BOOKS
12 Steps to Eliminate Debt and Build Wealth
A Step-By-Step Guide to Become Financially Independent
I decided to get out of debt in 2010. I made my last non-mortgage payment in 2016. Somewhere in between, I quit trying to track every latte and built a system that did the work for me. This book is that system, written down in the order I wish someone had handed it to me.
If any of this sounds familiar, this book is for you
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You're living paycheck to paycheck, or you earn a good salary and still can't see where it goes.
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You've tried a budget app with 80 categories and gave up by March.
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You and your partner argue about money more than you'd like to admit.
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You know you should be saving and investing, but you don't know what comes first.
Five numbers instead of 80 budget categories
Most budgets fail because they ask for perfect tracking and endless willpower. Neither of those lasts. The Undetailed Budget runs on five numbers:
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Income: the lowest month of the last three, rounded down.
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Recurring Expenses: the bills that show up whether you spend anything or not.
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Discretionary Income: what's left, and the money you actually control.
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Personal Spending: a guilt-free amount for each spender. No receipts, no lectures.
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Savings & Debt Repayment: the surplus, pointed at your current step.
Set those once, automate the transfers, and your budget runs itself.
Follow the sequence. Don't guess the next move.
Each step frees up money for the next one. Do them in order and you always know what to do with your next dollar.
Phase 1: Build a Foundation
1: Create an Undetailed Budget
2: Separate Income & Expenses
3: Save 1-Month Emergency Fund
4: Eliminate High-Interest Debt
Phase 2: Build a Routine
5: Review Insurance and Wills
6: Get Employer Match for Retirement
7: Save 6-Month Emergency Fund
8: Eliminate All Non-Mortgage Debt
Phase 3: Build a Legacy
9: Invest 15% of Gross Income to Retirement
10: Save for College
11: Use HSA to Self-Insure for Long-Term Care
12: Pay Off Mortgage
Throughout the book, I follow a Median Income Family bringing home $5,000 a month. You'll watch them go from a monthly deficit to a real surplus, one step at a time, with real numbers and real tradeoffs.
Behavior matters more than math
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Built to be followed, not admired. The system is light enough that you'll still be doing it next year.
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One household, one plan. Simple account flows mean fewer arguments and spending that's fair to everyone.
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No magic beans or shortcuts. Just the right order of operations, and the patience to follow it.
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon
Robert Carpenter, Reedsy
★★★★
"Loved it! Jay Rigler provides a fresh perspective on tackling debt and building wealth, offering relatable examples and realistic strategies."
SPR
★★★★
"A practical and easy-to-follow guide for financial independence and future planning. Rigler offers a transparent and relatable peek into his choices, and his prescriptions are realistic and attainable in the real world. If you have a challenging relationship with money, this judgment-free solution from someone who has clearly 'walked the walk' offers a candid and refreshing system for managing personal finances."
NewInBooks
"Clear, practical, and empowering, 12 Steps to Eliminate Debt and Build Wealth is a no-nonsense guide to breaking free from financial stress and building lasting wealth—perfect for anyone ready to ditch debt and take control of their financial future."
Pick your format
Available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle (free with Kindle Unlimited) and audiobook. 208 pages.
Want to do the work, not just read about it?
The companion workbooks follow the book chapter by chapter, with a fillable worksheet for every step. Get one phase at a time, or save with the Complete Edition.
