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Having debt can be overwhelming. Sometimes it may feel like a never ending abyss of bills upon bills. Working hard, earning money, yet at the end of the month there’s nothing left in your bank account. Did you know that 4 in 10 people live paycheck to paycheck? I was in the same position where I thought I could never get out of debt. My husband and I had $127,229 worth of debt, ridiculous, I know. We got serious about wanting to get debt free since September of 2018. We tried to find the best debt payoff strategy and came across the debt snowball method. You will find out if this method has worked for us or not.
What is the debt snowball method?
It’s a very simple and easy debt payoff method which targets the loans with smallest balances first while keeping up with minimum payments for all other debt besides the mortgage payment.
Over time, as each debt gets eliminated, your monthly payment applied towards the next debt item grows larger and larger.
Your “rollover” money essentially becomes a “snowball” as it grows into a larger payment being applied to your debt items.
How does the snowball method work?
The debt snowball method was so easy for us to implement into our debt repayment strategy. It didn’t require any special calculations or special programs. All you really need is a pen/paper/or computer.
Step 1
List ALL DEBT (excluding mortgage). Debt with the smallest balance should be listed on the top.
Once Debt #1 has been paid off, take the minimum amount for Debt #1 and apply it to the minimum amount for Debt #2.
After Debt #2 has been paid, take the *New minimum amount for Debt #2 and apply it to the minimum amount for Debt #3, and continue until you reach your DEBT FREE GOAL.
The debt snowball method worked extremely well for our debt payoff progress. We went from having $127,229 worth of debt down to $37,250. We’ve paid $89,979 worth of debt so far since September 2018.
September 2018
8 Credit Cards
1 Car Loan
2 Medical Loans
2 Student Loans
1 Personal Loan + 1 Personal Loan From Family
Credit Score Upper 600’s-Low 700’s
$127,229 TotalDebt
June 2020
1 Student Loan
1 Personal Loan From Family
Credit Score Mid 800’s
$37,250 Total Debt Remaining
The snowball method helped pay off debt very fast. We paid down more than $50,000 within the first 10 months all thanks to implementing the debt snowball method. It was awesome going from 15 debt items to 2 now.
Try your own debt snowball method with the free printable below!
Does the debt snowball method really work?
Yes, it does! It’s definitely worked for our situation. We went from having 15 debt items down to the last two remaining.
It felt as if we were able to pay off debt very fast with the snowball method. We were able to pay off more than $50,000 in 10 months with savings, extra money earned, and also findingmoney saved in our budget.
The snowball method is also a very motivational way to help pay off debt. As we started seeing the small debts get knocked out, it definitely encouraged us to keep going.
There’s nothing better than to work at something and see results fast.
The snowball method definitely was so easy to apply while getting the results we needed to keep us motivated.
Give it a try with the free printable above. Let us know if this method has helped you to start knocking out debt.
We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details.
In our society, we often may think that having debt is absolutely normal. We may also think having mortgages or even student loans way into our elder years is normal because our parents may have lived that way. That is not the way to live. More and more people are waking up to the fact that having debt actually is a huge downfall. Usually, when people take on debt whether it is student loans, car loans, credit cards, even a mortgage, there isinterest applied. This makes paying off loans take years or even decades to pay back. Especially by applying only minimum amounts may cause us to pay hundreds, thousands, or hundreds of thousands to banks in interest fees over time. This debt free story of Ben and Julia shows us that it’s time to get serious and take back control of money.
I had a great opportunity to interview Ben and Julia. They decided to get serious about paying off their student loans because they wanted financial freedom. Their debt free journey took them 2 years and 4 months to pay off $20,000 worth of student loan debt. Most amazingly, they paid off $15,000 of the $20,000 in only 4 months. The debt free story of Ben and Julia can show us what it takes to get serious about debt and take control over money.
Debt Free Story of Ben and Julia
Ben, 24 years old, Mortgage Servicing Industry
Julia, 22 years old, College graduate
Total Debt: $20,000
Total Time: 2 years and 4 months ($5,000 paid off in 2 years and $15,000 paid off in 4 months)
1 | When did you first decide to start your debt free journey?
My wife and I started out in 2018 with a total debt of 20k. We payed off a little extra each month using the Dave Ramsey Snowball Method but we weren’t taking it seriously. This past January we still had 15k in debt and we were tired of it. We wanted freedom from student loans.
2 | What was your debt consisted of?
The initial 20k was 18k students loans and 2k medical debt from an ER trip.
3 | What was your income range throughout the debt free journey?
Our income went from 25k in 2018 to 40k in 2019 to a projected 50k for this year. I switched jobs half way through 2019 and my wife started working part time at a local school.
4 | Are there any specific things you did to help pay down debt?
We followed the Dave Ramsey’s baby steps. We took advantage of the tools provided by Financial Peace University, mainly the Every Dollar app.
We had no credit cards and kept a tight budget. In addition to an aggressive snowball, we saved money on things like going out to eat less.
We sweated the small things like switching between Netflix and Disney + every few months instead of paying for both at the same time.
Another really important factor in keeping the budget was having a set “fun money” for each of us. It was a set about of guilt free money we could spend on whatever we wanted each month.
Having a budget feels very restrictive but having a set amount of fun money is more freeing than not having a budget in the first place.
