Many Aussies are buried under a mountain of debt. Yet back in 1835, the United States briefly hit a national debt of $0. That didn’t happen with a lucky break or a last-minute rescue. It came after years of paying down about $58 million with hard limits and strong political will.
That moment matters because personal debt freedom works the same way. Freedom is built through steady choices, not a one-time win. If you’re an Aussie trying to get to debt zero and achieve financial freedom, you don’t need hype; you need a plan you can live with, faith that daily steps count, and the spiritual authority to begin your journey.
What 1835 teaches us about real financial freedom
Paying off a mountain of debt took time, restraint, and plenty of saying “no”. It also came with controversy, and the wider outcomes were debated. Still, one takeaway from biblical principles stands: discipline creates buffer.
Think of it like building a fence. One post won’t hold anything up. But post by post, through faithful stewardship, the boundary gets strong. Your budget is the same. A small cut here, a small extra payment there, and the results start to stack.
Freedom arrives quietly after consistent choices
Most progress looks boring. It’s:
- practising contentment by skipping the phone upgrade (my telco was to disconnect me from their network because my phone was so old – made in 2017- so eventually I gave in)
- packing lunch a few days a week
- selling the treadmill that’s now a clothes rack
- paying an extra $20 on one debt each week
Perfection isn’t the goal. Direction is. This puts you at the head and not the tail.
Count the cost: a simple biblical plan for debt freedom
Jesus put money planning into plain words in the Word of God. Luke 14:28 says, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” As Proverbs 22:7 warns, the borrower is slave to the lender, highlighting why debt burdens us so heavily.
Counting the cost isn’t fear. It’s clarity. It’s the moment you stop guessing and start financial discipleship, leading your money.
Here’s a simple plan you can use this week to pursue a debt-free life:
Know your numbers: what you owe, what you earn, what’s left.
Choose a payoff method: debt snowball method (smallest first) or avalanche (highest interest first).
Set a realistic weekly amount: something you can repeat.
Keep a small buffer: even $500 helps you avoid using credit again.
Four numbers to write down today
Rooted in biblical principles of stewardship, here are four numbers:
Total debts: every balance, even store cards and BNPL.
Minimum repayments: what must be paid to stay current.
Take-home income: what lands in your account.
Your gap: income minus tithing and essentials (housing, food, transport, bills).
Your bank app categories or a notes list is enough.
Pick one debt and one habit to build momentum
Choose one focus debt. Then choose one habit, like an automatic transfer on payday, cash for groceries, or cancelling one subscription.
Cultivate contentment and be firm but gentle with yourself about buy now pay later and credit cards, aiming to owe no man anything. They’re easy now, costly later.
Build buffer in so you can say yes to what matters
Buffer is breathing room in your budget. It’s the space where panic eases, decisions improve, and financial peace takes hold; sleeping better, being steady at home, and having room to give with generosity.
Real freedom looks like fewer chains of spiritual bondage. It’s not a promise of riches. It’s prosperity in a quieter life, free from spiritual bondage, where you shift from financial debt to the debt of love in Romans 13:8, opening doors to abundance and generosity aligned with kingdom priorities.
God isn’t rushing you. He’s present in the daily steps, the small “no’s”, and the steady “keep going”, backed by God’s provision.
A quick prayer of agreement and one next step
God, give me wisdom with money today. Grow self-control in me, and help me choose what leads to peace. We release faith for abundance in Jesus’ Name through this prayer of agreement.
This week, book a 20-minute money date. Pick one bill to reduce, set one automatic extra repayment, and commit to tithing as a habit that builds buffer. Release faith for your next step in Jesus’ Name with this prayer of agreement.
Freedom isn’t won in a moment. It’s built, choice by choice, with faith and follow-through. The 1835 story shows what steady discipline can change, and your testimony can inspire others too.
Take one step today, then take the next one tomorrow, walking it out with God, anchored in the Word of God and trusting God’s provision.