My hands were shaking as I sat at the computer and got my final student loan payment ready. Queen’s “We are the Champions” was playing loudly as I made my last dang payment. I jumped up in the air, a rush of adrenaline overtook me. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I did it!! I poomed* my student loan debt! Tears filled my eyes. I didn’t realize that I’d have so many emotions. A two hour solo dance party followed in my living room. (Seriously. I actually danced for two hours, by myself, while my dogs gave me weird judgmental looks.)

I feel accomplished. I feel excited about what this year will hold. I feel free! It seemed like i’d never get it paid off, and now it’s finally here and it feels better than I even imagined! I can chase after my dreams more this year without debt holding me back. My student loans were a nuisance, good riddance! 

Total paid in 2016 on my student loans: $13,429.16
Our total income for 2016: $37,000
Percent we lived off of: 40%
The other 60% of our income went to charity, investments, savings, and to my student loans.

Note: if you want to know anything more in depth, just leave me a comment on here or on instagram. I will either comment back or write a whole blog post for you.

I consider myself luxuriously frugal. It’s all about knowing what your priorities are. As Paula Pant says, “you can afford anything, but not everything”. It’s important to decide where you are willing to be extremely frugal, and what luxuries you like to have in life. You don’t need to live like a hobo in order to pay off debt quickly.

You need less than you think. You can live a really great life on very little money.

Take action. Be a go-getter. Be dedicated. Be tenacious. Make it happen. Challenge yourself. Lose the “I deserve it” attitude and learn to say no to yourself.
You got yourself into debt, now get the heck out of it!

You can apply these tips to paying off any kind of debt, not just student loans. Or if you don’t have any debt, use these tips to build up your savings.

How to pay off debt

Short version: Cut your expenses, bring in more money, and pay as much as you possibly can on your debt. It’s really quite simple.

Long version: ↓↓↓

Attitude:

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
– Thomas Jefferson

• Be charitable. It’s a universal law that the more you genuinely give, the more you receive. I strongly suggest that you start donating at least 10% of your income to charity. If you are feeling like, “WTF Kayla, I’m so broke as it is! There’s no way I can donate any portion of my money to charity! You’re crazy girl!”… then you my friend, can’t afford NOT to give some money to charity. Seriously trust me on this! Please just try it out. I challenge you!

• Focus on your blessings. Keep a gratitude journal. Write down at least 3 things you are thankful for every single day. Have perspective. Recognize when something is a “first world problem”, then stop complaining and realize how freaking blessed you are!

• Have an abundance mindset. There is plenty more where that came from. Ditch the scarcity mentality.

• Let go of limiting beliefs. Let go of what you think is impossible.

• Budget every single month. Pay everything you think you can to your debt, then pay even more.

• Check your bank account every day. Take control of your finances and your life.

• Think about WHY you want to get out of debt.

Cut expenses:

• Cut every expense possible! Use the concept the power of half. It’s easy and effective! Here is a list of 30 things I don’t buy anymore. After you’ve lowered your expenses, lower them even more and work on eliminating expenses. 

• Live in an affordable house. (Move somewhere cheaper, get a roommate, live with your parents etc) Small and inexpensive homes are cool!

• Spend less on food. Cook from scratch. Don’t buy junk and packaged foods. Stop eating out so much. Don’t waste food. Eating a healthy plant based diet is important to me. Regardless of what most people think, it doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Nor do you need to slave away in the kitchen daily. My husband and I spend between $75-$150 per month on groceries, for both of us!

Embrace minimalism & a zero waste lifestyle:

• Start using reusables instead of disposables. It’ll save you loads of money, and it’s way better for the environment! Win win.

• Stop buying crap! Only buy the things you actually need. There’s more to life than acquiring possessions. Become aware of why you shop.

• I didn’t buy people gifts in 2016 (with a few exceptions). I did have more reasons than just finances of why I didn’t buy gifts. My 5 year old niece called me out on it at her birthday party haha. No one else seemed to notice or care though.

Enjoy life (frugally):

It’s so important to still live your life as fully as possible when paying off debt. You never now how much time you are going to be given. Make the most of your life, but do it frugally so you can make major financial progress. If you go too extreme on a spending freeze, most likely you will feel deprived and end up counteracting all of your progress with a shopping spree. I know this from experience haha.

• We do a lot of free activities. We only went to the movie theater once in 2016… to see Fantastic Beasts of course. We have state park and national parks passes, which does cost money each year, but it’s totally worth it for us. If you need ideas, here is a list of 50 free things you can do.

• We still traveled, but we did so as cheaply as possible. I’ve read about people who didn’t travel at all for a couple of years in order to pay off their debts. I couldn’t do that. I would legit go insane if I didn’t travel and adventure often. I will probably write a whole blog post on traveling frugally.

