When I say I paid off $1,300 in 30 days, people usually ask two things:

“What side hustle did you do?”
None. Not a single Uber ride or Etsy sale.

“Did you get a raise?”
Nope. My paycheck didn’t change.

I just decided to stop waiting for “more money” and start using what I already had—smarter.

🧾 Step 1: Know the Exact Number

When I finally opened my credit card app and stared at the balance, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. But it still stung: $1,318.46

I set a goal: Pay it off in 30 days. Even if I didn’t hit it perfectly, I’d be better off than I started.

🍽 Step 2: I Cut These 3 Everyday Expenses

• Eating out (even fast food)
• Subscription bundles I forgot to cancel (looking at you, Showtime + Starz)
• Grocery impulse buys (pre-chopped fruit, overpriced snacks)

I used Rocket Money to cancel and track it all in one app. Game changer.

💡 Step 3: The Mini Snowball Method

I paid the smallest balance first. Not because it was “better math,” but because it gave me a win fast—and that win gave me the motivation to keep going.

🛠 Step 4: I Used These Tools

• 📱 Rocket Money to track and cancel subscriptions
• 🏦 Chime for automatic transfers to pay off credit
• 📊 Notion Budget Tracker to stay visually motivated

📈 The Results

By the end of the month, I had paid off $1,300.40. I didn’t hit the exact number—but I was so close it felt like winning.

More importantly, I proved something to myself: I don’t need a side hustle. I need a system.

🔁 Final Thoughts

You don’t need perfect math or a massive income. You need a plan—and a little belief that your next 30 days can look a whole lot different from your last 30.