Last Updated on February 3, 2024 by Rebecca Lake
Are you exhausted by the struggle to keep up with debt payments when living paycheck to paycheck?
You try to pay what you can towards your debt while covering basic expenses like housing and food. You spend nothing on “fun” and saving money–forget about it.
I’ve been there and maybe you’re there right now. And let’s face it, it’s depressing.
But it’s possible to turn things around, though it can take some patience and hard work. Keep reading to learn how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck and start getting ahead financially.
Key Takeaways
- Living paycheck to paycheck can be stressful if you only have enough money to cover bills and expenses until your next payday.
- Getting out of debt when you live paycheck to paycheck may require you to make some hard decisions about spending and budgeting.
- If your debt is too overwhelming to manage on your own you may want to talk to a credit counselor about possible solutions.
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Table of Contents
What does paycheck to paycheck mean?
Living paycheck to paycheck means that you rely on your paychecks to cover expenses from one week or month to the next. Here’s another way of looking at it.
Living paycheck to paycheck means that as soon as money comes in, it goes out again and you might have little or nothing in savings.
More than 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, thanks in part to a higher cost of living driven by inflation. That number includes quite a few Americans who make six figures a year.
The point? You’re not alone if you find yourself struggling to make it from one payday to the next.
How to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck
When you’re trying to pay down debt on a low income, have high expenses, or your situation is a little of both it’s important to have a plan. Otherwise, you might waste time on debt repayment strategies that don’t work and end up feeling even more frustrated than ever.
The debt-free blueprint I’m about to give you is the one I used to pay off $100,000+ in consumer debt, which included student loans, credit cards, and a car loan. At the time I started my debt payoff plan, I was a struggling single mom trying to survive financially.
I can’t guarantee that these tips will improve your financial situation overnight since there’s no such thing as a magic bullet when it comes to money. But if you’re overwhelmed with how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck, these tips can get you on the right track.
1. Prepare yourself mentally
Having a foolproof plan to pay down debt can only take you so far. If you’re not mentally committed to paying off debt (and breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle), you may not make much progress.
So first, ask yourself how prepared you are to make whatever financial sacrifices may be necessary to get rid of your debt.
If you’re married or have a significant other who’s going on this debt-free journey with you, ask them the same question. Getting on the same page can be crucial since 54% of couples say that debt is a reason for divorce.
And if you’re having some doubts about your ability to stick with your plan, repeating some financial affirmations can help. Creating a money mantra or meditation can make it easier to stay motivated as you pay down debt.
2. Create a debt inventory
One of the biggest hurdles associated with how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck is not having a clue how much you owe. That’s where a debt inventory can help.
A debt inventory is a listing of your debts. To create a debt inventory, you’ll make a list of:
- Each debt account’s name and account number
- Balances owed to each debt
- Interest rate and APR for each debt
- The minimum monthly payment for each debt
- The actual amount you pay monthly for each one
After creating your debt inventory, you’ll have one big number showing the total amount owed. That number can be overwhelming but don’t let it deter you.
It’s good to know how big of a challenge you’re taking as you focus on how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck.
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3. Review your budget
A budget is a plan for spending money each month. On one side, you have the money you earn; on the other is what you spend.
Ideally, you should have money left over in your budget each month. If you spend more than you earn, that could be a reason why you have debt if you’re using credit cards or loans to cover the gap.
There are different ways to make a budget. Some of the most popular budgeting methods include:
- Cash envelope budgeting for beginners
- Digital envelope budgeting
- 50/30/20 rule budgeting
- Dave Ramsey budgeting (using percentages)
The method isn’t as important as sticking to the budget you create.
Planning a budget can help you to do two things:
- Find areas where you’re overspending
- Determine how much you can realistically afford to pay toward debt
Both are crucial for paying down debt when you live paycheck to paycheck. If you need help with getting started, bookmark this budgeting guide for beginners to read next.
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4. Separate wants from needs
If you’re serious about how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck, you’ll need to know the difference between wants vs needs.
- A ‘need’ is something you need to spend money on to maintain a basic standard of living, like housing, utilities, or food.
- A ‘want’ is anything that isn’t necessary for you to have to live, like a new iPhone or designer clothes.