5 | How did you pay off $15,000 in 4 months?
We payed a total of 15k in 4 months when we were taking it seriously. So with the initial 20k, it took us 2 years to pay down 5k and 4 months to pay rest (15k).
We tookFPU (Financial Peace University) this January and had 15k and change left in student loan debt. I work full time and my wife was in her final semester of college. She also works part time at the school to help supplement our income.
Prior to Covid we paid off about 6k with some savings and our tax return and that left us with a little over 9k left. Then this pandemic hit full swing and we went into “pause and pile cash” mode. We got this idea because Dave typically advises people expecting kids or other major expenses to do just that. We thought both of our jobs would be at risk but we’ve been fortunate so far.
We did the math and realized we had enough to pay it off. We felt confident in our job stability now and thought it was time. Making a 9k payment was nerve wracking but it feels great now.
5| How did you stay motivated throughout your debt free journey?
Staying motivated was tough. My wife and I created a “debt chain” made out of construction paper. Each link represented $100 or out debt. I hung it up in our bedroom so we would see it everyday. We’d cut some off every time we made a payment and it felt great. We also made a debt thermometer. It kind of looked like a fundraiser prop but it was another way to visualize our journey to being debt free.
6 | Has your life changed dramatically before and after the process?
We’re saving more money and our emergency fund is set. Julia and I hope to have kids in the next few years and we are saving up for that as well. Since Covid started, we’ve had opportunities to help local charities and people we know with financial needs. I mention that because it’s an incredibly exciting and fulfilling experience.
7 | Was there anything you wish you did differently during the debt free journey?
I wish we started earlier. Life is so much better when you have a financial plan.
8 | How does it feel to be debt free or close to?
Life feels great. We don’t have to worry about financial emergencies. Some things like small car repairs can be absorbed into our budget. Larger emergencies can be covered by our emergency fund.
9 | Would you like to offer any words of encouragement to other readers?
Don’t give up! Have a plan for every dollar and you won’t wonder where your paycheck went. Saving money now prevents disaster later. Be a blessing to others!
Thank you both for sharing your debt free journey with us. This debt free story of Ben and Julia shows us how important it is to create a financial plan and budget to reach our financial goals.
They got serious about the debt paying process in the last 4 months of their journey and paid off $15,000 of their final debt. They learned to save money where they could, budgeted properly, and still managed to set money aside for their “fun money”.
Their debt free story shows us that paying off debt doesn’t have to be a miserable process. You can still have fun in life but now you can properly plan for it and be responsible about it. They are young and now have their whole lives ahead of them DEBT FREE, how AMAZING!
Ready to start your own debt free journey? Today’s the day to make that change in your life. Start with this free gift – Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp to begin knocking out debt ASAP.
We live in a society where we’re taught that education is everything. Unfortunately, in most instances we have to pay for our education. The worst part is, even if we graduate or not, our student loans haunt us for years to come. With interest rates applied on thousands of dollars worth of student loans, even making minimal payments can often get you no where. That’s what Paul didn’t want. His debt free story is about the steps he took to make sure he got rid of his $50,000 in student loans.
I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to speak with Paul (alias name-requested to remain anonymous). He is in the military, 29 years old from Allentown, PA and wanted to share his debt free story. After college he wound up with $50,000 worth ofstudent loan debt. He decided that he will not carry it for the rest of his life. He enlisted in the military after college which helped propel his debt payoff since he didn’t have residency expenses. The military provided free board in the barracks. Without huge living expenses, he was able to knock out all $50,000 within 4 years making $24,000-$36,000. Truly amazing! Learn more about Paul’s debt free story of how he got himself out of $50,000 worth of student loans next!
1 | When did you first decide to start your debt free journey?
I pretty much decided after college. There never was aI’ll just live with these for the rest of my life, that never crossed my mind.
2 | Was there a specific event or situation that led you to decide to start getting rid of all your debt?
Nothing major I just wanted to get rid of the debt as soon as possible. The debt just felt like an annoying nag.
3 | What was your debt consisted of? How long did it take to pay off?
My debt consisted of about $50,000 in student loan debt. It took me four years.
4 | What was your income range throughout the debt free journey?
So to make a long story short, becoming an officer in the military, didn’t work out so I enlisted instead.
My first duty station was taxed free and I was an Private First Class (E3.) No car was allowed over there so didn’t have to worry about that.
Next duty station (it was taxed) I eventually got promoted to specialist (E4).
Third duty station got promoted to sergeant (E5). Mind you this whole time throughout my career so far at this point I’ve been living in the barracks (meaning I had no extra money that the military gives you to live off base.)
This was from 2014 to 2018.
My income varied throughout those years. Started with making about 2k a month at my first duty station, then got about 300 more when I got promoted.
At my second duty station I also got about 300 extra a month due to there being no dining facility for the lower enlisted.
Third duty station when I got promoted I made about 3k.
5 | Are there any specific things you did to help pay down debt?
Before I started, I researched the best way to pay off my loans.
I decided to go with the avalanche method (paying them off by highest interest loan first).
I looked at it as tipping the band-aid off first. Once I paid off the most expensive one first I thought, “Okay, the ones after this will become easier to pay off after this.”
Also, in the army we have this thing called charge of quarters. Basically a sergeant and a soldier have to watch the barracks for 24 hours. I would take other people’s shifts on Saturdays who didn’t want to work and got paid $100 for it.
