KICKING DEBT #2 - How to Crush Credit Card Debt (While Still Living Your Life)

You're Not Reckless. You're Just Overloaded.

Most people think credit card debt comes from reckless spending.
For firefighters and first responders? It’s usually real life:

• Groceries while raising two kids
• Flights home to visit family during emergencies
• Equipment you bought before the union reimbursed you
• Tools or truck parts for your side hustle
• A holiday you didn't want to skip with your kids

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone.
The average firefighter we work with carries $3,000–$12,000 in credit card debt, often without realizing how fast it piles up.

But here’s the thing:

You can crush credit card debt and still live your life, but only if you stop treating it like background noise.

Let’s break it down.

Why Credit Card Debt Is So Dangerous

Credit cards are like fire - a powerful tool that can become a deadly threat if left unchecked.

Here’s why they’re especially dangerous:

• Interest rates average 19–24%
• Your minimum payment barely touches the principal
• You feel like you're managing, but the balance stays the same
• It’s invisible (digital and painless at first)
• The flexibility tricks you into short-term survival over long-term growth

If you have $6,000 in credit card debt at 20% interest and only make the minimum payment, it could take over 20 years to pay off and cost you $10,000+ in interest.

But Wait, You Still Have a Life to Live

Let’s be real. You can’t just shut everything off.

• Your kids still need new shoes
• You still have to eat
• You can’t cancel your gym, cut groceries to $100/month, and live off rice and beans

We’re not here to make you feel guilty.
We’re here to make you powerful, even with limited bandwidth.

Step-by-Step: How to Crush Credit Card Debt (Without Going Broke or Bitter)

Step 1: Know Exactly What You Owe

You can’t put out a fire you haven’t sized up.

Make a simple table:

This is your fire map. Now we build your attack line.

Step 2: Pick a Strategy You Can Stick With

You don’t need the perfect plan.
You need the one you’ll actually follow - even with kids, night shifts, and side hustles.

Snowball Method:

• Pay off smallest balance first, regardless of interest
• Builds momentum, quick wins
• Ideal if you feel overwhelmed and need motivation

Avalanche Method:

• Pay off highest interest card first
• Saves more in the long run
• Ideal if you're motivated by numbers and saving on interest

Pay minimums on all cards
Throw all extra money at your target card
Repeat until they’re gone.

Step 3: Find Hidden Cash Flow, Without Starving

You don't need to give up your lifestyle.
But you do need to find margin. Here’s how:

Sell unused goods or apparel

Old tools, gym equipment, radios, jackets. If you’re not using it, it’s money.

Use OT or side hustle income with intention

Dedicate a percentage of all bonus income (not all of it):

• 50% → Crush your current debt
• 30% → Emergency fund or investment
• 20% → Family or fun (guilt-free)

Audit your spending

Look at the last 30 days. What didn’t you actually need?

• $300 in fast food? Drop it to $100
• 4 streaming services? Cut it to 1
• Bar nights after shift? Switch to backyard beers

“You don’t have to cut everything. Just cut what doesn’t move your family forward.”

Step 4: Lock It Down, Without Losing Your Mind

You don’t need to cut up your cards.
But you do need to make them harder to use.

• Remove them from Apple Pay
• Put physical cards in a safe, not your wallet
• Freeze spending on any card until it’s paid off
• Avoid "just one last thing" traps at checkout

Step 5: Automate Your Attack Plan

You’ve got a 24-hour schedule, side jobs, family life.
You’re busy.

Make debt payoff automatic so it doesn’t rely on willpower.

• Set automatic payments right after payday
• Move extra debt money into a “war chest” savings account
• Use a visual tracker (on your fridge or phone) to see your progress

Family Budget Tip: Make It a Team Mission

Talk to your partner. Bring in your kids (age-appropriate).
Let them see you leading from the front, not hiding stress behind the bills.

Instead of:

“We’re broke, don’t ask for anything.”

Try:

“We’re attacking a goal so our family can be free. Want to help?”

You’d be surprised how supportive kids can be when they’re included.

A Real Fireground Example

“One of our guys had $12K in credit card debt. Married with 3 kids. We set up a 3-paycheque-month plan and used 70% of all OT for 6 months. He dropped that debt by $9,000 in less than a year and still did Disneyland with his family.”

You don’t have to be extreme. You just have to be intentional.

What Crushing Credit Card Debt Really Gives You

• Less stress at the end of the month
• More room to save, invest, and enjoy life
• The ability to walk away from toxic OT
• Confidence to start building real wealth

Credit card debt isn’t a life sentence.
It’s just a fire that needs a strategy and the discipline to hit it hard.