Picture this: A mom of two is standing in the kitchen, one kid hollering about Paw Patrol, the other turning a banana into modern art on the fridge. She’s got $17.36 in the checking account, a $486 car payment due tomorrow, a school fundraiser breathing down her neck, and a stack of unopened envelopes from a credit card company trying to act like they’re her friend. She’s not lazy. She’s not bad with money. She’s just stuck. Really stuck.
And before anyone starts preaching about budgeting lattes or selling everything she owns on Facebook Marketplace, let’s take a breath. This isn’t about shame or sacrifice. This is about getting real, being honest with yourself, and figuring out how the heck to get out of the money pit — even when life’s tossing Legos at your face.
What Does A Debt-Free Mom Look Like?
You’ve probably imagined her: She’s sipping homemade cold brew in a sunlit kitchen, debt-free since 2016, trades at-home haircuts with her neighbors, and says things like “I just feel so light now.” Yeah, cool. Good for her. But that’s not the goal here.
A real debt-free mom? She’s not posting spreadsheets on Instagram. She’s doing school drop-off in pajama pants. She still forgets library books and burns dinner twice a week. But her bank account isn’t running on fumes. She sleeps better. She doesn’t duck phone calls. She gets to say yes to karate lessons — and she’s not terrified of money anymore.
Debt-Free Doesn’t Mean Money-Rich
Let’s clear that up right now. Being debt-free isn’t about having a yacht fund. It’s about not owing your future to a bunch of interest-charging strangers. It’s about knowing where your money goes, and finally feeling like you’re in the driver’s seat (even if the backseat’s covered in Goldfish crackers).
Forget Budgeting — Start Tracking
Look, we’ve all tried the color-coded budget where every dollar gets a job. You assign $37.12 to groceries and pretend you’re gonna stick to it. Spoiler: you won’t. Kids get sick. Tires go flat. You forget about the birthday party with the suggested $15 gift card. Life doesn’t follow a budget. Why should yours?
But here’s what does work: tracking your spending. For real. Just write down what you actually spend for one month — no judgment, no edits. Use an app, a spreadsheet, the back of your electric bill, whatever. Just track it. You can’t change what you don’t see. And unless you’re running some secret underground bingo empire, you’ve probably got more leaks in your monthly spending than you think.
Reality Is A Good Starting Point
Once you know where it’s going, you can start making tweaks that actually work. Maybe daycare costs you more than rent. Maybe DoorDash is eating your soul and your bank account. Whatever it is, at least you’re finally looking it in the face instead of hiding from it.
Ready For The Next Step? Let’s Talk Strategy
1. Pick One Debt To Tackle First (And Get Bossy About It)
Start with the smallest one if you need a fast win. Or the highest interest rate if your math teacher still haunts you in dreams. Doesn’t matter. Pick one, make it your mission, and go full bulldog. Minimum payments on the rest — but that one? Extra every month, even if it’s $5. Victory builds momentum.
2. Use The Tools That Make Life Easier
Ever heard of the Acorns app? It rounds up your purchases and squirrels away the spare change into savings. It’s so low-effort it almost feels illegal. Perfect for emergency funds that don’t get “borrowed” for pizza night.
Want to keep eyeballs on your credit score? Check out Credit Karma. PayPal has some sneaky-useful features too, especially if you sell online or need wriggle room between deposits.
3. Be Honest About What You Can’t Afford To Pay
If you’re staring down five maxed-out cards and a medical bill that looks like it came from a luxury island resort, it might be time to look at the Big Options. Credit counseling? Eh. Some folks swear by it. But the reality? The failure rates are high, and you could end up paying way more in the long run.
Don’t panic — just learn your rights. Settlement, forgiveness, even bankruptcy might be better than struggling forever in the shallows. Most people who file bankruptcy are in better financial shape within a couple years than those who keep treading water out of pride. Pride doesn’t pay your electric bill. Sorry, Aunt Linda.
People Also Ask:
Do I Have To Cut Up My Credit Cards To Get Out Of Debt?
No. But if they’re tricking you into spending more than you earn, maybe take a break. Hide them in a sock drawer. Freeze them in a block of ice. Just stop the bleeding until you’ve got a handle on things.
Do You Have a Question You'd Like Help With? Contact Debt Coach Damon Day. Click here to reach Damon.
How Can I Save Money As A Mom When Everything Is So Expensive?
You don’t need to coupon yourself into madness. Start by tracking spending, cut out the stuff that doesn’t bring joy (looking at you, unused Prime memberships), and automate saving with tools like Acorns. Tiny changes > big promises you can’t stick to.
Can You Be Debt-Free With Kids?
Absolutely. Won’t be easy. Won’t be fast. But it’s possible. Thousands have done it by building a plan around reality, not Pinterest perfection. You’re raising humans — give yourself some credit.
What Success Really Looks Like (Spoiler: It’s Not Glamorous)
There was this mom in Arkansas who checked her credit report for the first time in years and nearly fainted. She had collections she didn’t even recognize, her score was in the low 500s, and her car payment took up half her paycheck. But instead of giving up, she made a list — not a cutesy list, a panic-fueled, crumpled-envelope kind of list — and called each account one by one. She used tax refund season to settle a couple. Picked up a side hustle cleaning offices at night. Got one card paid off in four months. Tracked spending on the Notes app. Fast forward 18 months, she’s got $900 in emergency savings (thanks Acorns), no credit card debt, and her score’s up 110 points.
She’s not rich. But she’s free.
You Don’t Have To Have It All Together — Just Take The Next Step
Debt can feel like wearing wet jeans all the time. Scratchy. Heavy. Just straight-up exhausting. But it’s not permanent. You’ve got options. You’ve got tools. And you’ve got people — people like us — who actually give a rip whether you make it or not.
If you’re overwhelmed, start small. Track one week of spending. Pull your free credit report (use all three bureaus, don’t be shy). Write down your debts, even if you need a glass of wine to do it. Breathe. Then ask yourself two questions: What’s costing me the most right now? What’s one thing I can do this week to move forward?
And hey, if you want more honest help (no fluff, no guilt, and definitely no culty budgeting gurus), subscribe to the newsletter or catch the Get Out of Debt Guy podcast. We’re in this together — wet jeans and all.