Any extra amount of money would go straight to my loans. It didn’t even matter if it was only twenty for driving someone.
During my second duty station I researched credit cards and felt I was ready and financially mature enough to handle one. All the cash back I got went to student loans of course. It was very important that I made a budgetand stuck to it.
6 | In regards to budgeting, were there any particular tools or programs that helped you out?
I tried different apps, but what worked for me was just writing it out and revising via paper or by using a note app on my phone. That’s what I’ve been the most consistent on and obviously it worked for me.
7 | How did you stay motivated throughout your debt free journey?
At one point my going out money was too low for me and I reminded myself that it’s okay to enjoy life. So I allowed myself to add just a bit more to that and not make myself feel guilty. I know I was still going to be on track to pay off my loans in less than five years.
There were times especially in the beginning when I would feel annoyed by how much student debt I had, just constantly logging in to look at the debt, and constantly do the math over and over.
I would read successful student loan pay off stories for motivation.
Mind you, at my second duty station that’s when I really started to take saving for retirement seriously as well. My motivation was really the freedom that it would bring me and the options as well.
Before, certain things I would not allow myself to buy. At my third duty station I got myself a junker to drive. The window was cracked, it made horrible noise, but it was about $1,000 and it got me around.
After, well funny story, but after I paid off my student loan debt, I actually to reward myself got a car loan, but it was $8,000 and I paid it off in like ten months. $8,000 is nothing compared to $50,000. And being debt free from student loans has made it nice to actually pick out a car that I wanted, the cheapest thing!
Currently at my fourth duty station and got promoted to staff sergeant. I’m at a point now where I can easily max out my traditional savings plan (military version of the 401k) and my Roth IRA, and live by myself.
I started saving for my next future car, a vacation fund and a splurge fund as well. I started taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu too. Not a cheap martial art, but worth it to invest in myself physically.
It hit me the other day like wow I have TWO TVs. I still have my simple flat screen 32 inch TV from college, but it was so nice to treat myself and get a 55 inch for my living room. The next goal financially is to get in rental properties and save up for a dog.
All these opportunities that I mentioned have become available to me since I paid off my student loans. It took sacrifice, but so so so worth it.
8 | Was there anything you wish you did differently during the debt free journey?
It felt great when it was over! Now I almost forget about the days about paying off my loans. I can’t imagine having to deal with an annoying $300 bill each month.
But now I’m so used to being debt free and my focus has really been to continue to max out my TSP and Roth IRA.
9 | Would you like to offer any words of encouragement to other readers?
In the words of Dory, “Just keep swimming.”
Thank you Paul for your service and for sharing your debt free story with us. Paul was able to save a significant amount of money by living in the barracks. He also did side jobs on base for any extra money he could get to throw at the debt. After paying off $50,000 in 4 years, he is now free from debt, what an awesome situation. At 29 years old, his future is looking so bright! Anyone can follow in Paul’s footsteps, anyone can pursue their own debt free story. All it takes is perseverance and never giving up!
Ready to start your own debt free journey? Today’s the day to make that change in your life. Start with this free gift – Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp to begin knocking out debt ASAP.
Inspirational quotes has the ability to give us much needed motivation or encouragement when we are going through tough times. No matter what circumstance you’re in, or what mountain lies ahead of you, never give up. Find strength through 15 of these best inspirational quotes that’ll get you motivated and encourage you!
1 | IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT’S DONE
2 | WINNERS ARE NOT THOSE WHO NEVER FAIL BUT THOSE WHO NEVER QUIT
3 | A WINNER IS A DREAMER WHO NEVER GIVES UP
4 | TODAY IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE TOMORROW YOU WANT
5 | SUCCESS DOESN’T COME FROM WHAT YOU DO OCCASIONALLY
6 | NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE WORD ITSELF SAYS ‘I’M POSSIBLE
7 | DO SOMETHING TODAY THAT YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL THANK YOU FOR
8 | WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU CAN’T YOU ARE RIGHT
9 | A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH
10 | THE ONLY PERSON YOU ARE DESTINED TO BECOME IS THE PERSON YOU DECIDE TO BE
11 | WHEN YOU THINK OF QUITTING REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED
12 | DON’T BE PUSHED BY YOUR PROBLEMS BE LED BY YOUR DREAMS
13 | YOU’RE BRAVER THAN YOU BELIEVE, STRONGER THAN YOU SEEM, AND SMARTER THAN YOU THINK
14 | DIFFICULT ROADS OFTEN LEAD TO BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS
15 | THE SECRET TO GETTING AHEAD IS GETTING STARTED
No matter what journey lies ahead or what you may be going through, find some strength to push through with these awesome inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement.
These quotes encourage me to keep going on paying off my $116,000 worth of debt. So far my husband and I have paid off $77,750, we have $38,250 more to go. Find out how We paid off $50,000 in 10 months.
We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details.
Being in debt can be overwhelming. Especially when all your hard earned money flies right out your hands as soon as you get paid. It’s bad enough that you may be swamped in bills, interest rates tacks on even more money to your bills. Sometimes there just seems to be no end in sight. That’s why it’s time to get serious about your money and take control. Start your own debt free journey like Kaleb has with $110,000 of debt.