• Living a healthy lifestyle will save you a lot of money in the moment and in the long run. Don’t drink or do drugs kids.

Get more money:

• Sell and donate your stuff. Check out man vs. debt for some really good info.

• Ask for money instead of gifts. Use it to pay down your debt.

• Get a part time job, start a side business, or increase what you earn from your current job.

• Correct your mistakes. You are human and will inevitably make mistakes. Recognize when you’ve made a mistake, then do whatever you can to fix it and learn from it. Return impulse purchases. Sell items that you can’t return. I paid cash for an old motorhome last year. It was awesome but the maintenance on it was much more than I anticipated. After realizing my mistake that maybe an RV wasn’t right for me at that point in my life, I posted it on craigslist and sold it for a profit. So my “mistake” actually turned into a money maker.

I hope that you have found this information to be helpful. If you really want to change your financial life, you can! You got this. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for reading this and for visiting The Bohemian Life. 

Peace & Love
– Kayla Oliver

*Poomed is a word that my little brother used when he was 3-4 years old. Our mom had cancer and he wanted to “poom” the cancer. Synonyms for it could be, defeat, kick in the butt, slayed etc… it was funny and tender when he used that word, and now it’s become a regular in my vocabulary.

I try really hard to be present and enjoy each season of the year. I do alright at it for awhile, but then in January, the inevitable hits. I get those dang winter blues! I’ve tried using special light bulbs that mimic the sun, only to have them cause headaches. It seems like I buy more houseplants every year, only to have them wither away just like my soul in my cold, dark house. A tropical vacation is the perfect solution to the winter blues, but unfortunately it isn’t always feasible. So instead, here are 25 free and inexpensive tips to help us through!

1. Ditch the dark colors and wear white or bright colored clothing. Opting for a Hawaiian shirt is even more epic.

2. Drink a green piña colada smoothie. (coconut milk, spinach, pineapple, frozen banana)

3. Listen to some island music. Te Vaka, some steel drum awesomeness, or The Beach Boys are all good choices.

4. Put on some bronzer.

5. Dance! Try hula or salsa if you want to be extra cool.

6. Wear some seashells or other beach inspired jewelry.

7. Get outside! (this is probably the most important tip)

8. Eat more fruit.

9. Paint your fingers/toes a fun summery color.

10. Embrace winter and do a fun winter activity.

11. Open your curtains and blinds every morning. Let there be light!

12. Drink ginger tea daily. It is warming and calming.

13. Sport some hot pink lipstick.

14. Watch a relaxing ocean waves video.

15. Go inside a garden center greenhouse. It’ll be warm with plenty of green plants all around.

16. Remember that winter is only temporary. It will pass… eventually.

17. Wear a tropical fragrance.

18. Go swimming in an indoor pool, sit in a hot tub, or take a hot shower/bath.

19. Do something creative.

20. Turn the heat up a couple of degrees in your house, or sit in front of a space heater (which I am totally doing right now).

21. Watch a movie like Pirates of the Caribbean or another summer favorite.

22. Deep clean your house. A clean home is a happy home.

23. Cook a new recipe. Possibly something like coconut mango rice or teriyaki rice with pineapple and broccoli.

24. Use coconut oil to moisturize your skin.

25. Do something kind for someone else.

Handkerchiefs are one of those old things that have got lost in time and are now a bit unconventional. Which is unfortunate because handkerchiefs are awesome! Now, you may be feeling the same way about handkerchiefs as I previously did, “Ew! Gross! Why on earth would I want to blow my nose on a dirty piece of cloth that has a weeks worth of snot crusted onto it?!”

I pity my uneducated, uninformed self of the past. To my surprise, using a handkerchief actually isn’t gross at all! I use a clean hankie each day, and DON’T actually blow my nose on the same section of the hankie twice (until it’s washed that is). I wish I’d known how cool they are sooner!

Handkerchiefs have been around for many, many years. Aside from the obvious use of personal hygiene, they have been used in ceremonies, for signaling, in dances, and to carry things in etc. But that all changed in the 20th century.

The downfall of the handkerchief. In 1924 the Kleenex was introduced as a way for women to remove cold cream. Within a few years they were being used and marketed as disposable hankies. (You can read more about the history of Kleenex here, it is actually quite interesting. You could also google “kleenex 1920’s advertisements” to see some cool adverts.) Society had become germ-a-phobic and saw handkerchiefs as unsanitary. Which is understandable considering they lived through the Spanish influenza outbreak of 1918.

Benefits:

• Handkerchiefs are softer and more durable than tissues. Trust me, your nose will appreciate this!

