How I Paid Off €15,000 in 18 Months Without a Second Job

Reduce recurring bills to free up cash for debt payments without daily willpower.

1. 1
   Audit your subscriptions — Check bank statements for the last three months. List every subscription: streaming services, gym memberships, software. Cancel at least two you barely use.
2. 2
   Negotiate your internet or phone bill — Call your provider and ask for a retention deal. Say you're considering switching. I got my internet bill down from €45 to €30 a month with a 10-minute call.
3. 3
   Switch to a cheaper grocery store — If you shop at premium stores, try a discount chain like Aldi or Lidl for one month. The average household saves €50–€100 monthly without changing what they eat.

Move high-interest debt to a card with a 0% introductory rate to pause interest accrual.

1. 1
   Check your credit score — Use a free service like Credit Karma or your bank's app. You typically need a score above 650 to qualify for good balance transfer offers.
2. 2
   Find a card with a long 0% period — Look for offers with at least 18 months of 0% interest on transfers. Some cards charge a fee (e.g., 3% of the transferred amount), so factor that in.
3. 3
   Apply and transfer — Once approved, initiate the transfer for the full amount of your highest-interest debt. The card issuer will pay off the old debt, and you'll owe them at 0%.
4. 4
   Set up automatic payments — Divide the transferred balance by the number of 0% months. Set up an automatic payment for that amount each month to ensure you pay it off before the rate jumps.
5. 5
   Don't use the new card for purchases — Put it in a drawer. New purchases often accrue interest immediately, which can mess up your plan.

Turn clutter into cash quickly with focused selling sessions.

1. 1
   Pick one room to start — I began with my bedroom. Go through drawers, closets, and shelves. Set aside anything you haven't used in six months: old phones, clothes, books, electronics.
2. 2
   Take photos and list immediately — Use eBay Kleinanzeigen for local sales or Vinted for clothes. Take clear photos in natural light, write honest descriptions, and price items at 30–50% of retail.
3. 3
   Schedule pickups or drop-offs — For local sales, set specific pickup times on Saturday. For shipped items, use DHL Packstation for easy drop-off. Aim to have everything sold or donated by Sunday night.

Use physical cash for discretionary spending to curb impulse buys and stick to a budget.

1. 1
   Set a weekly cash allowance — Decide how much you can spend on non-essentials like dining out, entertainment, and shopping. For me, it was €80 per week.
2. 2
   Withdraw the cash on Monday — Take out the exact amount from an ATM. Put it in separate envelopes or a wallet compartment labeled for each category (e.g., €40 for food, €40 for fun).
3. 3
   Spend only from that cash — When the cash runs out, you stop spending. No cheating with cards. This forces you to prioritise—I skipped three coffees one week to afford a movie.
4. 4
   Track what you buy — Jot down each purchase in a notes app. Review on Sunday to see where your money went. You'll notice patterns, like spending €15 on snacks at work.
5. 5
   Roll over leftovers — If you have cash left at week's end, move it to a separate envelope for debt payments. Even €5 extra helps.
6. 6
   Adjust as needed — After a month, tweak your allowance if it's too tight or loose. The goal is sustainability, not deprivation.