I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to interview Kaleb Schumann from The Future Millionaire Teacher. He had roughly $110,000 worth of debt which will take him right under 4 years (47 months) to pay off next month (June)! Kaleb is an inspiring High School Band Director from Fort Worth, TX. Wanting to lead by example he started a YouTube channel to track his debt free journey for many high school and college aged students. It’s definitely kept him motivated throughout the debt free journey especially when his students ask him about financial advice and money matters. Find out more details about how Kaleb got himself out of $110,000 debt next.
Photo from Kaleb Schumann from The Future Millionaire Teacher. He is a High School Band Director from Fort Worth, TX. He has paid off $110,000 in just under 4 years (47 months).
When did you first decide to start your debt free journey?
I started my journey in September 2016, after graduate school. I had read theTotal Money Makeover a few months before, after some classmates recommended it. I didn’t have a salary at the time, and couldn’t wait until I graduated and started making money so I could start.
What was your income range throughout the debt free journey?
$60,000 – $72,5000
Are there any specific things you did to help pay down debt?
I worked a summer activity called Drum Corps International. It’s basically a summer marching band for kids. I was on the admin team for a group. They travel the country over the summer. I was able to see the country for free, had all my meals paid for, and made a few thousand bucks on top of all that. It minimized my expenses to almost zero over the summer in addition to providing extra money. Those summers *really* accelerated things.
Do you recommend any particular debt repayment plan?
Surprisingly, my sole source of information that shaped my opinion was Dave Ramsey. I’m the type of person that goes all-in and becomes an absolutist. There are multiple ways to tackle debt, but it helped me to stay singularly focused with Dave’s plan, philosophy, podcasts, videos, etc.
Do you like the Snowball or Avalanche method?
I was a big debt snowball person.. Except when it came to the loan from the Bank of Mom and Dad. The Chief Loan Officer (aka Dad) agreed to provide the loan interest free and let me put the $5k loan in “forbearance” until my other interest bearing loans were paid.
What about budgeting, are there any particular tools or programs that helped you out?
I used the EveryDollar App, and I tried to compartmentalize all the items in my head as much as I could.. For example, there was a huge difference between my internet bill and my Spotify bill.. Both were drafted monthly, but the Spotify bill always went under “Optional Subscriptions”, giving myself permission to cut it if necessary.
How did you stay motivated throughout your debt free journey?
Paying off debt became my singular goal. Every decision I made, I made it through the lens of paying off my debt. From big decisions like not going on vacations with my friends, to little decisions like not being afraid to bring left-overs with my co-workers when they went out to lunch.
Has your life changed dramatically before and after the process?
I now consider myself a minimalist. Last summer, I moved from Houston to Fort Worth. I sold everything I could: mattress, dining room table, dressers, TV’s, game consoles… With the extra cash, I was able to buy “matching adult furniture” and still have extra to put on my loans. I was able to monetize every material possession that I didn’t need.
I feel like I have much more control over my finances. I’m no longer overwhelmed thinking about all the bills, or if I can buy that new shirt I want. Since I have complete control, I can make informed decisions about picking up extra work or not, eating at a restaurant or not, etc.
Was there anything you wish you did differently during the debt free journey?
One of my side hustles was teaching English lessons online. It was the easiest money I’ve ever made. From the comfort of my couch, I have Skype conversations with English learners from across the world. I wish I would have started that way sooner. The money I made from teaching lessons was able to pay for my own Spanish lessons and still have a few extra bucks each month to throw at debt.
How does it feel to be debt free or close to?
I’ve been free from consumer/interest bearing debt for a few months. I only owe my parents a few thousand dollars that I’ll be able to finish off in June. It’s a moment I’ve been dreaming of for over four years. I can’t wait to take a vacation and do more than just go to the beach. I can’t wait to donate to my favorite podcasts and give to NPR. I can’t wait to sponsor students to their summer camps or church fundraisers. I can’t wait to buy my friend’s lunch to say thanks. I can’t wait to buy the next round of drinks at convention. I can’t wait to invest. I can’t wait to enjoy my money.
Would you like to offer any words of encouragement to other readers?
This is a mental game. It boils down to two parts.
First – Build the habit of tracking purchases, sticking to the budget, saying no… Figure out how to build those keystone habits that will affect every financial decision that you make.
Second – Focus on one area of your budget at a time: Income/Expense/Surplus. Some months I would focus on increasing my income by selling things, teaching extra lessons, etc. Other months I would figure out how to cut my utility bill, or save on groceries. And some months I would re-prioritize the leftover money… Although, mostly the surplus money just went to the smallest debt remaining. I found that I was most effective when I was only focusing on one area at a time. It was too overwhelming to try and make more, work extra hours, sell this, limit that, cut here, cancel that all at the same time.
Thank you Kaleb for sharing your debt payoff journey. Kaleb had $110,000 worth of debt straight out of Graduate School. That must’ve been very overwhelming to confront and take control of that enormous amount of debt. Kaleb became inspired after reading Total Money Makeover and also staying focused on Dave Ramsey’s teachings. He literally crushed all $110,000 worth of debt in right under 4 years by next month, what an amazing story.
Let Kaleb’s story inspire you to realize that paying off debt can be done. No matter how difficult or impossible it may seem. It’s all about taking small steps and in Kaleb’s case-just focus on one thing at a time. Being debt free is the ultimate goal. It provides financial freedom, taking control of your money, and just being able to enjoy your own money.
