How I Conquered Debt with Whiskey and a Spreadsheet

Eleven years ago, I was a shambling debt zombie. High-paying job, long hours away from my kids, and yet still drowning in bills. My bank account was a comic book villain—insane, erratic, and paper-thin. I’d pore over my (too many) credit card statements, praying for a lottery win. (Spoiler: I didn’t.)

Then I built a system. Not some fancy app (that came later). Just a spreadsheet, a glass of whiskey, and a ritual I call “bill night.” Every month, I’d sit down, map out my paychecks, and assign every dollar in a paycheck to the bills due before the next payday. Rent on the 1st? Covered. Electric on the 20th? Scheduled. Christmas? Planned a year ahead (well, eventually—I’ll talk more on that later). I paid bills like a clockwork robot—last day of the month, every due date locked in. That spreadsheet’s still my lifeline (you can grab a ​souped-up version for $27 here​).

Here’s the thing: Emotions are terrible money managers. They’re toddlers with a bowl full of berries—messy and unpredictable. Systems? They’re your drill sergeant. They don’t care if you’re stressed or bored or jonesing for the newest iPhone. They just work. My spreadsheet cut my debt, slashed my stress, and gave me back my nights. That’s the freedom I’m chasing—not “buy everything” freedom, but “sleep easy” freedom.

This is why I built Money@. Its PayDayPay budgeting feature does everything my spreadsheet did (and more): lines up paychecks with bills to crush debt and show what’s left. It’s not magic—it’s logic. Plus, the beta is coming next month! (Usage videos soon!). Imagine knowing every dollar’s destination before you’re broke.

Systems aren’t sexy (OK, I think they are—but I’m a programmer), but they’re your ticket out of chaos. Athletes don’t win by “winging it”—they train. Your money needs that same discipline. Start small: Tonight, check your next two bills. Can your last paycheck cover them? Feel the beginnings of control.

Your Move: Send me one money habit that’s killing you.