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THE TBM NEWSLETTER
QUESTION SPOTLIGHT
My debt payoff is on my mind 24/7. What can I do with myself in between paychecks and debt payments to keep motivated?
First, you’re not weird for thinking about debt payoff nonstop. When you’re in it, your brain treats it like a threat and it wants to solve it all day long. But long term progress requires you to build a life while you pay it off, not put your life on pause until it is gone.
Here are some real ways to stay motivated between paychecks and payments without letting money consume you 24 7.
1) Give your brain a container for money thoughts
If you let debt live in your head all day, it will. The goal is to create planned space for it so it stops hijacking the rest of your life.
Try this:
Two weekly money windows: one short check in midweek (10 to 15 minutes) and one deeper one on the weekend (30 minutes).
Outside of those windows, when you catch yourself spiraling, tell yourself: this belongs in my money window and write the thought down.
This is not avoidance. It’s structure. Your brain relaxes when it knows there is a plan.
2) Replace constant motivation with a repeatable system
Motivation is unreliable. A system is boring, and boring is what actually works.
Your system between paychecks can be:
Track spending once a day or every other day, quickly.
Do a no spend decision, not a no spend challenge. One choice at a time.
Keep a running list of small wins you’re stacking.
The goal is consistency, not intensity.
3) Shift your focus from the big number to proof of progress
When you only stare at the total balance, it can feel like nothing is changing.
Instead, track something that moves more often:
Total interest you avoided this month
Number of days you stayed in budget
Total extra payments made this month
Net worth change even if it’s small
A single debt you’re close to knocking out
Progress needs evidence.
4) Create mini milestones that are not money obsessed
If the only reward is being debt free someday, your brain will burn out.
Create milestones like:
Every $500 or $1,000 paid down, you earn a low cost reward
Every full month of on time payments, you earn a reward
Every time you finish a debt, you celebrate that win visibly
Rewards do not have to be expensive. They have to be meaningful.
Examples:
A favorite coffee
A new book
A long bath and a new candle
A walk somewhere beautiful with a podcast you love
A guilt free hour doing something purely for you
5) Use a “do something” list for when anxiety hits
A lot of the obsession comes from nervous energy. Your brain wants action.
Make a list titled: If I feel stressed about debt, I will do one of these
Ideas:
Clean out one drawer and list one item to sell
Meal plan for three dinners
Do a pantry dinner night
Watch a 15 minute budget video or read one article, then stop
Take a walk and listen to something that makes you feel capable
Update your debt tracker and then close it
Write down three wins and one next step
The key is giving your brain an action that helps, but doesn’t turn into hours of obsessing.
6) Build something that makes your life feel bigger than debt
Debt payoff can make your world shrink. We want to expand it again.
Between paychecks, pick one category to invest time in:
Health and movement
A hobby
Learning a new skill
Relationships and community
Rest and mental health
Debt payoff is a season. It should not become your identity.
7) Make your plan feel automatic
The more you can automate, the less you have to mentally manage.
Between paychecks, set up:
Autopay minimums for every debt
A scheduled extra payment on payday
A separate checking account bucket or sinking fund for bills if that helps you feel in control
Then your job becomes simple: follow the plan and live your life.
8) Motivation hack that actually works: track your future freedom
Debt payoff motivation increases when you connect it to what you are getting back.
Write your “freedom list”:
The monthly cash flow you will have when this debt is gone
What you will do with that money
What stress you will release
What options you will gain
Then look at it during your money window, not all day long.
9) If you’re doing this alone, stop doing it alone
Support matters.
Tell someone:
Your spouse or a friend
A community group
A counselor or coach
A trusted accountability buddy
You do not need a whole team. You need one person who makes you feel grounded. Make sure to join my private Facebook group for support!
From Kumiko
WHAT I’M ENJOYING RIGHT NOW
One thing I’ve been really intentional about lately is having things in my life that don’t revolve around money, numbers, or progress charts. Because even on a financial journey, especially a debt payoff journey, you still need moments that feel light, creative, and grounding.
New HiLit Program With Peloton
I started a new HiLit program with Rebecca Kennedy on Monday, and I’m genuinely loving it. It’s challenging in a way that feels empowering, not punishing. The workouts make me feel strong and capable, and honestly, it’s been a really good mental reset for me. Moving my body in a structured but enjoyable way has helped quiet my mind, especially when it wants to spiral.
Relearning Watercolor
I’ve also been spending time with my Emily Lex Studio watercolor workbooks, and they’ve quickly become one of my favorite parts of my day. I’m currently working through the Christmas and Barn workbooks, and they’re such a good reminder to slow down. And the fact that they come with a free online watercolor class makes them even better. It feels like learning and resting at the same time. If you’re curious, this is where you can find them: https://shop.emilylex.com/
Protein Coffee
And lastly, my current daily obsession: protein coffee. I’ve been using the Ascent Vanilla Bean Protein Powder from Costco, and it has officially replaced my usual routine. It’s simple, filling, and feels like a small treat that also supports my health goals.
Here’s how I make it:
1 cup Starbucks Medium Roast Iced Coffee over ice
Blend together vanilla protein powder, a drop of honey, and a dash of cinnamon
Pour it over the iced coffee
It’s so good. Simple, comforting, and something I genuinely look forward to.
I’m sharing these because part of staying motivated on a financial journey isn’t doing more or thinking harder about money. It’s giving yourself permission to enjoy your life in the in between. Let the plan work quietly so you can focus on living.
One Habit You’ll Keep
By this time of the year, most New Year goals are already slipping. That’s why the habits that last are the simple ones.
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Start your mornings with AG1 and get 3 FREE AG1 Travel Packs, 3 FREE AGZ Travel Packs, and FREE Vitamin D3+K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first subscription.
Happening at TBM
NEW THIS MONTH
THE HIDDEN COSTS OF FINANCIAL COMPARISON IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Financial comparison on social media quietly shapes how we spend, save, and feel about our lives. This article explores the emotional, psychological, and financial cost of comparison and how to break free from it.
MONEY ROUTINE | SAVINGS MONEY + BILL TRACKING
In this episode, I am sharing how I save money for my monthly savings challenges and what it looks like using the bill tracker in the front of the Budget By Paycheck Workbook.
Product Spotlight
THE NEW SAVINGS CHALLENGES ARE HERE!
Transform your financial journey with The Budget Mom’s Savings Challenges: Volume Two, your next set of fun, practical savings challenges designed to help you stay motivated all year long.
PDF version emailed to you after purchase
Comes with all materials needed for 12 months of Savings Challenges, including instructions, cash envelope templates, and visual trackers.
Hand-illustrated artwork
Oldies But Goodies
DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE
This month, we are prepping for a brand new year, and new year goals. A few gems to check out:
What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting My Budgeting Journey Today
If I could go back and start my budgeting journey all over again, I wouldn’t aim for perfection, I’d aim for progress. These are the lessons I wish I had known when I was drowning in debt, and just trying to find my way.
The Hidden Price of Convenience That’s Quietly Wrecking Your Budget
Most people don’t go broke from one big decision. It’s the slow, quiet drip of convenience spending that adds up over time. This article uncovers the hidden emotional and financial costs of “making life easier” and how to take back control.
Monthly Freebie
Budget By Paycheck Step Breakdown PDF
This is the full Budget by Paycheck Method, laid out step by step in one place. It’s not meant to be rushed or completed in one sitting. This is something you come back to, work through at your own pace, and use as a guide as your life and finances change.
Until next time,