Ready to start your own debt free journey? Today’s the day to make that change in your life. Start with this free gift – Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp to begin knocking out debt ASAP.
We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details.
Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean you’ll never get to eat some of your fav crispy foods. Sure, we all know that eating fried food isn’t the best for us but there’s just something about the sound of eating crispy food that makes it so much more appealing.
Surprisingly, you don’t ever have to deep fry anything ever again and still get that crispy goodness.
If you’ve never tried an air fryer, you’ve got to try one, it’ll change your life in the best way possible!
I was skeptical when it came to air fryers at first and had to go through a couple to find just the right one. Once I came across the right one, it changed the whole meal game for me.
I love the air fryer because it allows you to get the crispiness of some of your favorite foods, cuts cooking time by a ton (I can literally throw frozen wings in my Cosori Air Fryer and it cooks in 30 minutes), and it also has so many different features like baking, roasting, etc.
One thing to keep in mind when buying your air fryer is that you need a large one because you need to space out your food items for it to cook evenly.
For instance, if I were cooking wings, I can literally load up my Cosori Air Fryer and cook it at once. When I had a smaller Ninja Air Fryer, I had to cook it batches at a time which took a long time to get the meal ready.
If you’re looking for a great Air Fryer, I recommend the Cosori one because I’ve had mine for years already and it’s been just awesome!
If you already have an air fryer or are just curious to see what kind of recipes are out there, below are 30 of the best air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner.
If you need more keto or low-carb dinner recipes that doesn’t involve the air fryer, check out my other post:
Have delicious pork chops for dinner made from the air fryer. Get this recipe at All Day I Dream About Food. All you need to make this is boneless pork chops, butter, salt + pepper, andsage.
Have a Fajita night with this recipe from Cook The Story. Swap out the tortillas and have it with a side of salad or cauliflower rice. All you need for this recipe is chicken breasts, bell peppers, onion, olive oil, chili powder, salt + pepper, cumin, and cayenne.
Don’t want to eat meat for dinner? Try this vegetable kabob recipe instead from Recipes From A Pantry. For this recipe, you need skewers, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, ground cumin, onion, and salt.
14 | Air Fryer Salmon Cakes
Try these healthy salmon cakes from Berry Maple. All you need for this recipe is salmon, eggs, salt, garlic powder, and lemon.
Like what you see so far? Share the love by pinning below! Find 15 more delicious air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner on the next page!
Get your veggie serving and low carb meal with this recipe from Maebells. All you need is zucchini, chicken, cream cheese, ranch, shredded cheddar, buffalo sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
Interested in steak night? Try this awesome steak recipe from Sandras Easy Cooking. All you need to make this is ribeye, butter, parsley, chives, thyme, Kosher salt, and black pepper.
Get your healthy dose of Omega 3’s with this salmon recipe from Noble Pig. All you need to make this is salmon filets, avocado oil or olive oil, paprika, salt + pepper, and lemon.
Now you’ve discovered some of the best air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner. Who would’ve thought the air fryer can still make it possible to eat all your favorite fried foods? Let us know which of these recipes you’re looking forward to trying by sharing a comment below!
We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details.
Smoothies are just plain awesome! They’re great for on-the-go meals or just for times when you don’t feel like cooking up a big meal only to clean tons of dishes after. Not only do they taste delicious, they’re often loaded with vitamins and minerals depending on what you put in there. Some store bought smoothies can be loaded with fattening and heavy ingredients which may hinder any weight loss journey you may be on. Smoothies can be good for weight loss and fat burning depending on the recipe.
Smoothies can give you daily serving of vegetables and fruits while helping you lose weight. It will be best to add smoothies to your daily regimen along with a well balanced diet and exercise to really achieve weight loss. Smoothies can curb your appetite by adding protein powders to keep you full longer. Some natural ingredients may even help you burn fat easier and kick start your metabolism.
Smoothies are so simple to make too! Before you get started, make sure you have the right Blender for max efficiency. If you end up making a large batch of the smoothie, store it in cups and place them in the freezer. The night before, I will defrost the frozen smoothie in the refrigerator and it will be ready to go the next morning. Plus I love using frozen fruit and vegetables because there’s no cooking involved, it’s perfect for rushed mornings. These 45 healthy weight loss smoothie recipes will give you plenty of ideas that will last you a while, enjoy!
This smoothie is a metabolism booster and fat burner according to Simple Green Smoothies. All you need to make this is spinach, mint leaves, celery, green tea, grapefruit, pineapple, and avocado.
This smoothie is sure to give your metabolism a kick-start. It’s packed with lots of nutrients proven to help with weight loss according to Sunkissed Kitchen. All you need is green tea, coconut milk, spinach, banana, grapefruit, pineapple, ice, and whey protein.
3 | Skinny Almond Butter Banana Smoothie
Swap out your heavy deserts with this healthy and savory smoothie from Simple Green Moms. It’s easy to make and all you need to make this is frozen bananas, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, almond butter, and chia seeds.
This smoothie is packed with antioxidants from the blueberries and other nutrients like fiber, folate, and vitamin C from the added spinach according to Suburban Simplicity. This smoothie is sure to give your metabolism a boost. All you need to make this is protein powder, unsweetened almond milk, ice, blueberries, spinach leaves, banana, and ground flaxseed or chia seeds.
