How Self-Respect and a Plan Free You from Debt—Not Just More Money

In an unassuming college office, Professor Shrewsbury and his wife, once swamped by old bills and mounting worry, stumbled onto an ancient plan—originally scribbled by a camel trader on Babylonian clay—and decided to test it in their modern, messy lives. For years, they’d tried to patch holes by paying urgent bills reactively, always running in circles, always behind, afraid that a scandal would threaten their jobs or their dignity.

The three-bucket formula felt radical: 10% for their future, 70% for everything they truly needed, and 20% paid monthly to every creditor, no matter how small the progress. The first months were rough. Comforts had to go, pride had to wait. But each small debt shrink brought a glimmer of relief, and as the unpaid pile fell, their self-respect grew. For the first time, they felt the power of their decisions—not their paychecks—shaping their fate.

Debt didn’t vanish because they made more money, but because they had a plan and a sense of purpose. The formula, it turned out, did more than lift numbers; it rebuilt their confidence and warmth at home. The relief was practical, but the pride was emotional—a restored sense of agency few financial tricks offer.

The behavioral principle here: progress, no matter how incremental, beats perfection. By focusing on regular, fair, visible repayment, and refusing to sacrifice future security, dignity returns long before the last dollar’s paid.

Try breaking every paycheck—before you spend a dime—into three parts: one tenth for your savings and dreams, seven tenths covers your real living needs, and two tenths strictly for paying down debts, split fairly among the people or institutions you owe. Write out every debt. Don’t hide from them, and make sure every creditor gets at least a little each month. Bit by bit, you’ll watch your load lighten, your confidence return, and your hope grow. The plan is simple. The discipline is hard. But the self-respect and freedom you gain make every sacrifice worth it—give it a go with your next payment.