I was telling my daughter that debt is like fat and she was confused. I explained that building up debt rarely happens overnight, just like building up your body mass is not done overnight. Unfortunately, I have put both fat and debt back in my life.
My weight gain happened over about 14 years. It was slow but significant when I finally did something about it. I ate the wrong things, consumed them in the incorrect quantities, and at the wrong times. Additionally, I lacked any physical exertion. I had taken the weight off but am back, fighting to lose it.
Another way debt is like fat is the build-up is the same way. Usually, it happens slowly without you noticing you are doing it. Unless you make some gruesome investments, an incredible blunder, or you are a victim of fraud.
Buying your lunch every day isn't going to put you into debt. Nor is leasing your car. Vacationing in Las Vegas won't either. Buying lottery tickets also isn't a problem. However, when you start adding these expenses together and spend more than you make, you begin to build up debt. Instead of building equity, you accumulate financial burdens. Keep doing this over a long period. Suddenly, you have a debt load that you cannot afford. You are just not sure how the heck you did it. It was achieved one small step at a time.
What is the Key?
Unfortunately, or fortunately, debt reduction is accomplished in the same way. Unless it rains money, you will get out of debt slowly. This happens one month at a time. This requires a plan, self-control, and a willingness to change your lifestyle. This is because losing weight and debt reduction are BOTH lifestyle changes. They are not just a quick fix that lets you return to your old habits.
Losing the financial bad habits is the key to debt reduction, keep that in mind.
Debt is like fat, but you can still fight it.
🧾 Debt Is Like Fat – The Practical Debt-Reduction Checklist
🥅 Step 1: Face the Numbers
☐ List every debt: balance / interest / minimum payment.
☐ Total them all (yep, even the “small” cards).
☐ Calculate your true monthly interest cost.
☐ Accept that this isn’t instant it’s lifestyle rehab, not liposuction.
🧠 Step 2: Pick Your Game Plan
☐ Snowball Method: pay smallest balances first for quick wins.
☐ Avalanche Method: target the highest-interest debt for fastest savings.
☐ Pay the damn bills Method: find a habit that works for you! If you buy into the method you will stick to it.
☐ Whichever you choose stick to it for at least 6 months before tweaking.
💸 Step 3: Automate the Workouts
☐ Set automatic minimum payments on all debts.
☐ Schedule one extra payment to your target debt right after payday.
☐ Funnel side-income, refunds, or bonuses straight to that same target.
☐ Remove saved credit cards from online checkouts to prevent “relapses.”
🧹 Step 4: Plug the Money Leaks
☐ Cancel at least two unused subscriptions this week.
☐ Bring lunch three times a week (it’s like financial cardio).
☐ Renegotiate one bill (cell, internet, insurance, bank fees!).
☐ Use a high-interest savings account as your emergency buffer.
📊 Step 5: Track Progress
☐ Keep a visible tracker spreadsheet, app, or even fridge magnet chart.
☐ Celebrate every $500 reduction milestone. Do it darn frugally mind you!
☐ Don’t add new debt “rewards” treat yourself with free wins (sleep, peace, smugness). You get it?
🧩 Step 6: Build Habits, Not Excuses
☐ Weekly daily “money weigh-in”: check balances, adjust, move on.
☐ 24-hour rule for any unplanned spending.
☐ If you slip? Don’t restart Monday. Restart now.
🍁 Bonus: Canadian Quick Links
🔗 Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) – calculators & payoff tools
🔗 Credit Counselling Canada – free non-profit advice
🔗 Ratehub / NerdWallet Canada – compare debt-consolidation rates
Debt is Like Fat? An FAQ
Both creep up through small, repeated choices and both come off the same way: consistently, not overnight.
List debts, choose a method (snowball = motivation; avalanche = lowest interest), automate payments, and trim recurring leaks.
Maybe if you are going to fix the overarching problems and habits, but this is a ONE TIME thing. You keep consolidating you are simply digging a deeper financial grave.
Trying to work on both this year and you are right both require work and effort. You have to have a plan, do the work, and then reap the reward.
I plan on getting rid of my debt in 10 months, when I’ll be done with the car payments and NEVER have this problem again. Having a more responsible way with money is pretty hard. Just like being fit. We all know what it takes and how to do it, but few can make the constant effort to have results 🙁
Yeah, agree. That’s why many pople trap in the debt. It is because we do not aware of it since it is growth little by little.
Hey Cajun,
two great minds think alike.. I wrote a blog post about that recently.
I’m not in debt , but I am trying to lose weight. I can see the comparisons all over the place.
Being in debt is like being over weight..!