5 | Protein-Packed Keto Breakfast Smoothie for Weight Loss
This healthy weight loss smoothie recipe is packed with protein, antioxidants, vitamins, essential minerals, and healthy omega-3’s according to keto pots. Instead of eating a heavy breakfast, try this smoothie instead. All you need to make this smoothie is berries, flaxseed meal, ice, almond milk, cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract, and liquid Stevia.
Try this minty and delicious smoothie without all the excess calories but packed with nutrients instead. Get the recipe at Simple Green Smoothies. All you need for this recipe is unsweetened almond milk, spinach, mint leaves, banana, avocado, dates, and cacao powder.
This refreshing smoothie is delightfully sweet and packed with antioxidants, fiber and protein as stated on Nutrition Twins. All you need to make this is almond milk, bananas, berries, and protein powder.
8 | Fat Burning Strawberry and Mango Smoothie
Get this fat burning smoothie at Hello Glow. This smoothie has fat burning ingredients like Cayenne and Cinnamon as stated on their site. All you need to make this refreshing smoothie is coconut water, strawberries, mango, ginger root, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.
9 | Fat Burning Chocolate Smoothie
If you love chocolate, then this recipe is perfect for you. It’s packed with protein and has the sweetness from bananas which will help your sweet tooth. Primally Inspired has this fat burning smoothie recipe. All you need to make this is coconut milk, banana, leafy greens, and protein powder.
10 | Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie for Weight Loss
This smoothie recipe from Appetite For Energy is full of healthy fats and veggies as stated on their site. It also can help with weight loss and burning fat. All you need is avocado, kale, cucumber, ginger root, coconut water, water, ice, chia seeds, MCT oil, and liquid stevia.
This smoothie is packed with protein and fruit which will help keep you full longer, find the recipe at Inside BruCrew Life. All you need to make this is cherries, banana, greek yogurt, fat free milk, and protein powder.
14 | Flat Belly Blueberry Basil Smoothie
This smoothie is loaded with bloat fighting nutrients, get the recipe at Eating Bird Food. To make this smoothie, you need blueberries, banana, almond milk, basil, greek yogurt, lemon juice, ground flaxseed, and almond butter.
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Dinner is by far the best and most delicious but heavy meals of the day. There’s so much variety for dinner options it’s unlimited on what you can do. Sometimes dinner meals can be very heavy but why make it worse by loading it up with carb filled meals? Choose easy keto low carb recipes to make dinner somewhat better for you. So, what’s dinner without pasta, rice, or potatoes? There’s plenty of delicious keto-friendly and low carb options for dinner. Matter of fact, there’s a list of 20 scrumptious easy keto low carb recipes to choose from. What’s even better is that all these recipes are super easy to make and not complicated at all with less than 8 ingredients. Enjoy!
By the way, if you ever get stuck on what to make for the week then check out $5 Meal Plan. They send you weekly meal plan recipes, ingredients list, and a nutritional breakdown so that it helps you save time and money when it comes to meal planning. Plus they’re offering a free 14 day trial right now, after the trial it’s $5 a month. It’s good for people who don’t like to spend so much time trying to come up with new things to make.
1 | Keto Low Carb Tacos
Have a taco night without the carb filled tacos! Find out how to make keto friendly shells that’s made with cheese. All you need is cheese, protein choice, taco seasoning, and tomatoes and chiles. Find this recipe at Plain Chicken.
How does sweet and savory shrimp sound for dinner? All you need is shrimp, garlic, ginger, honey, and soy sauce. Find the recipe at The Cooking Jar.
Note: Honey in the recipe from The Cooking Jar may throw off your low carb goal but I’ve come across Pyure which is an organic and vegan honey alternative with 4g of NET carbs. Substitute the honey with Pyure and pair the dish with cauliflower rice to make it more low carb friendly.
In the mood for some healthy soup? All you need on hand is chicken broth, ginger, mushrooms, spinach, and onions. Find the recipe at Kalyns Kitchen.
4 | Sesame Crusted Salmon
Recipe and photo from The Cooking Jar
Get your healthy dose of Omega 3’s by eating salmon. For this dish all you need is salmon,poppy seeds,toasted sesame seeds, minced garlic, minced onion, and sea salt. Get the recipe at The Cooking Jar.
How does delicious chicken with rosemary sound? All you need is chicken, butter, chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and of course the rosemary. Get the recipe at Lets Dish Recipes.
6 | Chicken Tikka Masala
This super simple meal will cook up in no time plus it’s keto-friendly. All you need is chicken, olive oil, masala sauce, and cauliflower rice. Find the recipe at Organically Addison.
Make this savory dish for your family tonight. All you need is flat iron steak, coconut oil, green onions, coconut aminos, ginger, and garlic. Get the recipe at Noshtastic.
Want an easy and healthy alternative to eating pasta? Try spruced up spaghetti squash. All you need to make this is bacon, garlic, spaghetti squash, walnuts, and goat cheese. Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.
12 | Easy Keto Chicken and Zucchini Noodles Alfredo
Try another Italian inspired dish minus the pasta. All you need to make this dish is butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, chicken, and zucchini. Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.
