How I Saved $13,500 in a Year (and How You Can Too)

Borrowing money without a detailed plan to pay it back? That’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Let me take you back to 2020.

The world was on lockdown, the housing market was on fire, and buyers were overbidding by $10K to $15K just to land a home. My wife and I were house hunting—specifically looking for a residential multifamily property. We had been searching for five months straight, and every time we found something that fit our criteria, it was either gone in a flash or we got outbid.

It got so discouraging that my wife said we should take a break until next spring. And honestly, I agreed. But then... we decided to look at just one more property. (It’s always the last one, right?)

That last one? We got it. Under contract. Not without some hurdles, but it was ours.
(If you’re interested in the real estate side of the story, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to share.)

The Unexpected Curveball

Shortly after closing, our insurance company gave us a deadline: we had 12 months to replace the roof, or we’d be dropped. Dramatic, right?

After shopping around, we landed a contractor who quoted us $13,500 for the job—and offered a 12-month promotion: Pay in full within the year, and we’d pay zero interest.

That was the opportunity. Now we just needed a plan.

Step 1: Reverse Engineer the Goal

The goal: Save $13,500 in 12 months. Here’s how I broke it down:

• $13,500 ÷ 12 months = $1,125/month

• I got paid bi-monthly, so $1,125 ÷ 2 = $562.50 per paycheck

• I rounded up to $565, just to build in a small buffer

That’s it. Every two weeks, I needed to stash away $565 like clockwork.

Step 2: Create a System That Protects the Plan

Discipline is easier when temptation is out of sight.

I opened a separate online savings account—completely separate from my main bank. That way, the money wouldn’t be visible in my everyday checking account.

Here’s the exact setup:

1. Opened a new account with an online bank

2. Got the account and routing numbers

3. Logged into my employer portal and adjusted my direct deposit

4. Set it up so $565 went straight to that new savings account every paycheck

5. Monitored the next 1–2 pay cycles to make sure everything was flowing smoothly

Once that was done, the system was working behind the scenes. No guesswork. No willpower needed. Just automation.

Step 3: Stay Disciplined (The Hardest Part)

This part? It’s simple, but it’s not easy.

There were plenty of moments when unexpected expenses popped up. Emergencies, temptations, “just this once” moments. But I made a promise to myself not to touch that account—no matter what.

If you're new to saving, this will be tough. You’ll want to dip in. But trust me: creating distance between you and your money makes all the difference.

(And for the record, yes—I already had an emergency fund for life’s surprises. If you don’t yet, it’s okay. Start where you are. Build that muscle.)

Step 4: The Moment of Truth

Twelve months later, the bill arrived: $13,500 due.

I opened the envelope and stared at that number. My stomach turned a bit. Writing that check felt heavy.

But then I checked the savings account. The money was all there. Every dollar. Untouched.

And just like that, it was done. I didn’t owe interest. I didn’t need to scramble. I had followed through on a plan I built from scratch—and it worked.

The True Payoff

Yes, the roof got replaced. But the real win? I proved to myself I could build a system, stay consistent, and follow through.

Even more importantly, I now knew:
✅ I could save $565 every paycheck.
✅ I could redirect that money toward other goals or investments.
✅ I didn’t need to wait for someone to save me. I had a plan, and it worked.

Most people, when they finish paying off a loan or debt, start spending more. I want to challenge you to do something different: Keep paying yourself.

Pay Yourself First

It’s a principle I didn’t truly understand when I was younger. I thought getting a paycheck meant I was “paying myself.” But the real idea is this:

Before you pay bills, splurge, or give money away—pay yourself.

Start with 10% to 15% of your income. Save it or invest it. As you get better at it, increase the percentage. Once you start seeing progress, you’ll want to keep going.

Final Thoughts

If this story helped you, awesome. That was the goal.

I share these lessons for people who can’t afford financial coaching (yet), because I believe you still deserve to win with money.

But if you are in a position to speed up the process and want a custom plan tailored to your life, let’s work together. That’s exactly what I do.

👉🏽 Book your coaching session here
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Remember: you don’t rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your systems. Build one that works for you.