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How They Ditched Debt
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How They Split Debt
The people who tamed debt did so on their own terms. Check out their tales to guide your own debt-payoff journey.
Written by Amrita Jayakumar Writer The Washington Post Amrita Jayakumar is a former special assignments writer for NerdWallet. She also wrote a syndicated column about the financial situation of millennials, and wrote about personal loans as well as consumer credit and debt. In the past, she worked as a reporter at The Washington Post. Her work has been featured on The Miami Herald and USAToday. Amrita holds a master's diploma of journalism at the University ofMissouri.
Editor: Kathy Hinson Lead Assigning Editor Personal financial, credit scoring, financial management and debt Kathy Hinson leads the Core Personal Finance team at NerdWallet. Previously, she spent 18 years with The Oregonian in Portland in roles including copy desk chief and team director of design and editing. Previous experience included news and copy editing for a variety of Southern California newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. She earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication and journalism in The University of Iowa.
Many or all of the products we feature are from our partners who compensate us. This affects the products we feature as well as the place and way the product appears on the page. However, this doesn't affect our assessments. Our opinions are entirely our own. Here's a list of and .
Two Teachers raked in More than $53,000
Jae Bratton and her husband
The rumor that kids are cost-conscious? Fact! That's why Jae Bratton and her husband who is a teacher in the same school determined to pay their debts in the three years prior to the birth of their first child.
From $20K to zero in 5 years and 8 Steps
Photo taken by Jonathan Sharpe
It took several years- and just about every technique in the bookto allow Kenley Young to wipe out more than $20k in charge card debt. Over that time, he learned many things about how paying down dreams can be entangled and the realities of major life situations. As a NerdWallet editor, he shares which tools had the greatest influence on his path to reach $0.
Crushing a Goal Leads to Helping Others
Photo taken by Sandra Leigh Photography. Sandra Leigh Photography
The present of a book about personal finances prompted Holly Carey to get serious about understanding and eliminating her debt. She discovered zero-based budgeting, and cut back on expenses wherever possible, such as moving in with a roommate. After spending less than $55,000 in just 26 months, she was inspired to share her tips with family and friends -which eventually led to a job as an editor at NerdWallet.
Pandemic after Payoff Tests Test Couple's Resilience
In the months prior to when the COVID-19 disease struck across the United States, Anthony and Jhanilka Hartzog paid off the last of their $114,000 in debt. They'd developed a budget that worked for them, created additional income streams and took advantage of a lower cost of living as a result of moving from New York to Dallas. We spoke to them nearly two years later -- were the Hartzogs successful in avoiding debt in the face of an epidemic that has strained the finances of numerous families? And what tips can they give to other families who are looking to cut back on debt of their own?
Downsizing the Home, Growing the Business
In the event that job loss slowed the household income of Karen Akpan and Sylvester Akpan, the couple decided to sell their Los Angeles-area home and buy an RV. They concentrated on expanding their travel blog as well as an associated Instagram account, and were able to repay their debts in a year. Their path is unusual, but points to an underlying truth: reducing costs and generating more income means more cash to pay off debt.
Making the Right Choices with a Budgeting for Baby
Former Zookeeper Steffa Mantilla claims she did not use any techniques for animal training to convince her husband to join the same page with his debt reduction plan.
Though she could have convinced him to stay, the Houston couple had paid off more than $70,000 in debt in five years. Planning for a baby served as a catalyst for their money makeover.
Cutting small expenses was is a Major Goal
Refinancing students loans was the start of the process of paying off Neal and Laura Fogarty. Then they went on the hunt for expenses to trim so that they could spend every dollar they earned towards eliminating debt. They were able to pay off $36,600 in eight years.
Rebounding from Bankruptcy
Rashad and Nirvanna Mohammed weighed the burden of student loans and financial difficulties as they married and built the family they would eventually create. After filing for bankruptcy, they narrowed their focus and made the sacrifices necessary to pay off $179,000 in less than four years.
Maintaining a 'Passion for Fashion on the Road to Repayment
The promise of a new start to her life -having a home and a family -- inspired Caitlin Forni to become more focused on paying off her debt. The woman paid back $123,000 worth of car and student loans within nine years.
A Spender, a Saver and dreams of a family
As Kendall Berry and her husband began planning their future They became serious about repaying their debt. This is how they paid off nearly $54,000 in less than one year.
"Happiness Journey" Fueled Payment
(Photo from Abby Bengs)
After incurring more than $200,000 in student loans to attend law school, Okeoma Moronu decided that she wanted to take an intentional approach to her life and finances and wiped out her debt in just six and one-half years.
From 'Extravagantly Broke' to Comfortably Frugal
DeShena Woodard, a nurse from Texas she had nothing in savings and lived from paycheck till payday until the day she changed her lifestyle and was able to pay off over $50,000 in just three years.
Little Splurges along the Path to Freedom
Brian and Lindsey Baldwin wiped out $130,000 in student loans in less than four years -- and still managed some treats for the family throughout the process.
