Paying off debt is more than just saving money and paying more than the minimum. It’s a lot about your mindset as well as motivation. I talk a lot about how earning more helped me pay down debt but I also did some interesting things to stay motivated that are a bit unconventional (like buy rewards on Groupon and create a debt-free dream list). Check out my latest post “5 Motivational Hacks to Pay Off Debt” on Our Debt Free Family.
If you’re new to my story, you can read the nitty-gritty details and timeline of how I paid off $81,000 in student loans over at Blogging Away Debt. In reality, it was probably closer to six figures with all of the interest I paid.
Given everything that is going on right now, I’m so happy to be debt-free. It’s one less thing to deal with and helps me focus on building savings and wealth, so I can protect myself and this uncertain future.
If you’re in debt, know that it’s possible to pay off debt. Sometimes you just need to know what’s possible to get inspired. Before I discovered personal finance blogs, I didn’t know it was possible as I never knew anyone who had paid off debt. I thought debt was the norm.
But it doesn’t have to be.
You can be unconventional, in a good way.
Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, Dear Debt. Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat, which helps bold women face their fears, own their dreams and figure out a plan to be in control of their finances. She is passionate about empowering women, helping others get out of debt, and focuses on the intersection of debt and mental health. Every September she organizes a Suicide Prevention Awareness Blog Tour, to help share resources for those struggling with debt and suicide. In addition to her love of personal finance, art and music, she is also a karaoke master and a cat mom to Miles and Thelonious.