When I first started building the framework for A Way Out Of Debt, I knew there was something missing from the traditional personal finance advice we’ve all heard a thousand times. Budget. Save. Pay off debt. Rinse. Repeat. But I kept thinking about this idea I’d heard from my friend Glen Van Peski: Take less. Do more.
It’s simple, powerful, and, at the time, totally out of reach for me.
You see, I wasn’t in debt anymore. I’d done the hard work. Paid off the credit cards. Knocked out the car loans. But I was still living so close to the edge of my income that any extra need—or opportunity—was a stressor.
Then came the moment that changed how I thought about all of this.
A $50 Wake-Up Call
I was talking with a local nonprofit that does incredible work— an incubator for other non-profits. At the end of the conversation, someone casually mentioned their need: they were looking for someone to sponsor the coffee in their office.
Just $50 a month.
That’s it. Not a giant grant. Not a six-figure check. Just a few bags of coffee and creamer so that the people doing the most good could stay fueled up for the hard work ahead.
And I couldn’t do it.
I was out of debt, but I hadn’t created any margin. I hadn’t given myself the space to say yes to moments like this.
What Is Margin?
Margin is the breathing room in your financial life. It’s the space between your income and your expenses. It’s the money you’re not spending—the buffer you’ve built.
Margin means:
- You can cover an unexpected car repair without a panic attack.
- You can say yes to sponsoring coffee.
- You can take a weekend trip with your kids without putting it on a card.
Margin isn’t about having millions—it’s about having flexibility.
Why Margin Matters
Most debt-free plans end at zero: get out of debt and live within your means. That’s good—but it’s not enough. Without margin, you’re one job change, one flat tire, or one $50 opportunity away from stress or regret.
Margin gives you:
- Peace of Mind – Emergencies don’t have to be emergencies.
- Generosity – You can help others in small but meaningful ways.
- Freedom – You’re not locked into survival mode.
- Vision – You can look ahead, dream, and plan.
How to Build Margin
If you’re in the thick of paying off debt, keep going. But start thinking now about how you’ll live after debt. Margin starts with intention.
Here’s how to begin:
- Track Your True Spending
- Not just what you think you spend, but what you actually spend. Awareness creates change.
- Automate Saving
- Even if it’s just $25 a week, consistency builds cushion.
- Live on Less Than You Make
- Aim for 10–15% less. Use the gap to build margin.
- Create a “Yes Fund”
- This is money set aside specifically so you can say yes to opportunities that come your way—like that $50 coffee sponsorship.
- Make Generosity Part of the Plan
- Don’t wait until you have “extra” to give. Plan for it. Budget for it. Even a little can make a big difference.
From Debt-Free to Difference-Maker
Getting out of debt isn’t the end goal. It’s the launching pad.
When you create margin in your life, you unlock the ability to do more than just survive—you can start to thrive, and even better, you can start to give.
So if you’re just starting out, or if you’re debt-free but still feel stuck, I want to challenge you: make margin the next milestone.
Not just so you can breathe easier—but so you can be the kind of person who says, “I got the coffee.”
Let’s take less. Let’s do more.
And let’s make that kind of life possible for everyone who walks the path out of debt.