Today is a ✨special✨ edition of the newsletter because GUESS WHERE I WENT LAST WEEK?! DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'M A TELL YOU ANYWAY...

I WAS IN SEATTLE!

(I'm wearing a Seattle Kraken jersey and standing in the shadow of the Space Needle!)

For those of you who don't follow me on social media (you should btw, so here's a link to my Instagram), I am OBSESSED with hockey.

It all started when I worked on the content team for Discover Bank, which sponsored the 2024 NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park (the baseball stadium in Seattle).

Cousin, I knew absolutely nothing about hockey other than Wayne Gretzky is their Michael Jordan, and LA loves their Kings. 😂

(My custom Seattle Kraken jersey I had made at the team store.)

As I was working, I got to meet hockey content creators from all over the world, players from both teams (and they were so nice!), but the fans here in Seattle were so much fun to hang with, and it's so beautiful here. I couldn't help but fall in love with Seattle and their hockey team. 💚

When the schedule announced they would get their first at-home season opener as a franchise, I KNEW I HAD TO BE THERE!!!!!! I also knew I wanted to use my credit cards during my trip to capitalize on the cashback these bad boys give and for the additional fraud protection since I was going out of town.

Which brings me to the next step in my framework: E aka make a plan to eliminate your debt.

E in progress: make a plan to **eliminate** your debt

I made a plan to tackle my credit card debt before my trip. I wanted my balances to be as low as possible before I did so much as buy a ticket, and here’s exactly what I did.

Step 1. Make a List

First, I sat down and listed out all my credit card balances. This part can feel overwhelming af, I'm not gonna lie, but trust me, seeing it all laid out gives you a clear picture of what you’re working with. I included the balances, interest rates, and minimum payments for each card.

Try this: Grab your phone or a notebook and list out your debts. Trust me, seeing everything in one place will give you clarity.

Step 2. Chose Your Fighter

I went with the Snowball Method for my paydown strategy. That means I started with my smallest credit card balance and focused on paying as much as I could toward that while making minimum payments on the others. Once I knocked that one out, I moved to the next smallest debt. Seeing those balances go down gave me the motivation I needed to keep going.

Note: You could also try the Avalanche Method if it makes more sense for you—which is where you focus on the debt with the highest interest rate to save money in the long run.

Try This: Pick the method that makes sense for you and commit to making an extra payment toward the first debt this week, even if it’s just $20.

Step 3. Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Cut it

Look, I wanted to go bad, so I had some tough choices to make. I looked at my spending and decided to cut back on some of the little things I do—like DoorDash and Target runs here and there and canceling a couple of subscriptions I wasn’t using, like Quizlet, which was charging me $35 a month because my daughter needed it to study for a test and never canceled. 🙄 I took that extra money and threw it straight toward my smallest credit card balance so I could pay it down faster.

Try This: Look at your spending and choose one expense to cut for the next 30 days. Take that money and transfer it directly to your debt.

Step 4. Make a Deal

One of the most underrated moves I made was picking up the phone and calling my credit card companies to ask for a lower interest rate. You’d be surprised how often they’ll work with you, especially if you’ve got a good payment history and a decent credit score. I was able to get a few interest rates lowered, which will end up saving me some extra money in the long run.

Try This: Call your credit card company today and ask for a lower interest rate. Even a small decrease can make a big difference over time. Here's a template I created for you to use as a script if you want to give it a try.

5. Set It & Forget It

To make sure I didn’t miss any payments (and to avoid those late fees), I went ahead and set up automatic payments for at least the minimum due on all my credit cards. This way, I knew my payments would be on time, and it helped me stay on track without having to think about it.

Try this: Log into your bank or credit card account right now and set up automatic payments for at least the minimum amount due.

With the exception of 1 credit card, I reduced all of my credit card balances to $0! 🙌🏽 Bffr Cousin, these steps aren’t like a magic cure to make you a debt-free millionaire, but if you stick to the plan, it could help make it easier for you to become one. Remember, It’s not about wiping out all your debt at once—it’s about making consistent progress.

"Without commitment, you’ll never start. But more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish." – Denzel Washington

What’s the first step you’re going to take today to start knocking down your debt? Hit reply and let me know!

Dear Money Plug,

I’m trying to get my savings started, but honestly, it’s hard when there’s barely anything left after bills and everyday expenses. I want to build up my reserves, but it feels like no matter how small I start, I’m never going to have enough to make a real difference. Any advice?

WWTMPD Submission · Send in questions here.

Hey Cousin!

I feel you. It can be frustrating when you’re barely scraping by and the idea of saving feels impossible. But here’s the truth—starting small still counts. Even $10 is a step forward, and those little steps add up. It’s not about having a lot right now—it’s about being consistent. You’re building a habit, and that’s what matters.

Does this sound familiar?:

“I keep dipping into my savings.”

Don’t beat yourself up—your savings were there when you needed them. Try putting your reserves in a separate account that’s harder to touch for everyday stuff.

“It feels like small amounts won’t add up.”

They will. It might feel slow, but every dollar saved is a dollar you didn’t have before. Set a small goal—like $100—and celebrate when you get there. Then, set the next one.

Building your reserves is like filling up your gas tank little by little—it keeps you from running on empty when life happens.

Start small and stay consistent, Cousin. You got this!

Your favorite cousin,
The Money Plug 💸

P.S. If you ever need more personalized tips, I’m just an email away. You’re not doing this alone.

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