Small Wins Help Achieve an enthralling Dream
Bernadette Joy and AJ Maulion paid off student loans and two mortgages for a total of $309,800, while developing a small business. The secret recipe for success: Live on a single salary Celebrate small victories.
Whipping Up a Payoff 'Tornado'
If Steven Donovan didn't want to plug his debt numbers into a budgeting app He knew he needed to take action. In the end, tackling his most hated debt allowed him to pay off $118,000 over five years.
'I Just Pretended I Didn't have Money'
Sarah McGowan's aim was to be free of student loans at the age of 25. By living a low-cost lifestyle after graduating from college and working at every opportunity she could, McGowan got rid of a little over $36,000 in debt in less than two years.
"It helped make our marriage Strong'
(Photo by Amelia Campbell Photography)
Ray and Bailey Robertson paid off over $33,000 in just 18 months thanks to an aggressive strategy, slim lifestyle, close partnership and plenty of planning.
Redefining "Best Life," The Scaling Back
Sonia Sears ended up deep in the red while pursuing her "best life" in university and later. She was able to overcome her debts by working harder, traveling less and returning home. She was able to pay off $79,000 about two years.
Kicking Frugality Into High Gear
Ben as well as Melissa Panter were always frugal However, when they had to face the prospect of a huge mortgage and growing students loan balances, they knew they needed to put their budgeting into high gear. The Panters paid off $127,000 over nearly four years.
The Side Job, Meal Planning and Faith
(Photo by Brok as well as Amanda Hansmeyer)
As teachers, Jamie along with Jenna Griffin were overwhelmed by students loans. They used budgeting and hard work to pay off over $100,000 over five and five-and-a-half years.
How to Make the Most of a Big Economy
(Photo taken by Shane Henderson)
Kara Perez doubled down on part-time employment in order to repay student loans worth $25,302 in three and one-half years.
Holiday bills can break a couple's budget
Christmas gifts added over existing debt led Anthony Hartzog and his wife to take action and pay off $114,151 over 23 months.
Affordable Living and Side Gigs
Through careful budgeting, being full-time while supplementing her income, Tanya nwamkpa paid off $57,000 in five years.
'We have Choices Again'
Their finances started to skid with a job loss in 2009. Despite making mistakes along the way, Adam and Sally Cleary were able to get out of over $11,000 in high-interest debt.
Conquering College Credit Card Balances
Natalie Tomko aimed to pay off $50,000 in credit card debt before the age of 30. It took six years, a plan for hardship and the support of her community to accomplish it.
Changing Habits, Budgeting for a Baby
After discovering that a child was on the way, the Baggerlys revamped their lifestyle and started budgeting, and two years later, two children paying off $111,108.
Smart Solutions for 'Stupidest Decision'
Cameron Merriman paid $95,000 worth of student loan debt in five years while living in one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
'It Became Like a Game to Us'
Josh as well as Jessie Boyce paid off $147,000 in debt in a little more than three years after realizing debt was holding them behind from financial freedom.
A Medal-Worthy Olympian's Olympic Juggling Act
John Coyle's $147,000 debt helped finance his Olympics campaign, and after landing a six-figure gig, Coyle paid it off over 15 years.
Affirmative Concentration on the Goal
New college graduate Samantha Ealy paid off more than $70,000 in under three years -- working multiple jobs and sometimes ignoring her health.
Being a Budget Obsessive
A mix of student loans, a car loan as well as credit card debts, and home improvement financing left the Browns with debts of $72,000, forcing them to create budget.
Engineer goes back to school with Pen and Paper
Despite receiving scholarships, Brianna Harrington graduated college with $40,000 in students loan debt. Determined to get rid of it she devised a strict budget that would pay off the debt over 26 months.
Distinguishing Pride Away and Asking for help
Jesse Nuno was laid off during the financial crisis and fell behind on a mortgage as well as auto loans. Cara could not pay her debts due to disability. The couple turned to a credit advisor to pay off $272, 261 over the course of five years.
A Wish List kept her on track
(Photo taken by Jim Gion, 2015)
Melanie Lockert decided to pay off $57,426 of debt. She motivated herself by making wish lists of things she'd be able to accomplish after becoming debt-free.
'Born Spender" is a Spending Fast
Anna Newell Jones entered married life with a debt of $24,000. She was forced to spend speedy pace and paid it off in just 15 months.
New Parents Quit Credit Cards
Lydia Senn and her husband claimed they didn't have a lot of debt until they became pregnant with their very first baby. Being a thrifty couple, working part-time jobs, and budgeting allowed them to pay off $36,000 in less than two years.
Grad Gives Gift to Her Future Self
Ogechi Igbokwe did not want to become a student loan statistic. To prepare herself for success, she ate well as well as paid down $26,000 over three years.
Financial Goals for Families Are Family Goals
Newlyweds Nicole and Andy Hill saw debt as a roadblock to achieving goals. They made budgeting an everyday routine and eliminated nearly $50,000 in debt in the span of one year.
