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How They Split Debt
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How They Conceded Debt
The people who tamed debt did so in their own way. Read their stories to help inspire your own payoff process.
Written by Amrita Jayakumar Writer The Washington Post Amrita Jayakumar was a former special assignment reporter for NerdWallet. She also wrote a syndicated column about millennials and money, and covered personal loans and consumer credit and debt. In the past, she worked as a reporter at The Washington Post. Her work was published in The Miami Herald and USAToday. Amrita holds a master's diploma in journalism from the University ofMissouri.
Written by Kathy Hinson Lead Assigning Editor Personal financial, credit scoring, financial management and debt Kathy Hinson leads the core personal finance team at NerdWallet. Prior to joining NerdWallet, she worked for 18 years working at The Oregonian in Portland in roles including copy desk chief and team director of design and editing. Previous experience included copy editing and news for various Southern California newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. She received a bachelor's degree in mass communications and journalism from the University of Iowa.
Many or all of the products we feature are provided by our partners who pay us. This impacts the types of products we review and the location and manner in which the product appears on the page. But, it doesn't affect our assessments. Our opinions are entirely our own. Here's a list and .
Two teachers raked out More than $53,000
Jae Bratton and her husband
The rumor that kids are costly? Fact! That's why Jae Bratton and her husband an educator who is also a friend was focused on paying off their debts over the three years leading up to the birth of their first child.
From $20K to $0 in five years and eight Steps
Photo taken by Jonathan Sharpe
It took some years -and almost every method in the book- for Kenley Young to wipe out more than $20,000 in the credit card debt. Through that period Kenley learned a lot about how pay-down dreams can collide and the realities of significant life circumstances. Now , as a NerdWallet editor, the author discusses what tools made the most impact on his way to $0.
Crushing a Goal Leads to Helping Others
Photo from Sandra Leigh Photography
The offer of a book on personal finance prompted Holly Carey to get serious about understanding and wiping out her debt. She learned about zero-based budgeting, and cut back on expenses whenever she could, for example, moving in with a roommate. After zeroing out more than $55,000 in 26 months, she was compelled to share advice with friends and family -- and eventually landed a job as an editor at NerdWallet.
Pandemic After Payoff Tests Couple's Resilience
Just months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, Anthony and Jhanilka Hartzog paid off the last $114,000 of debt. They'd devised their own budget that was beneficial to their needs, created new income streams and exploited a reduced cost of living following moving to New York to Dallas. We checked in with them nearly two years later and asked if the Hartzogs successful in avoiding debt in the face of a global pandemic that strained the finances of many families? What advice can they offer to others who are looking to cut back on debt of their own?
Renovating the home, Increasing the business
In the event that job loss slowed household income for Karen and Sylvester Akpan, the couple made the bold choice to move out of their home in Los Angeles and purchase an RV. They focused on expanding their travel blog, as well as the associated Instagram account and were able eliminate their debt within an entire year. Their path is unusual, but points to a universal truth: Lowering expenses and generating more income means more money for debt reduction.
Getting On Board With a Budget for Baby
Former Zookeeper Steffa Mantilla says she didn't use any techniques for animal training to convince her husband to come to join the debt reduction plan.
Though she could have convinced him to stay, the Houston couple paid off more than $70,000 of debt over five years. The idea of having a child served as a catalyst for their financial transformation.
Cutting small expenses was an Objection of Majority
Refinancing student loans was the beginning of the journey to pay off Neal and Laura Fogarty. They then searched for ways to cut costs to make sure they could use every penny they could spare towards removing debt. They were able to pay off $36,600 in eight years.
Rebounding from Bankruptcy
Rashad and Nirvanna Muhammad carried financial burdens and student debt as they married and built a family. After filing for bankruptcy that they had to deal with, they narrowed their focus and put in the effort to pay off $179,000 in just under four years.
Keeping a 'Passion for Fashion on the Road to Repayment
The promise of a fresh start to her life -with a house and a family -- inspired Caitlin Forni determined about paying off her debt. Caitlin Forni paid out $123,000 of student and car loans over the course of nine years.
A Saver, a Spender and dreams of a family
As Kendall Berry and her husband began planning their future They became serious about paying off their debt. Here's how they ditched nearly $54,000 in just an entire year.
"Happiness Journey" Fueled Payoff
(Photo from Abby Bengs)
After accumulating more than $200,000 in student loans for law school Okeoma Moronu decided to take an approach that was purposeful to her finances and life and erased her debts in six and a half years.
From 'Extravagantly Bloke' to Comfortably Frugal
DeShena Woodard, a nurse from Texas was a nurse from Texas. She had no savings and lived paycheck to paycheck until she changed her ways and completed the repayment of more than $50,000 in just three years.
