55 | How to Get Out of Debt & Stay Debt-Free | The Financial Tricks That Actually Worked

Getting out of debt isn't just about having a better budget. Sometimes, it's about creating boundaries that make it easier to follow the plan when your old habits want to take over. When my family was $36,000 in credit card debt, I learned this firsthand. I used cash, separate accounts, visual reminders, sinking funds, accountability, and a very simple glass jar to help us change the way we handled money. And eighteen months later, we were debt-free. In this bonus episode of The Kingdom Table Podcast, I'm sharing the practical financial tricks that actually helped us get there and stay there for more than twenty years. This is about more than money. It's about biblical financial stewardship and learning to faithfully manage what God has placed in our hands as we build Faith, Home & Business for the Kingdom-Called Christian Woman. WHAT I'M SHARING IN THIS EPISODE Why I made my emergency fund harder to access How using cash helped me stop overspending Why sinking funds can keep predictable expenses from becoming emergencies How I used a refrigerator chart to make our $36,000 debt visible The simple glass jar that showed me I had avoided spending more than $7,000 Why we included our children in our debt-free journey How accountability helped us stay committed Why the weekly money check-in is essential for long-term financial freedom What Proverbs teaches us about storing, managing, and paying attention to what we have Most importantly, I'm sharing why getting out of debt wasn't just about changing our bank account. It changed us. FREE RESOURCE The Faithful Steward's Financial Reset If you're ready to take an honest look at your finances and start creating a plan for financial freedom, I've created a free eight-part guide to help you do exactly that. Get the free guide: christiratcliff.com/faithfulsteward You'll also receive early access to Personal Finance: From Struggling to Thriving, my upcoming workbook and video walkthroughs. CONNECT WITH CHRISTI Website: christiratcliff.com Instagram: @christiratcliff Podcast: The Kingdom Table Podcast   A NOTE FROM CHRISTI I'm not a licensed financial advisor, and this episode isn't a substitute for professional financial advice. I'm simply sharing what I personally lived through and what I've seen work with hundreds of people and couples I've coached. You don't have to do everything today. Pick one trick. Set it up. And let it work on you.       The Kingdom Table Podcast Faith, Home & Business for the Kingdom-Called Christian Woman