentil or hummus wrap with plantain chips from Trader Joe’s for around $5 versus my usual $15-$20 meals. I’d keep my water bottle full and skip the drink option all together.
3. Cut Back Miscellaneous Spending
Because I keep record of all my spending from receipts, I’m aware of all purchases that are not tax deductible or food related. Miscellaneous purchases were no longer an option. If someones birthday came around, and I was on my way to a party I opted for beautiful cards from the dollar store or special written notes on lovely stationary that I already owned. I also either brought flowers or a handmade gift from my Etsy store. Other random items that I may have usually picked up in stores like Target or CVS I was no longer interested in purchasing because I was in the process of major decluttering.
4. Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
There is something so intense about the process of decluttering that the idea of buying more stuff is almost repulsive. Once you begin to really see how much stuff that you have and are trying to get rid of most of it, you will no longer be interested in buying for buying sake. You will notice that your priorities with money and things will begin to shift, and more time will soon be focused on what brings you true joy in life. I’m beginning to feel like TV and shopping are numbing drugs that most of society partakes in much of the time. When you are numbing your stresses and hard days of work, you aren’t seeing the beauty in everyday life, counting your blessings, or putting time and energy towards your creativity, joy, and peace.
5. Income, Debt, and Bills
So finally I’m getting to the money part. One of the greatest ways to pay down your credit after you’ve made some serious spending changes is to pay your card with the highest balance multiple times during the month. Pay the minimum first then in a day or two put an extra $100 or more it you can. Once you stop eating out and shopping that extra $100 or more will be there. Being in a dual income relationship took away some of the financial stress. My husband and I agreed that since the debt was mine before we were married I would take complete responsibility to pay it off. Financially I paid for food, my car note which is no longer, my debt which will be paid off in less than two months, my dance classes, and other odds and ends that I may need during the week. Any extra money that I earned from dance or commercial gigs, Etsy sales, etc. always would go towards my debt. Whenever I taught extra dance classes, more than my usual schedule, that also went towards my debt.
I have also had three major windfalls of money that came to me from two different circumstances which went completely towards my debt. One was a Super Bowl commercial that I was in brought back from a previous year the beginning of 2010. That residual income of around $6000 all went to paying off my American Express and knocking of a chunk of my Visa balance in March 2010. My grandfather passed away last spring after a long battle with Alzheimer and other infections along the way. (My eyes are again welling up.) My mother graciously shared some of his insurance money with me last spring, and also a portion of selling his house this spring will me, another total of $6000.
With almost 20,000 in debt in December 2009, I have paid 8,000 of it will my current income and 12,000 of it came from unexpected sources from both joyful and sad occasions.
6. Affirmations and New Thought
One affirmation card that I kept in my wallet is by Louise L. Hay, an amazing metaphysical lecturer and teacher, reads “I am open and receptive to new avenues of income. I now receive my good from expected and unexpected sources. I am an unlimited being, accepting from and unlimited source, in an unlimited way. I am blessed beyond my fondest dreams.” Every time I was at a cash register to pay for anything I would give the cashier my money and read this affirmation while the transaction was being completed. Feeling abundant and paying with confidence and peace no matter what I was purchasing has helped me create a positive relationship with money.
Knowing that I deserve to be happy and at peace is part of my life journey. I am sure that this is only the beginning of it all as I have still so much to learn in life. I am very pleased with my new perspective towards things and how I spend my money. Becoming more minimalist has given me a freedom that I did not have before. I thought that after I paid off my debt I would treat myself to a Betsy Johnson dress. I’d been obsessing over her dresses for the past five years always secretly desiring one. Now with my new perspective, I don’t think that would really be the best treat after all. I still love her designs though.
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)
Nadia says
Congratulations on paying off your debt! I know how hard it can be and how one needs focus and consistency to achieve this goal. I needed to read this article. I will pass this on to other people I know who can benefit from these words so they can remember to not get discouraged.
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Nadia!
It does help to hear other’s stories and I will probably write more on this topic once I’m completely debt free. Just two more months. Please let others know that it really is possible.
Have a beautiful day,
Dawn Michelle
Tamara says
What a great accomplishment! You have proved that with discipline and drive you can achieve what you want. Your dream which has now turned into reality took precedence. I’m ecstatic for you and thanks for sharing your experience.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tamara,
I’m still in awe and so grateful! Thanks so much for the compliment and we really must catch up soon! Enjoy your day 🙂
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
heather says
congratulations!! i have done the same as you and have paid off all my debt over the last couple of months. in fact, on friday i will make my final car payment and then i will be debt free! minimalism and frugality have given me a new lease on life. i’m quitting my dreadful job to pursue what makes me happy! thank you so much for your inspiration and insightful posts on beauty, minimalism and passions. i will be forever grateful!
sincerely,
heather
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you so much Heather and congratulations to you too!