Little Splurges on the Path to Freedom
Brian and Lindsey Baldwin wiped out $130,000 in student loans in under four years -- and still managed some treats for their families during the process.
Small wins help in achieving an enthralling Dream
Bernadette Joy and AJ Maulion paid off student loans and two mortgages, a staggering amount of $309,800. They also started building a small business. The formula: Live on one salary, celebrate small wins.
Whipping Up a Payoff 'Tornado'
When Steven Donovan didn't want to plug his debt numbers into a budgeting program and he was aware of the need to take action. The challenge of tackling his debt that he hated the most helped him 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 debt by the time she turned 25. Through a budget-friendly life right after college and taking advantage of every opportunity she had, McGowan got rid of just over $36,000 of debt in just two years.
"It helped make our marriage Strong'
(Photo from Amelia Campbell Photography)
Ray Bailey Robertson and Bailey Robertson paid off over $33,000 in 18 months thanks to a determined strategy, lean lifestyle, tight partnership and plenty of planning.
Redefining "Best Life" Scaling Back
Sonia Sears ended up deep in debt while trying to live her "best life" in university and later. But she conquered her mountain of debt by working harder in a smaller amount of travel and returning home. She paid off $79,000 in just two years.
Kicking Frugality Into High Gear
Ben as well as Melissa Panter were always frugal however, when they were faced with an enormous mortgage and increasing student loan amounts, the couple realized they had to kick frugality into high gear. The Panters paid off $127,000 in nearly four years.
Side Jobs, Meal Planning and Faith
(Photo from Brok as well as Amanda Hansmeyer)
In their roles as teachers Jamie and Jenna Griffin were overwhelmed by student loans. They used the budget and work hard to pay off over 100,000 in just five and five-and-a-half years.
Making the most of the Gig Economy
(Photo taken by Shane Henderson)
Kara Perez doubled down on part-time jobs for the purpose of paying off her student loans worth $25,302 in three and a half years.
Holiday bills can break a couple's budget
Christmas gifts added on top of debt already incurred convinced Anthony Hartzog and his wife to pay off $114,151 over 23 months.
The Thrifty Living along with Side Gigs
With careful budgeting, while working full-time , and supplementing her income, Tanya Nwamkpa paid off $57,000 in five years.
'We Have Choices And Again'
Their finances began to fall apart 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 of high-interest debt.
Overcoming College Credit Card Balances
Natalie Tomko aimed to pay the credit card debt by her 30th birthday. It took six years, a hardship plan and support from the community to achieve it.
Making Budgets for Changing Habits and Budgeting for a Baby
When they learned that a baby was due After they learned that a baby was on the way, the Baggerlys overhauled their carefree spending and began budgeting. two kids later, paying off $111,108.
Smart Solutions for 'Stupidest Decision'
Cameron Merriman paid off $95,000 of student loan debt in just five years while being in the city that is one of the highest priced in America.
"It became a game for Us'
Josh and Jessie Boyce paid off $147,000 in debt in a little three years after realizing debt was holding them from financial freedom.
A Medal-Worthy Olympian's Olympic Juggling Act
John Coyle's $147,000 debt helped pay for his Olympics race, and, after landing a six-figure gig, Coyle paid it off over 15 years.
Tenacious Concentration on the Goal
New college graduate Samantha Ealy paid off more than $70,000 in a little under three years -- having multiple jobs, and at times even neglecting her health.
Becoming a Budget Obsessive
A mix of student loans, the car loan and credit card debts and home improvement financing left the Browns $72,000 in debt, forcing them to create their own budget.
Engineer Goes Old-School With Pen and Paper
Despite receiving scholarships, Brianna Harrington graduated college with $40,000 of student loan debt. Determined to eliminate it she devised an ambitious budget plan to pay it off in 26 months.
Setting Pride Aside and Asking for Help
Jesse Nuno was laid off during the recession and was in debt on a loan for a mortgage as well as auto loans. Cara could not pay her debts because of her disability. The couple sought help from a credit counsellor to pay off $272, 261 over five years.
A Wish List Kept Her Going
(Photo taken by Jim Gion, 2015)
Melanie Lockert resolved to wipe 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 Rapid
Anna Newell Jones entered married life with a debt of $24,000. She forced herself to spend speedy pace and paid it off in just 15 months.
New Parents Quit Credit Cards
Lydia Senn and her husband pretended they weren't deep in debt until they found out they were expecting their first child. Being a thrifty couple, working part-time jobs, and budgeting allowed them to pay off $36,000 in just over two years.
Grad Gives Gift to Her Future Self
Ogechi Igbokwe did not want to be another college loan statistic. To prepare herself for success, she was thrifty and eventually paid back $26,000 in three years.