There is no rest for the new parents until they get their payoff
Chelsea along with Nate Day ended up owing her family $52,000 following an unintentional home purchase. The family debt made the Days uncomfortable, so they slashed expenses to pay it off in six months.
Homemade Tracker Kept Her Cooking
Chef and food writer Stephanie Stiavetti racked up debt to pursue her culinary dreams. However, she was aware it was a fact that, if they didn't adjust her lifestyle, she'd end up stuck with debt of $64,000 for decades.
Newly Single, 'I Knew I Had to Help Myself'
At the age of 25 Carrie Smith Nicholson found herself divorced and in debt of $14,000. She realized she would need to find a new job, cut down on spending and dig herself out of the hole.
Learning to be a student with Student loans
After college, Kara Stevens found herself struggling with the burden of student loans along with credit card balances. Once she educated herself on debt, Stevens determined to take on it head-on, paying off $65,000 in six years.
The Extra Payments She Received became Her Obsession
When Jackie Beck lost her job and struggled to cover the cost of food and rent She was forced to pay off her debts. Beck became obsessed with tiny payments and paid off $147.106 over a period of 10 years.
Making sense of cents
At age 23 Michelle Schroeder-Gardner earned three college degrees, gotten married and bought a house. Her graduation came with $38,000 of student loans and decided that to pay it off as fast as she could.
Money Under 30
David Weliver didn't tackle his $80,000 debt until he faced an unpopular choice: pay rent or pay for a debt from his credit card. He consolidated debts, reduced the cost of living, and landed at a second job to pay off the debt over three years.
Lauren Greutman
Lauren who was a big spender was embarrassed she let her spouse, Mark who was a saver know how badly she'd managed the family's finances. Once she owned up and changed her spending habits, they paid off $40,000 within two years.
Money Peach
Chris Peach and his wife Andrea hit rock-bottom when they maxed out their credit cards and were unable to pay for groceries. Peach, a firefighter by education, followed a step-by-step approach for paying off the $52,000 within seven months.
Debt Discipline
Brian Brandow had his debt revelation as a father-of-three children had to tell his family that there would be no vacation that year. The Brandows had maxed out their credit cards. They used a debt management plan to pay off the balance of $109,000 over the course of four years.
Cait Flanders
In her early 20s Flanders amassed debts of close to $30,000 because she said "yes" to everything. Through a careful eye on expenses and cutting back on unnecessary purchases, she paid the balance off in two years.
Active Budgeting Pays off
Newlyweds and recent graduates with $20,000 in debt, Johnny and Joanna Galbraith were determined to create an attack plan and get out of the red. They paid it off in 1.5 years.
My Shiny Nickels
Laura Dobbins and her family resided in a luxurious home that had all the amenities of wealth however, they were $40,000 . They downsized their lifestyle and started saving. And within less than two years, they had become debt-free.
Smart spending, dedication
Zina Kumok graduated college with $24,000 student loan debt. But since she was making an average of $28,000 per year, she realized she had to get serious about the debt. The debt was paid off over three years.
The Family CEO
Julie Mayfield and her husband had to take on 18 years of debt -- which amounted to $59,000 to finance their daughter's first year of college. They put any money they could to debt and paid it off over 22 months.
'Monster Payments'
Amanda Page graduated with $48,500 in student loan debt. Ten years later, realizing that she had paid off less than $1,000 of her balance after which she resigned herself to additional work and employed a method to make "monster payment" to pay off the debt within 14 months.
Penny Pinchin"Mom
Prior to marriage, Tracie Fobes declared bankruptcy to get rid of debt. However, by the time they and their husband had their very first son, they had accumulated $37,000 more. Open conversations about money led them pay it off within just two years.
Queen of Free
Cherie Lowe, along with her husband Brian who was a bachelor, had more than $127,000 of debt which was spread out over payday loans, medical bills and student loans. The birth of their second child prompted a lifestyle change, and they were debt-free in four years.
The Budgetnista
(Photo by Tinnetta Bell.)
Tiffany Aliche was saddled with $55,000 in graduate school loans, $40,000 in credit card debt, and $200,000 from a defaulted mortgage. Then she returned to her to her home, and then switched to an all-cash lifestyle in order to pay off the debt.
A Wallet that is well-kept
Deacon Hayes and his wife Kim made use of credit to pay for their daily expenses. When they were $52,000 in debt and living paycheck to paycheck, they knew they had to do something about it. The Hayes completed the repayment in 18 months.
His and Her Money
When they were newlyweds, Talaat and Tai McNeely had different financial habits and approximately $30,000 of debt. They lived on one income, and utilized the other to pay off their debts within one year.
Debt Free Guys
John Schneider and David Auten have years of experience in the financial sector -- however, they managed to accumulate $51,000 in the credit card industry. They cut down on spending, used an account balance transfer, and paid it off over 18 months.
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About the author: Amrita Jayakumar is a former writer for NerdWallet. She previously worked at The Washington Post and the Miami Herald.
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