In this issue of The Payoff Challenge:
Community Debt Payoff Snapshot
Submit your debt payoff totals for this week!
Dollar Designator: A simple envelope system budget app
Weekly Action: Meal Plan before Shopping
My Home Payoff Update
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Community Debt Payoff Snapshot
Congrats to everyone who paid off debt this week! Let’s put this into a fun comparison.
Woah, we hit a new record of most paid off in one week! We paid off a total of $8190 last week! This is easy enough to get a decent used car. Nice!
$4095 was the average paid off, which is enough to be a one-month emergency fund for a lot of people. Geez, I’m not used to these big numbers.
$4095 is also the equivalent of 1052 gallons of chocolate milk. What!
Numbers only move if people act—which brings us to this week’s check-in!
Weekly Check In!
How Much Did You Pay Off This Week?
⏱ Takes under 60 seconds. Any amount. Any debt.
This isn’t about how big the number is—it’s about progress. If you haven’t made a payment yet, consider this your nudge to go make one right now. Missed a week? Just submit the total since your last entry.
Submissions will be included in future week’s Snapshots!
Sponsorship
Try a SIMPLE Budget App
Based on the envelope system, Dollar Designator makes it incredibly easy to spend and save within your means.
Just make envelopes and split up your income and expenses across them. It’s that easy!
Check out my how-to video right here:
This is a budget app I had a direct hand in bringing to you all, so I’m really excited about it. You can try it completely risk free (no credit card required).
Intro Offer:
The first 100 to sign up will get it for only $24.95 for the first year. Again, when you sign up, you’ll get a 60-day free trial which doesn’t require a credit or debit card.
Caleb’s Actionable Strategy
Meal Plan Before Shopping
It’s hard to argue with your stomach when you go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. But you can avoid the extra cost.
Action: This week, sit down and actually plan out the meals you’ll be making for yourself before you shop.
It’s really easy to not meal plan before grocery shopping because it takes time and effort. But it’s so worth it! My wife, Bailey, plans out our meals before heading to the store and it shows.
Most of the time, our grocery budget for a family of 4 can be about $500, maybe a tad more. All thanks to Bailey’s planning.
Member Spotlight
I Want To Celebrate Your Wins!
But I need your help to do it. Get featured here for your wins!
Any amount of debt payoff is worth celebrating here in the member spotlight.
Caleb’s Challenge Update
Progress We Made Towards Our Payoff
Goal: Pay off our remaining mortgage ($70k) by our 10-year anniversary on June 17, 2027 (less than a year left).
255 days left
Mortgage Balance on January 1st, 2026: $70,000
Current Mortgage Balance: $46,967.04 (▼$190.92 since last week)
Balance paid off since start of challenge: $23,032.96
Source: Paycheck, a bonus, savings, interest, an Escrow surplus payment, Etsy poster sales, selling scrap metal, a bicycle, a TV cabinet, and a laptop
*This includes monthly principal payments as well as additional payments.
Current Mortgage Balance
This week, we just put cashback and HYSA interest towards the extra payment. Now sub $47k!
Refer a friend and receive my quick-start guide for saving money TODAY on your existing expenses.
That’s it for this week! I already can’t wait for next couple week’s editions as we start getting numbers to include. If you have any feedback, respond to this email or drop me a line at [email protected].
Till next week!
Caleb