• They are way better for the environment. The negative impacts of disposable tissues on the environment could be a whole blogpost of its own. To keep it simple… by using handkerchiefs you’ll; save trees, save water, avoid processing plants pollution, chemicals, and toxins, and produce less waste etc.

• Save money! Lets assume your household buys a pack of 13 handkerchiefs for $13 instead of using a $2 box of tissues per month. The hankies will pay for themselves in less than 7 months, and can be used for years to come. You’ll have even more savings if you make the handkerchiefs yourself. 

• It’s chic and chivalrous. Imagine sitting at the movie theater, crying over some romantic film. Wouldn’t you rather dry your eyes with a beautiful embroidered hankie with lace trim, instead of a tissue that shreds to pieces in your hand? Or if you are a guy you can kindly come to a ladies rescue by offering her a clean hankie of your own. I could go on and on with examples, but I won’t, because I think you get the idea. 

• They are multipurpose. Blow your nose, wipe away tears, use as a towel to dry your hands, wipe sweat from your forehead, or on a hot summer day you can dampen it with cold water and place on the back of your neck to cool down. The Rural Economist has a really great blogpost called 30 Reasons to Carry a Handkerchief. You should check it out for more info.

I wash my handkerchiefs either with bath towels, or a load of clothes. It hardly effects the laundry load size. They dry very quickly on a clothe’s line or in the dryer. It’s really not a big deal to launder them. I don’t bother with ironing them like some people do though. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

There are so many handkerchief options on Amazon. Absolutely beautiful women’s hankies, plain white ones, dapper manly hankies, organic cotton and other eco-friendly options. You might be able to find some at a local store, or you can always make your own.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I was really nervous to start using handkerchiefs. Donovan and I have been using them for a year now and have zero regrets about making the switch. We wish we would’ve started using them years ago!

Friends, it’s time to stop wasting your money on those scratchy tissues and start using a hankie!  Together we can nix the misconceptions about using “snot rags” haha.

This concept is simple, and amazingly effective! And as we all know, simplicity is awesome.
To quote Sir Isaac Newton,

“Truth is ever to be found in simplicity,
and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.”

Use the power of half, to receive more. Cut your usage and consumption in half, and be rewarded with double.

Example: If you use half the amount of dish soap that you normally use, your current bottle will now give you double what it previously did. You will be cutting your spending on dish soap in half, while getting twice as much!

By doing this, you can cut your spending in half without using coupons or drastically changing your lifestyle… just start using less!

LESS REALLY IS MORE!

Things you can cut in half:

• shower gel
• laundry detergent
• shampoo & conditioner
• basically all toiletries
• cleaning products
• if you get any beauty services done, do them half as often
• cut the amount of your subscriptions in half
• cut showering time in half
• replace half (or all) of milk or broth in recipes with water

Remove half of the light bulbs in your house. You will still be getting plenty of light and probably won’t even notice the difference. You’ll automatically cut your electricity bill for lighting in half, it’ll be better for your circadian rhythm, and you’ll have less replacement light bulbs to buy in the future. At night when you turn on the lights, only turn on half of what you would usually turn on. You probably don’t need a lamp and a ceiling light on at the same time.

If you have kids, cut the amount of their activities in half. They are probably over-committed and over worked anyways. Kids need free time to just be kids.

When you turn on the water faucet, try turning it only half way to where you normally would. For most things you don’t need that much water spouting out. You can easily wash your hands with very little water.

If you do have grass, mow your lawn half as often. It’ll free up time, and it’s healthier for the grass. You’ll be using half as much gasoline or electricity. If the grass is a bit longer then it retains moisture and you won’t have to water as much, and it prevents the sun from scorching the roots.

Cut your amount of vehicles you own in half. You will save so much money! If you are a one car family and it’s not practical for you to go car free, try going car light.

Cut back on how often you go to the grocery store and do other errands. Cut your time wasters in half. Do laundry half as often.

Spend less on gifts, be present more.
Talk less, listen more.
Complain less, give thanks more.
Watch less TV, read more.
Eat out less, eat healthy foods more.

Obviously use your best judgement with this. DON’T start eating less fruits and veggies, or drinking half us much water haha. Also, make sure you aren’t cutting things so much that they aren’t able to effectively do their job, like soap. This shouldn’t be a problem though, as most people currently use way more product than they need to be using.

Reduce and simplify.

If you have less stuff in your house, it’s less to clean. You’ll have less stress, more free time, and more money.

If you want to take it to the next level try completely cuttings things out instead of just cutting in half. Replace disposables with reusables. Use handkerchiefs instead of tissues. A reusable water bottle instead of plastic water bottles. Washcloths or rags instead of paper towels etc. Click here for more ideas.