Get your nutrients in with this simple and delicious dish. All you need is salmon, mayo, pesto, Parmesan cheese, spinach, and olive oil. Get the recipe at Diet Doctor.
15 | Instant Pot Beef and Peppers
Make whipping up dinner a breeze by making this beef and peppers dish with an Instant Pot. This dish cooks up in 12 minutes with the Instant Pot! All you need to make this dish is bone broth, ground beef, red bell peppers, Seasoning, and a white onion. Get the recipe at 40 Aprons.
16 | Keto Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers with Cauliflower
Do you love Philly cheese steaks but don’t want to eat tons of carbs? Try this healthier version that will get you vegetable servings at the same time. All you need is steak, cauliflower, green bell peppers, Provolone cheese, onions, olive oil, and salt. Get the recipe at Food Faith Fitness.
In the mood for some soup? Try this creamy chicken taco soup if you have chicken broth, chicken, Ro-Tel, taco seasoning, cream cheese, and shredded cheese on hand. Get the recipe at This Moms Menu.
Swap out the heavy pasta with eggplant giving it a nutritional boost. All you need to make this dish is eggplant, sausage, olive oil, salt, marinara sauce, and cheeses. Get the recipe at KetoLogic.
Want something nice and hearty? Make this spicy pork stew in an Instant Pot. All you need is an onion, garlic, rotel, thyme, seasoning, pork, heavy whipping cream, and spinach. Find the recipe at Two Sleevers.
Cut the carbs from your dinner meals by cooking up these delicious keto-friendly low carb recipes. Let me know which one of these easy keto low carb recipes was your favorite. Now that you have some ideas for dinner how about Breakfast? Find some more meal ideas below.
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Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Eating something in the morning will get you ready for the day ahead. What’s even better is having something delicious for breakfast. It’s always best to switch up recipes so you don’t get sick of eating the same thing over and over. Hopefully these 10 easy breakfast ideas will help you do just that. What makes these recipes easy is that it requires only 5 ingredients and under, so it’s super simple and easy to make. Enjoy!
If you ever get stuck on what to make for the week then check out $5 Meal Plan. They send you weekly meal plan recipes, ingredients list, and a nutritional breakdown so that it helps you save time and money when it comes to meal planning. Plus they’re offering a free 14 day trial right now, after the trial it’s $5 a month. It’s good for people who don’t like to spend so much time trying to come up with new things to make.
These On-the-go Breakfast Muffins from The Cooking Jarhave eggs, cheddar cheese, spinach leaves, bacon bits, and paprika. Doesn’t it look delicious? It’s great for a grab-n-go breakfast.
Breakfast Energy Smoothie from Deliciously Sprinkled is perfect for those days when you’re strapped for time and need a quick pick me up in the morning. Whip this smoothie up if you have some OJ, yogurt, vanilla, and frozen berries around.
These Strawberry Breakfast Pastries from Just A Taste is perfect for when you want a something a little sweet in the mornings. All you need to make this is some puff pastry, cream cheese, strawberry jam, strawberries, and egg.
This Breakfast Quinoa Oatmeal from Feel Good Foodieis super easy to make plus it’s so healthy for you. All you need is your favorite fruit, quinoa, almond milk, maple syrup, and salt.
5 | Sausage Breakfast Bombs
Sausage Breakfast Bombs from Thirsty Handmade Days is awesome for grab-n-go breakfast plus all you need are 3 ingredients which are breakfast sausage, crescent rolls, and cheese. Super simple!
This Breakfast Coffee Banana Smoothie from Homemade Hooplahwill give you the pick me up you need in the morning plus a nutritional boost from the bananas. All you need to make this are bananas, sugar, yogurt, milk, and coffee.
This breakfast yogurt parfait from The Spicy Apron is a healthy way to start off your mornings. All you need are yogurt, granola, and choice of fruit!
9 | Chia Seed Blueberry Kiwi Probiotic Breakfast
This Chia Seed Blueberry Kiwi Probiotic Breakfast from Skinny Over 40 will give you a nutritional boost to start the day. All you need is chia seeds, yogurt, blueberries, and kiwi.
Make the easiest crepes from The Stay at Home Chef. These will be a delicious way to start your morning. You can always add your favorite fruits, syrups, cream, or butter to crepes to give it an extra bit of pizzazz. All you need to make these are milk, eggs, salt, flour, and butter.
There you have it! Try one these easy and delicious breakfast ideas the next time you run out of things to make. Please let me know which one was your favorite!
Don’t forget to share the love by pinning below! Thanks for stopping by!
We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details.
It’s been 19 months into our debt free journey and we are in still in limbo right now due to this COVID-19 mess. As of April, we have paid off $77,339 worth of debt which is still amazing in itself. Our debt pay off progress remains the same since last month.
When we first started our debt free journey, we had $116,000 worth of debt. We’ve decided to hold off this month on paying anything towards our last two debts: Student Loan & Personal Loan from family.
September of 2018 we had all this debt:
8 Credit Cards
1 Car Loan
2 Medical Loans
2 Student Loans
1 Personal Loan and 1 Personal Loan from family
Total $116,000
April 2020 we have:
1 Student Loan
1 Personal Loan from family
Total $38,661
In 19 months, we’ve come a long way by paying off $77,339 worth of debt so far. With the right strategies in place, getting closer to becoming debt free is actually not as difficult as I’d thought. Find out the 5 tips we used to help knock out the first $50,000 in 10 months below.
