Celebration along the way is key to the journey of becoming debt free.
Every accomplished goal should be recognized because it propels us forward towards the next goal.
Part of my passion around the topic of personal finance, A.K.A. Bossing Your Dollars, is creating community because doing hard stuff alone is not fun. In fact, I think doing hard stuff alone is pretty much impossible.
So in the spirit of community, we are celebrating Michelle’s money journey. I hope you enjoy reading her story and are inspired by her words below.
Michelle, tell me a little about YOU.
I currently work in customer service/sales for a distributing company. A few current favorites in my life right now are yoga, spending time with my dog, going to concerts and investing in myself growth.
I’m enjoying reading anything about human habits and the why/what initiations them right now.
I completed my associates in business administration from Ivy Tech Fort Wayne in 2015.
So tell me about the debt you had and your journey with it.
This debt was a student loan I took out back in 2008 to attend a private art institute in Chicago. This loan of $2,900 had to go because it just felt like it was holding me back.
I took on different jobs with the motivation to pay that loan off quickly. Along the way, I’ve also taken on some credit card debt, a personal loan and a car loan.
While you were paying off your debt, what type of money-saving tips have helped you the most over the past years?
The time of deferment came to an end. I felt so overwhelmed looking at the total pay back. I remember just calling the lender and talking to a representative. I had him explain everything about the loan to me.
He helped me work out a minimum payment of only 25.00 a month. It was small but manageable for me.
Over the next year I increased that payment as I got promotions.
Michelle, what wisdom would you give to someone a few years younger than you?
I’m 30 now. I took that loan out when I was 19.
When you need to make a big money decision, be sure you ask questions. Challenge the lender if you need a loan. Be sure you have all the facts and you’re clear on the decision you’re making.
Getting out of debt is hard work but there’s always a purpose to it. What are you wanting to do once you are debt-free?
I do hope to relocate soon and do some traveling to the east coast.
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Do you know someone who has a great Boss Your Dollars story to share? Perhaps you’d love to share your own journey with our readers. You don’t have to be debt-free. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.
We’d LOVE to feature you here on The Debt-Free Mama! Just email me – heather@thedebtfreemama.com