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set,
then there’d be peace.”
― John Lennon

By consuming less, you will receive more. When you consume less, you can give more. Consuming less means you’ll have less of a negative impact on the environment.
Consume less, be more.

You don’t need to spend money to have a great time. Here’s a list of 50 things that you can do for free.
(If you have any ideas that aren’t on the list, leave a comment and I might make a part two.)

1. Go for a walk.
2. Enjoy a picnic.
3. Take a hike.
4. Ride your bicycle.
5. Sports at the park (b-ball, soccer, frisbee etc)
6. Borrow a movie or documentary from the library.
7. Borrow a book from the library.
8. Bake cookies
9. Make homemade bread.
10. Star gaze.
11. Have a dance party. Even if it’s just you and your cat.
12. Visit a friend, neighbor, or family member.
13. Clean your house.
14. Serve others.
15. Play a board game or card game.
16. Play a musical instrument or sing.
17. Listen to classical music. Here are some of my favorites.
18. Write a list of what you’re grateful for.
19. Practice yoga.
20. Meditate.
21. Learn something new.
22. Visit museums on free days.
23. Do an art project.
24. Try a new recipe.
25. Do some yard work.
26. DIY spa day. (facial, pedicure, deep condition hair, hot bath, the works haha)
27. Family history.
28. Write a letter.
29. Watch the sunset or sunrise.
30. Pick up litter around town or in nature.
31. Visit free historical sites.
32. Admire nature, whether it’s the beach, mountains, or desert.
33. Donate clothing or things you no longer need.
34. Do a task you’ve been procrastinating.
35. Netflix and chill.
36. Laugh.
37. Watch a TED talk or something inspirational.
38. Attend a free seminar or event.
39. Volunteer at an animal shelter.
40. Explore your own city.
41. Do something you enjoyed as a child.
42. Sell something on craigslist.
43. Play a video game or computer game.
44. Write down your goals with a plan to accomplish them.
45. Bird watching.
46. Catch up on some sleep.
47. Learn a new language.
48. Enjoy live music (open mic nights, concerts in the park etc)
49. Relax and drink some tea/lemonade/smoothie/hot cocoa etc.
50. Create or update your budget.

I’m a people watcher. I find it fascinating to observe others. Recently I was at a busy section of a shopping center and had several minutes to people watch. I observed a lot of shoppers and had some insights about consumerism that I want to share. Specifically about WHY people shop. Most of us can probably relate to some or all of these reasons. It’s important to recognize our behavior, what we do and why. Find alternatives to things that aren’t benefiting us. Then continually work on changing our habits and beliefs to be more inline with our goals and values. We should always work at becoming better.

Some reasons why people shop…

Productivity: People often confuse busyness with being productive. It’s a terrible misconception in society. People feel important if they have things to do, places to go, stuff to buy. Some feel productive when they cross things off their shopping list.

Amusement: Some people shop for fun. There’s the ladies that go shopping just to hang out with the girls. Shopping til they drop. Tourists that buy souvenirs instead of taking part in enriching experiences. Since the 1980’s shopping has been the number one hobby of teenage girls. Shopping shouldn’t be considered a hobby! (my teenage/early twenties self would roll her eye’s at me for saying that haha.) Here is an interesting article about some alarming shopping statistics. Now, as a fashion lover I’m not saying we should never shop for enjoyment, just reign it in. I try to hold off on shopping until I need something, then I’ll allow myself to enjoy shopping for that need.

Accomplishment: Some people feel like they are accomplishing something when shopping. They think of shopping as a treasure hunt or a game. They feel smart and successful when they find good deals, use coupons, scour sales racks, get store rewards etc. Are you really #winning though when you are spending money unnecessarily?

Emotions: Two words, Retail Therapy. People shop because of sadness, boredom, or to celebrate. People often turn to shopping to fill a void. Buying new workout clothes isn’t going to automatically make you fit. Buying more makeup isn’t going to necessarily make you feel prettier. That new sports equipment isn’t going to make you an all-star. Lasting happiness comes from within, not from buying a bunch of crap.

Purpose: I find this incredibly sad, yet most of us have probably been here. Some people shop for simply something to do. My mom once told me that for a time during my childhood she went to the grocery store almost every single day. Being a stay at home mom, she needed some socializing and a place to go. Some people who work from home go get a coffee or a soda each morning, just for a reason to get dressed and get out of the house each day. We should have more purpose in our lives rather than just being a consumer.

Obviously I’m not perfect. I’ve definitely fit into every single one of these categories at different parts of my life. Over the last few years I’ve dramatically changed my views on shopping. I’ve wised up. There’s way more to this world and life than shopping shopping shopping. If you need ideas on free things to do instead of spending money, check out this list.