Being able to separate wants from needs is important if you’re trying to pay down debt while living paycheck to paycheck, as you only have so much money to go around. Forgoing some of your ‘wants’ can free up more money in your budget that you could use to pay down debt.
5. Cut expenses as much as possible
Finding money to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck can seem impossible, especially if you have irregular expenses you have to cover from time to time or an emergency that you’re financially unprepared for.
Making some cuts to your budget can give you some breathing room as you work on your debt pay-off plan.
The easiest place to start is with your current expenses.
Some budget categories may be non-negotiable. For example, there may not be much you can do to lower your rent payments or mortgage, short of refinancing your home loan.
But there are other expenses you have control over. There are two ways to create extra money to pay down debt in your budget:
- Cut what you can
- Reduce what you can’t
Again, this is where it helps to know the difference between needs and wants.
When cutting expenses, wants are the first thing to do. That includes things like shopping, dinner out, expensive hobbies and travel.
Now, if you’re living paycheck to paycheck you might not be spending much on those kinds of things anyway. So your next option is to look at what you can reduce.
Some of the things you have some wiggle room with here might include electric and utility bills, cell phone bills, gas and groceries. These are usually needs for most people but it’s possible to save money on them.
Here are some simple ways to cut your basic expenses:
- Switch from a contract cell phone plan to prepaid cell service (this saved me $600+ a year!)
- Use a free app like Upside to find the cheapest gas prices (and drive less if you can)
- Install a programmable thermostat to save on electric
- Plan meals using cheap (but healthy) foods
You can also use a personal finance tool like Rocket Money to find more money to save.
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6. Change your money habits
If you’re committed to paying down debt when living paycheck to paycheck, you’ll need to think about the money habits that are hurting or helping you.
When money is tight, every choice you make about how to spend it matters. And it’s not even big things that can do you in. Sometimes, it’s the smaller things that keep you from getting ahead, like:
- Shopping online when you’re bored
- Signing up for subscriptions and then forgetting about them
- Going grocery shopping without a list
- Paying unnecessary fees to your bank
- Giving in to impulse buys that you didn’t plan
- Failing to plan out meals and paying for takeout instead
Those are simple things but they can add up to a lot of money wasted over time. So thinking about your financial habits and spending patterns can help you pinpoint the things that might be holding you back from getting out of debt.
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7. Choose a debt repayment strategy
There’s more than one way to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck which is a good thing. It means you can pick the plan that works for you.
To keep things simple, let’s compare two options: the debt snowball and the debt avalanche.
The debt snowball method, popularized by Dave Ramsey, advocates paying off debts from the smallest balance to the highest. The debt avalanche has you paying down debt from the highest interest rate to the lowest.
Here’s a simple debt repayment chart so you can see how they stack up side by side.
So what’s better, the debt snowball method vs. the avalanche? It depends.
If you want to clear off a debt or two fast, then the snowball method can do that for you.
On the other hand, if you want to minimize the amount of interest you pay on your debt, then you’ll want to choose the avalanche method all the way.
I used the debt snowball to pay off my credit cards. I had several cards with different balances and the snowball method gave me the mental motivation to keep going.
But you should do whatever works for you. Just like budgeting, the method isn’t as important as coming up with a plan you can commit to and stick with.
Related post: 21 Best Dave Ramsey Tips to Help You Take Control of Your Money
8. Lower the interest rates on your debt
High interest rates can make it harder to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck since less of your payment goes to the principal. And you might see very little progress if you’re only making the minimum payment due because you’re on a tight budget.
Lowering the interest rates on your debts means more of your payment goes to the principal. That can help you make a bigger dent in your debt.
There are different ways to reduce interest rates on debts, including:
- Calling the credit card company and asking for a lower rate
- Taking out a low-interest-rate personal loan to consolidate debts
- Transferring balances to a new credit card with a 0% APR
Credit card companies may be reluctant to cut you a deal on your rate but it’s still worth asking.
If that’s a no-go, you can shop around to compare personal loan rates and explore balance transfer credit card options.
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9. Use cashback apps to save money
Signing up for cashback apps is one way to create extra money in your budget if you’re trying to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck.