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
Margaret says
Congratulations!!! I love hearing about others becoming debt free! I have also been blessed to be debt free since the end of 2010, now I am working on being a minimalist in all aspects of my life. With determination I can to do just that as well as achieve other goals. Love your Blog!!! Thanks for all of the information you share!!! 🙂
Sandra says
I am so proud of you! Congratulations!
Mom
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you 🙂 It feels so good to finally be completely debt free after so many years of seeing a consistent balance or a rising balance. I now have absolutely no debt! I am so very grateful!!
Happy Me says
I appreciate your getting out of the red into the black. Reading your post has inspired me to restart my financial freedom program. Thank you for helping me kick off a new year of creating space for what matters!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Happy Me,
What a great online name! I’m so glad to inspire you towards financial freedom. That is awesome! It is not as impossible as I thought it initially was. Once you set up a financial plan to meet you goals, let go of all guilt and emotional baggage of believing that there is a set amount of abundance that can come into your life, and begin decluttering, it is nearly impossible not to succeed. Best wishes on you new financial journey of abundance!
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
joan says
I completely resonate with this article! Thank you for sharing and inspiring me to also get rid of my fashion and eating out induced debt. I look forward to reading your blog for inspiration and motivation, so thanks again!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Joan,
I’m so glad that this article inspired you. I’ve learned so much about my old spending habits from going through this experience, and have created some new lasting ideas about how to use my money after paying off that huge chunk of debt. Best wishes on your journey to financial freedom!
Dawn Michelle
Mary Denmat says
I really enjoyed this post. I just graduated from college and thinking of my student loans can be overwhelming at times. But I agree with you about the power of the secret and feeling abundant. I will definitely be keeping your story in mind!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Mary,
So glad you enjoyed the article! You might like this article too. Congratulations on graduation and best wishes!!
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
Jennifer Leipnitz says
I don’t think I’d be taking the advice of Ev Bogue, and certainly not financial advice. He’s all over the internet begging for money to get home right now. Bogue is a snake oil salesman.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jennifer,
I haven’t read his blog for some time now so I’m not sure what may have happened. You never know what is really going on with other people and I wish him well regardless. I removed him from the list. I hope you are enjoying your day!
Best,
Dawn Michelle
sandy says
Hi Dawn, I’m still trying to get caught up on all your posts as I’m relatively new to your blog. So after reading about how you reduced clutter, I linked to this post.
Boy you’ve given me a great system here. Most debt reducing systems lack momentum. But your system of paying down more frequently is one I think will work for me and keep me inspired. I’m starting today.
Thanks so much.
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you Sandy! Debt payment can seem like a major burden, yet when you really understand where it stemmed from and create a new paradigm for what you truly desire, the shift makes it possible to pay off.
Kesha McEachin says
Great Job. I have always like the simple way. Keep up the good work.
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Kesha! Have a beautiful day!
Anonymous says
Hi Dawn, I have just started subscribing to your posts, and I have a lot of catching up to do, but I must congratulate you, I totally agree with everything I have read so far. Looking forward to reading more.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks so much for your comment and I hope you continue to enjoy the site! Best wishes with everything!
Ginger says
I found your writings when I looked up henna and love, love, love your site! Thank you! I am a minimalist wanna be right now working towards this lifestyle! I look forward to reading more and enjoying your knowledge as you go before me in this journey of minimal.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Ginger,
Thanks so much for your comment! Best wishes on your minimalist lifestyle journey!
Davina says
Love this & congratulations! This is the kick in the pants that I need to get my debt under control. Thank you!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Davina,
Thank you! Best wishes as you pay off your debt. It is so empowering!
Julie says
This is so awesome. Thanks for sharing your story.
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you Julie! Thanks so much for your comment and Happy Holidays!
Jenny says
i love you and your site! thank you so much for sharing such helpful insights!
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks so much Jenny! I’m glad it’s been helpful!
Talis says
I have next to no interest in beauty, but stumbled across this article while researching linoleic acid, which somehow brought me here (talk about degrees of separation!). Anyway, stumbling across this article starts a new phase for me – a phase of monetary minimalism. Eating out and miscellaneous spending are my 2 big pitfalls. Thanks for a great article Dawn!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Talis,
Monetary minimalism is a wonderful goal! Once you can pinpoint what your weakness is, then it is much easier to discipline yourself to make changes as you create new financial goals. I wish you the very best of everything!