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Hey, did you bravely list
out your debts yesterday?

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Lemme just tell you that's huge.

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But are you still using the very
cards you're trying to pay off?

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It's like trying to bail out a boat
while drilling in new holes today.

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Let's talk about stopping the digging.

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I.

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Hey there, and welcome back
to Your Daily Ask Ralph.

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I'm Ralph, so proud of you sticking with
me during this tough time, especially

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as we tackle the tough topic of debt
in our series, the Joy of Living Below

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Your means, we're continuing our journey
together to break that cycle of financial

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shame and do it with confidence.

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facing those numbers.

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Yes.

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Yesterday was step one.

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Today, we're moving on to step two,
so you have your list of debts.

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Maybe seeing it all laid
out, brought some clarity.

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Maybe some determination, but
perhaps you're also feeling

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stuck in that cycle still.

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You make payments trying to chip
away at the balances, but then you

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turn around and use that same credit
card again for groceries or gas and

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unexpected expense, or even just every
day wants it feels like you're taking

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one step forward and two steps back.

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Right.

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I get it.

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I've been there too.

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I've had the success of feeling
like I'm making some progress.

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Then the unexpected happens again,
and you reach for that credit card.

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You're working hard, but the balances
just don't seem to go down or they,

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they even creep back up on you.

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That frustrating, demoralizing
cycle where your efforts to pay

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off debtor constantly undermined
by continuing to add new charges.

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Well, that's the single difficulty
we absolutely have to address today.

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Here's the thing, you can't
effectively get out of a hole

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while you're still digging.

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You just can't.

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Continuing to use credit cards while
trying to pay off credit card debt is

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just financially counterproductive.

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It keeps you relying on borrowing
rather than learning to live within your

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means and trust God's actual provision.

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The Bible chapter 22 verse
seven of Proverbs tells us the

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borrower is slave to the lender.

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And if we wanna break free from
that slavery, we often need

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to take some radical steps.

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Included removing the very tool that
keeps us bound those credit cards

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themselves, especially when they're
carrying balances month to month.

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It's gonna require discipline and
a decisive break from old habits.

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So now you're asking
Ralph, what can we do?

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How do we break this
frustrating debt cycle?

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How do we ensure our debt payoff
efforts actually are making progress?

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Well, you know, I've got an answer.

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And the single essential solution,
if you're carrying consumer debt.

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Stop using credit cards.

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At least temporarily,
but maybe permanently.

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This means making a firm decision to
rely solely on the money you actually

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have using your debit card, or paying
physical cash for all of your spending.

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Now, that's a radical idea.

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Like I said earlier, it might
be time for a radical change.

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So now you're asking Ralph,
explain to me how this helps.

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Here's how it helps.

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It does a few critical things.

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First thing it does is
it stops the bleeding.

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You immediately stop adding
new debt to the pile.

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The second thing it does is
it forces budget adherence.

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You can only spend what you actually
have in your bank account, forcing

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you to live within your budget.

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It also breaks dependency.

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It helps break the psychological
reliance on  credit as a safety net

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or or source of instant gratification.

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It also allows progress because
every dollar you pay towards debt now

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actually reduces the debt, and that
creates some real momentum in the end.

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The solution is decisive action.

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Ditch the credit cards, or at
least while you're in debt.

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Okay, now this one
requires some commitment.

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So are you ready?

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Well, here's your one
action step for today.

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Right now, make the decision if
you have credit card debt you're

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trying to pay off, decide today.

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Will you stop using credit cards
temporarily until you're at

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least debt free or, or make it a
permanent change that you're just

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not gonna use credit cards at all?

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The next thing you've gotta do is
take physical action, go get your

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wallet or purse and do it right now.

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Take out all your credit cards out.

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Yes, all of them.

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And I want you to put
them away or destroy them.

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Yes, I said destroy them.

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Don't just put them aside.

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Make them inconvenient.

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Put them in a safe place
that you don't access daily.

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Some people literally freeze
them in a block of ice.

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Now, that's what I call
a true credit freeze.

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If you're really committed and know
they're a major temptation, maybe

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you gotta consider cutting them up.

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Maybe keep one for true emergencies
locked away if it's absolutely necessary.

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But be honest with yourself.

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I'm gonna encourage you to switch, like I
said a few minutes ago, to debit or cash.

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Commit that starting immediately,
all of your purchases will be made

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using your debit card linked to your
checking account or physical cash.

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That way, you can't spend
what you don't have.

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And now you're saying, Ralph,
that's a really dramatic step.

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Why am I taking this
potentially drastic step?

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It directly attacks that difficult
cycle of debt, and it's the only

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way to guarantee that you'll
stop digging the hole deeper.

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It forces you to live
on your actual income.

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It provides the necessary foundation
for your debt payoff plan to

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actually work and listen to this.

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It begins to break the
chains of credit dependency.

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How about we pray together,
Father God breaking habits

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and dependencies is hard work.

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Lord, I pray for my friend listening.

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Who knows they need to stop using
credit cards to get free from debt.

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Grant them strength.

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Grant them resolve right now to make
that decision and take the physical

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action of putting the cards away.

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Lord, help them to resist a
temptation to rely on credit.

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Build in them a deeper trust
in your provision through

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the money they actually have.

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Lord, we ask that you will give them
wisdom and discipline as they learn to

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manage spending with debit and cash.

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And may this radical step be
a powerful move towards the

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freedom you desire for them.

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And we ask this in Jesus' name.

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Amen.

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Alright, well it's time to take that
step and it's time to take it today.

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Put the cards away.

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It might feel scary, but
it's incredibly empowering.

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You are taking control and listen,
This is a non-negotiable step.

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If you're serious about
getting out of debt.

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you can do this.

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Huge steps taken.

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We listed the debt and
we stopped adding to it.

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Now let's start attacking it.

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So be sure to join me back here
tomorrow on Ask Ralph where we'll

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ask, need debt payoff motivation?

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Can $20 make a difference?

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That will be the focus of tomorrow's show.

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If this episode gave you the
courage to ditch the cards, do me

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a favor and share it with somebody
who may be also struggling.

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You can find resources and links in
the show notes at our new website,

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financially confident christian.com.

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So until tomorrow, live on what you
have and keep seeking him first.

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And let's keep moving on, becoming
financially confident Christians, stay

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financially savvy, and God bless you.

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Have a great day.

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And remember, you are making progress.

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One day at a time.