If you also want to be on your way to achieve a debt free life, you must create a plan that will help reach your goal. The most important aspect of getting your finances in order is creating a monthly budget. It helps to outline where you’re spending your money or if there are any areas in your life you need to save for.
1 | Create a monthly budget
Creating a budget will help you take control of your finances and draw out your map to financial success. I use the Zero Based Budget which has been extremely successful in helping us manage our money. If you want to use an app that tracks your spending automatically then use Personal Capital which is also a free app.
The reason we decided to stop paying down our debt this month is because of COVID-19. This whole situation has hit everyone hard and it’s affecting the economy. These are uncertain times right now, companies are laying people off or even cutting people’s pay. We’ve agreed that it was best to hold off throwing every cent we could come up with at debt until things settle down.
It’s probably best right now to save whatever money you may have coming your way instead of spending it unnecessarily. If you are also paying off debt, it may be best to be conservative with your spending right now.
3 | Look For Savings
RX
A Pharmacist from Walgreens told me about GoodRX. Look up any medication on GoodRX, find a coupon, print it, and bring it in to a pharmacy to get a discount.
A normal medication which was costing over $90 was about $13 with the printed coupon, it’s amazing.
Car Insurance
Our car insurance company automatically refunded back a few dollars most likely due to COVID-19. Did you get any refund check? If not, it doesn’t hurt to call them up and explain your situation if you’re car has not been driven for months now.
School Loan Forbearance
Take advantage of the school loan forbearance being offered due to COVID-19. Most Federal school loans will be in forbearance until the end of September, and they will also not apply any interest.
Amazon Discount
Those that have Amazon Prime knows how fast the Prime delivery usually is. Now with COVID-19, the shipping times have significantly decreased. You can speak with customer service and they may give you some form of credit if you have a legitimate issue. It may be a few bucks, but hey it’s something.
4 | Save on Food Costs
Prior to starting our debt free journey, we used to go to restaurants all weekend and barely cooked much at home. Once we started budgeting, we realized we were spending almost $800-$1,000 a month on food. That included groceries, take out food, and restaurants. You’d be surprised when you track all your transactions and find out how much you’re actually spending.
Ever since we started being mindful of how much we were spending on food, we’ve been trying to find savings in the food category of our budget. 90% of the time we are eating more at home which helps us save tremendously from spending money at restaurants. Plus eating at home is probably a whole lot healthier than buying processed food from fast food places.
If you need some ideas on recipes to cook, check these out:
I have to admit that I’m not an avid coupon collector or anything, it’s just too time consuming. To make things easier I use Ibotta where I can upload my receipt to get cash back on food, pretty simple to use.
Sign up for free at Ibotta and use the code YDIGCFJ to get your $20 welcome bonus
We have been making more of an effort to cook at home. If ordering delivery on occasion, using Rakuten is good for getting cash back on food delivery services like GrubHub or Postmates.
Sign up today with Rakuten to get $10 in a welcome bonusand be on your way to start earning cash back for online purchases. Don’t miss out on FREE MONEY!
With COVID-19 lingering around, it’s probably best to try to make extra side money safely.
Put money into a high yield savings account to earn money passively
Sell your clothes/furniture/toys/electronics on Ebay, Mercari, Letgo, or Nextdoor
Take online surveys for money Get your $10 sign up bonus today with Swagbucks
Be a freelancer on Fiverr and sell your skills including being a graphic designer, virtual assistant, photo editing, writing/editing/proofreading content, marketing, programming, SEO optimization, programming, transcription, other social media services
Make money losing weight on HealthyWageand other apps like Dietbet and Stickk. People make hundreds to thousands of dollars by challenging themselves to lose weight which creates a financial incentive.
Check out other ways to make extra money every month
Before you buy anything from a $5 to $1,000 item, ask yourself if you really need it. We stopped spending money frivolously just by purchasing things we actually really need rather than want.
7 | Travel For Free
Now that most states are lifting their stay-at-home order, you may be itching to travel or take a trip somewhere. If you must travel, do so cautiously. On the financial aspect of traveling, did you know that you can get free flights, cruises, and excursions?
While we started our debt free journey, we use credit card points to pay for our trips. Learn how below. Ever since COVID-19 hit, we are taking precautions and not deciding to travel for the time being.
So far, we have accumulated over 500,000 credit card points which is an equivalent to around $5,000. We used those points to pay for our Carnival Cruise, Flight for Las Vegas, and so much more. Also, when we search for flights we use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights possible. If you’d like to learn about how we accumulate credit card points to cover our trips (before COVID-19), check out the posts below.
Not much has changed since last month. Since we are holding off on paying any debt towards our last two loans, our progress remains the same. So far, we now have a total debt remaining balance of $38,661. We paid off $77,339 so far in 19 months out of $116,000 total debt.
I’m hoping the COVID-19 situation goes away soon so life can go back to normal. There is no interest accumulating for our last two debt items so it’s okay if we take our time to pay those back. COVID-19 is a slight hiccup on our debt free journey but I’ve always looked at this process as a marathon, not a sprint.
Are you ready to start your own debt free journey? Get started by grabbing this free Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp to pay off $500 worth of debt in your first month.
