Debt-Free Hacks for Busy People — Checklist

A debt-payoff checklist drawn from the book's tips, for paying off credit cards, loans, and BNPL on a busy schedule — one clear snapshot, one routine, no perfection required.

Each item below is a tip title from the book, turned into a tick-box you can print and reuse. Tick them off on screen, or use the print button for a paper copy.

Print this checklist

• Run a 20-Minute Debt Sweep — Set a timer and list every balance, rate, and due date: one clear snapshot before any payoff decision.
• Stop the Balances From Growing — Pause new charges on the cards you are paying off, so payments shrink the balance instead of chasing it.
• Set a Starter-Buffer Target You Can Reach — Pick a small buffer you can actually reach now, so the next surprise bill does not land back on a card.
• Make Saving Automatic and Low-Friction — Move the buffer transfer to payday and automate it, so it builds without a weekly decision.
• Choose a Quick Win, Then Focus on APR — Take one early payoff win for momentum, then aim extra money at the highest APR.
• Turn Your Target into a Payment Routine — Convert the payoff order into a fixed routine with dates and amounts, so busy weeks do not derail it.
• Make Minimum Payments Automatic — Put every minimum on autopay, so a busy week never becomes a missed payment.
• Give Payday an Extra-Payment Job — Decide in advance what each payday's extra dollars pay toward, before the money gets spent.
• Ask for a Lower APR — A short, prepared call can leave more of each payment available for the balance; ask directly, and check whether any offer is temporary or conditional.
• Put Every BNPL Plan on One Calendar — List every buy-now-pay-later instalment in one place, so overlapping plans stop hiding the true total.

Join the ARC team

Want an early copy of the next book in exchange for an honest review? Sign up through the form below. Reviews are never asked to be five stars — honest opinions only.

Join the ARC team

Follow along

Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube Facebook group: 101 Tips for Busy People