Motivation is defined as -
giving an incentive for action; to cause, or to prompt; Example: “This moved me to sacrifice my career”
When we began the journey and the process to be debt free, we knew that it was going to be a long steep journey. We were prepared for the walk to become debt free (or so we thought). Like first time marathon runners we started fast, we budgeted diligently, cutting back here and there we were furious and intense, we paid the first credit card, then the next. Soon after, my wife’s old Mazda’s engine and transmission quit. She had to travel long distance for work assignments, so we got a car note. It felt like going back to where we began, both our intensity and pace were affected. We wondered if we will ever pay off any of our debt.
I know we are not the only ones who have felt this way, after the signs of coming out of a one hole, then you are pushed back into another. Perhaps, the finances become tight or an emergency wipes out your fund. Becoming debt free is an upstream swim.
Getting out of debt Motivators
Start with a goal
We started out with debt snowball plan and we knocked out all six credit cards to the tune of $15,000.00. This was like a dose of new energy to kick debt off. Although we are far from becoming debt free setting financial goals has been a key success factor.
Review your budget.
We review and adjust out budget at least once every two weeks. This gives us an opportunity to talk about our finances.
Reward yourself.
If you have ever been in debt, you know that getting out can be very draining and a long process. We reward ourselves after hitting set milestones. We take a vacation, and pay for it cash.
Get an accountability partner.
My wife Esther and I are each other’s accountability partners. We hold each other accountable for our decisions and it keeps us focused.
Pray about your finances.
It is still true that “the family that prays together stays together”
Related Topics
- 10 Steps to maintain a debt snowball intensity
- The state of your finances
- Emergency Fund- Debt Free Life Deal Breaker
- Avoiding a financial shipwreck for teens
What are your motivators?
