💸 How I Budgeted My Way Out of Debt in 6 Months (Even on a Low Income)

 Struggling with debt? I get it—I’ve been there. Not long ago, I was juggling overdue bills, maxed-out credit cards, and zero savings. I thought budgeting was only for people who already had money.

But everything changed when I started using a simple system to control my spending. And in just 6 months, I went from drowning in debt to feeling financially free—even though I was earning less than $300/month at the time.

In this post, I’ll show you exactly how I did it, step by step.

📉 My Debt Situation (The Reality Check)

  • I owed about $1,500 in total (credit card + mobile loans)

  • No savings

  • Monthly income: approx. $250–$300 from small jobs

  • No financial education or fancy tools

If this sounds like you—don’t worry. You can fix it.

🔑 Step 1: I Tracked Every Shilling

The first thing I did was write down every single expense for 30 days. From airtime to snacks, I tracked everything using a free printable budget sheet.

📥 Download my free Budget Tracker here (insert your lead magnet link)

Why it works:

  • You see where your money is actually going

  • You realize small leaks—like KES 50 snacks—can drain your wallet

💰 Step 2: I Created a Bare-Bones Budget

I followed the 50/30/20 rule, adjusted for low income:

  • 70% Needs (rent, food, transport)

  • 20% Debt repayment

  • 10% Emergency fund

I used a free app called https://goodbudget.com/home to organize categories.

🛑 Step 3: I Cut Out All Non-Essentials

Here’s what I stopped spending on:

  • Takeaway food

  • Mobile loans & lending apps

  • Unused subscriptions

  • Weekend hangouts

Instead, I cooked at home, used free Wi-Fi, and created free entertainment (YouTube, books, walks).

📈 Step 4: I Started a Simple Side Hustle

I made about KES 1,000–2,000/month selling digital designs (like printables) on Payhip and freelancing online.

💳 Step 5: I Paid Off My Smallest Debt First

I used the Debt Snowball Method:

  1. Paid off my smallest loan fast (KES 200)

  2. Used that freed-up money to tackle the next one

  3. Celebrated every little win—it kept me going!

💡 BONUS: How I Stayed Motivated

  • I printed my goals and stuck them on the wall

  • I tracked every payment and celebrated milestones

  • I watched budgeting YouTube channels like The Budget Mom

✅ Final Results (After 6 Months)

✔ All my debts paid
✔ Emergency savings of KES 5,000
✔ Side hustle income grew to KES 3,000/month
✔ I stopped feeling scared of money

🎁 FREE GIFT FOR YOU:

👉 https://www.canva.com/design/DAGtRfYqRvc/toi4ghR4deKgvR8OwGPcLA/edit?utm_content=DAGtRfYqRvc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton(PDF Canva link)

🧠 Key Takeaway:

"It’s not about how much you make. It’s about how you manage what you already have."

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