How I Paid Off $1,250 in 30 Days Without a Side Hustle
Estimated read time: 6 min
TL;DR: I picked one target debt, did a 30-day no-spend weekend, and held a 15-minute weekly money check-in. Result: $1,250 gone.
Before → After
- Before: Juggling 5 payments, random spending, no plan.
- After: One target debt, weekly check-ins, $1,250 paid in 30 days.
- Feeling: Less stress, clear priorities, momentum.
What Changed
I stopped trying to fix everything at once. I picked the smallest balance, scheduled a no-spend weekend, and moved tiny daily wins into a “snowball” payment every Friday.
Exact Steps I Followed
- List all debts (balance, minimum, due date). Pick the smallest as your snowball target.
- Automate all minimums so you never miss them.
- Plan one no-spend weekend + one “low-spend” weekday (bring lunch, skip takeout).
- Do a 15-minute Friday money check-in (move all leftovers to the target debt).
- Repeat for 4 weeks. Celebrate each $100 milestone.
Tools I Used
Download the simple tracker I used to stay on target.
Get the Debt Snowball Tracker →
The Numbers
| Week | Snowball Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $340 | No-spend weekend + pantry cook-down |
| 2 | $290 | Sold a chair + cancelled a subscription |
| 3 | $315 | Groceries under budget by $35 |
| 4 | $305 | Refund hit, added to snowball |
| Total | $1,250 | Target debt: PAID |
Copy This Plan: Pick one target → Schedule a no-spend weekend → Move leftovers every Friday.