Unless you plan to live under a rock, you’ll have to spend some money every month. Food, clothes, gas–that adds up. Cashback apps can pay you back a percentage of what you spend on those things.
If you’re wondering which cashback apps are worth your time, these are my personal favorites.
- Ibotta. The Ibotta app pays you cash when you shop at partner stores, including grocery stores and retailers. This app allows you to link your store loyalty cards for more savings.
- Rakuten. Rakuten lets you can earn cashback when you shop in-store or online at hundreds of merchants. You can download the Chrome browser extension to get exclusive coupon codes to go along with your cashback to save even more. And Rakuten routinely offers bonuses of $30-$40 when you shop and refer friends!
- Dosh. The Dosh app is an easy way to earn cashback on dining, entertainment and even travel. You link a debit or credit card to the app, spend at partner stores and restaurants and get up to 10% back.
Every one of these apps is free to sign up for and use to earn cashback. Getting all three apps can make it easier to earn cashback on everything you buy each month.
Related post: 12 Best Money Saving Apps to Download Now If You’re Tired of Being Broke
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10. Start an emergency fund
Having some money in savings tucked away for emergencies can keep you from adding to your debt while you’re trying to pay it down.
You can tap into your emergency fund to cover any unexpected expenses that might come your way, without having to turn to a credit card or get an expensive loan.
If you’re starting from $0 with your emergency fund, you could aim to save $100, then $500, then $1,000. Having $1,000 in savings might be enough to cover most smaller emergencies until you’re able to save more each month.
And once you get into the habit of saving, it becomes a lot easier to keep it up.
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11. Pay down debt with found money
If you’re looking for a free money hack that can help you pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck, here you go: use found money.
Found money is any extra money that comes your way that you don’t budget for. Examples of found money include:
- Tax refunds
- Rebates
- Cash gifts you receive for birthdays or holidays
- Pay raises or bonuses
- Unused gift cards that you sell for cash
Found money is great for making an extra payment to debt for the month or adding something to savings. And if you need a place to sell your gift cards for cash, consider EJ Gift Cards. They pay top dollar for unused gift cards!
12. Make extra money to pay down debt
Starting a side hustle can make a huge difference when it comes to how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck. Even making an extra $1000 a month from side jobs could help you to shave years off your debt repayment plan.
There are lots of ways to make extra money on the side. Here are some of the best ways to make money with side hustles to pay down debt.
- Pet-sitting or dog-walking
- Becoming a virtual assistant
- Delivering food for DoorDash
- Shopping for Instacart
- Getting paid to write
- Starting a blog
- Online proofreading or transcription jobs
- Running errands or doing yardwork
- Teaching on Outschool
- Selling things you don’t need
- Selling handmade crafts or printables on Etsy
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do I budget my paycheck to pay off debt?
Budgeting paychecks to pay off debt starts with knowing how much income you have and what fixed expenses you need to pay first. Once you’ve paid your most important bills, you can look at the remaining income in your budget to decide how much money to apply to each debt you have.
Can you negotiate debt to pay less than you owe?
It’s possible to negotiate debts to pay less than what you owe, but there are some pros and cons. You’ll typically need to be several months behind on payments for a creditor to consider negotiating debt, which can hurt your credit score. And asking a creditor to negotiate doesn’t guarantee they’ll accept your offer or that they won’t try to sue you for the full balance.
How can I pay off debt and still live?
The key to how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck is to have a watertight budget. Keeping close track of your expenses and income can help you balance meeting basic needs with repaying debts. You can add some “fun” to your lifestyle without straining your budget by looking for free things to do in your area.
Final thoughts: The secret to how to pay down debt when living paycheck to paycheck is patience
Getting out of debt on a tight budget can feel impossible but it doesn’t have to be. These tips can help you create a game plan for paying off debt for good so that you have more money to save. Just remember that it can take time to see results.
And if you’re truly struggling with paying down debt, consider asking for help. You can visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to find a certified nonprofit credit counselor in your area.
Need more tips for managing your money? Read these posts next:
- 42 Cheapest Foods to Buy on a Tight Budget (Eat Well When You’re Broke!)
- How to Do a No Spend Challenge (3 Pro Tips to Help You Save Money)
- How to Save $10,000 in a Year [Simple Tips That Really Work!]
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