Financial Goals Are Family Goals
Newlyweds Nicole as well as Andy Hill saw debt as an obstacle to reaching their goals. The couple made budgeting into an everyday routine and eliminated almost $50,000 of debt in a single year.
No Sleep for New Parents Until Payoff
Chelsea and Nate Day ended up owing her family $52,000 following a bungled homebuying experience. The family debt left the Days nervous as they cut costs to settle it in six months.
Homemade Tracker Kept Her Cooking
Food writer and chef Stephanie Stiavetti racked up debt to pursue her culinary ambitions. But she knew the if she did not adjust to a more relaxed lifestyle, she'd be stuck with debt of $64,000 for decades.
Being newly single, I knew I Had to Help Myself'
At age 25 Carrie Smith Nicholson found herself divorced and $14,000 in debt. She realized she had to find a new job, cut down on spending , and get herself from the hole.
The process of obtaining an education through student loans
After college, Kara Stevens found herself in the middle of students loans as well as credit card bills. After she learned about the subject, Stevens resolved to deal with it head-on, paying off $65,000 in just six years.
Extra Payments Became Her Obsession
When Jackie Beck lost her job and was forced to struggle to afford food and housing She was forced to pay off her debts. Beck became obsessed with small installments and paid off $147,106 in ten years.
Making sense of cents
By age 23, Michelle Schroeder-Gardner had earned three college degrees she was married and had bought an apartment. She graduated with $38,000 student debt and decided she'd take it out as fast as possible.
Money Under 30
David Weliver didn't tackle his $80,000 debt until he was faced with an unpopular choice: pay rent or pay a credit card bill. He consolidated his debts, cut down on the cost of living, and worked at a second job to pay off the debt within three years.
Lauren Greutman
Lauren who was a big spender was embarrassed she let her spouse, Mark, a saver, know how badly she'd managed their family finances. After she admitted her mistakes and changed her spending habits she paid down $40,000 in two years.
Money Peach
Chris Peach and his wife Andrea hit rock-bottom when they used up all their credit cards, and could not pay for their groceries. Peach, a firefighter by education, followed a step-by-step approach for paying off the $52,000 in seven months.
Debt Discipline
Brian Brandow had his debt revelation after he had to inform 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 $109,000 in four years.
Cait Flanders
In her early 20s Flanders accrued debt of more than $30,000 after saying "yes" to everything. Through monitoring her expenses and cutting down on unnecessary purchases, she was able to pay the debt off in just two years.
Active Budgeting pays off
Newlyweds and recent graduates with debts of $20,000, Johnny and Joanna Galbraith determinedly devised 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 house that had all the amenities of wealth however, they were $4000 in credit. They downsized their lifestyle and began to save, and in less than 2 years they were debt-free.
Intelligent Spending, Dedication
Zina Kumok was a college graduate with $24,000 of Student loan debt. But since she was making $28,000 a year, she realized that she needed to do something about her debt. It was paid back in three years.
The Family CEO
Julie Mayfield and her husband confronted 18 years' worth of debt -totaling $59,000 -- to fund their daughter's first semester of college. They put any money they could spare towards debt, and paid it off over 22 months.
'Monster Payments'
Amanda Page graduated with $48,500 in student loan debt. Ten years later, realizing she'd paid off less than $1000 of her debt after which she decided to take on more work and employed a method that consisted of "monster payments" to pay it off over 14 months.
Penny Pinchin"Mom
Before getting married, Tracie Fobes declared bankruptcy to pay off debt. However, by the time the couple were expecting their first child, they'd accumulated $37,000 more. Discussions about money lead them to repay it within just two years.
Queen of Free
Cherie Lowe as well her husband Brian were carrying more than $127,000 in debt, spread over payday loans, medical bills and student loans. The birth of their second child spurred a lifestyle change, and they became debt-free within four years.
The Budgetnista
(Photo by Tinnetta Bell.)
Tiffany Aliche was saddled with $55,000 in graduate school loans and $40,000 credit card debt, and the sum of $200,000 due to a mortgage that was in default. She returned home, and then reverted to a cash-only lifestyle to pay off the debt.
A Wallet that is well-kept
Deacon Hayes and his wife Kim used debt as a way to fund their lifestyle. When they were in $52,000 of debt and were living from paycheck for paycheck, they realized they needed to act. The Hayes paid it off in 18 months.
His and Her Money
When they were newlyweds, Talaat and Tai McNeely were financially different and had approximately $30,000 of debt. They had a single income and used the rest to pay off their debts in one year.
Debt Free Guys
John Schneider and David Auten have years of experience in financial services -- however they were able to accumulate $51,000 in debit card balances. They reduced their spending, used a 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 has previously worked for The Washington Post and the Miami Herald.
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