How I Paid Off $7,300 Without Crying (Much)

**Meet John: Tech-Savvy, Tired, and Totally Over It**

John was 33, working full‑time in IT support at a mid‑sized company in Charlotte. He made decent money, enjoyed gaming after hours, and had a weakness for Uber Eats and spontaneous Amazon buys (who among us?).

He wasn’t reckless — he was just… tired.

Tired of trying to “adult” while also living in a world where groceries cost as much as rent used to.

But then one day, he looked at his credit card statement and saw the number: **$7,314.56.**

*“I think I blacked out for a full minute,”* he said.
*“It wasn’t even from anything cool — just takeout, forgotten subscriptions, and a one‑time splurge on an ergonomic chair I don’t even sit in.”*

—

**The Cry‑But‑Not‑Really Plan**

So how did John pay it off in under a year? Without selling a kidney? Here’s the story (and blueprint):

### 📉 Step 1: He Faced the Spreadsheet

*“I created a budget. Gross.”*
He used [EveryDollar](https://everydollar.com) at first, then switched to [YNAB](https://youneedabudget.com) once he got serious. Seeing every dollar had a psychological effect: he started questioning impulse buys before they happened.

### 🍜 Step 2: He Found His Signature Struggle Meal

Not proud, but honest: ramen with a boiled egg and frozen spinach became a staple. He rotated in Trader Joe’s frozen meals when morale was low. *“I told myself it was temporary,”* he said. *“And I didn’t starve.”*

### 📦 Step 3: The Side Hustle That Didn’t Suck

John started offering remote tech setups for seniors. *“Just basic stuff like helping people connect their printer or sync their iPhone with their email,”* he said. He pulled in $300–$400/month working a few weekend hours.

### 📵 Step 4: The Digital Detox That Saved $1,200

He canceled Netflix, Spotify, and five random app subscriptions he forgot he had. *“Suddenly, I had $100/month back and more time to be bored — which helps with creativity and saving money.”*

### 💸 Step 5: Snowball vs Avalanche

He chose the **debt snowball** method. *“Psychological wins worked better for me than math. I needed momentum.”*

### 🪄 Step 6: He Automated Everything

Once he had a plan, he set up automatic transfers to his credit cards each payday. *“I tricked my brain into thinking I made less money.”*

—

**Did He Cry? Once. Maybe Twice.**

*“The first month sucked. But after I saw the balance drop under $6K, I got addicted.”*

Ten months later, the balance hit $0. He celebrated by doing absolutely nothing. *“I thought I’d throw a party, but honestly, the peace and quiet was the best reward.”*

—

### 🧠 TL;DR: How to Pay Off $7,300 Without Crying (Much)

– Create a dead‑honest budget (use YNAB or EveryDollar)
– Cut the fluff (subscriptions, takeout, luxury toilet paper)
– Start a side hustle you don’t hate
– Use the debt snowball method for momentum
– Automate so you can’t sabotage yourself

**You don’t have to suffer in silence. You just have to start.**

Beelinger staffs

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