How This Family Paid Off Over $90k & Became Debt Free in 21 Months!
melaniedj • 25 June 2020
To kick off my debt-free series on the blog, I have an amazing mama sharing her debt-free story! I'm so excited to start this series because hearing from others has an amazing way of making you feel like you're not in this alone!
Courtney details her families experience below! I highly recommend following her on Instagram!
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a stay at home mom blogger with a 17 month old toddler, and a baby on the way! I have a few “side gigs” here and there to help support our vacation and home renovation funds, but love focusing on where God has called me first and foremost: motherhood.
Give us a little background on your debt. How much was it? What kind of debt? How long did it take you to pay it off? How did your spouse feel about it?
My husband and I both had school debt, car debt, and credit card debt. Our total debts added to over $90k! We were both on the same page with getting it paid off and being debt free, although I was more “gung ho” about it. It took us 21 months to pay it off. It was challenging for my husband to allow me to take the wheel with our finances, but he did and is now so happy we are debt free! Ever since we completed that large goal, talking finances continues to get easier and easier since we both have the same intention in mind: staying debt free!
A lot of people talk about the importance of having a "WHY" on a debt free journey. What was your why?
I honestly felt called by the Lord to clear debt from my name, outside of our mortgage. I felt convicted to get rid of our debt so we could grow our family with less stress, have options for me to stay home, and better serve others.
How did you take action? What made your debt payoff journey possible?
Baby Steps, and a lot of budgeting! I was watching where every dollar went, versus checking on finances on a month by month basis. We had more money coming in than we needed to support out “four walls”, and were wise with our spending, so until we decided to use every dollar the right way, we didn’t have to pay attention as closely as we did when we shifted our focus. We celebrated the big and small wins along the way, and that reward made it even more reinforcing to keep going!
How did you stay motivated on your debt free journey?
Watching the numbers go down was the most motivating! We realized that we would have so much more flexibility if that debt was gone.
Were there any sacrifices you had to make to become debt free?
We ate a strict diet and less snacking. Less fun drinks at home (i.e. soda, teas and flavored drinks and just drank water!), if we had people over, we did potluck style instead of cooking for everyone. We also worked A LOT. We both were working full time, and picked up any side work. We never said no.
What were the biggest obstacles you had to overcome on your debt payoff journey?
We had to spend a lot of time apart during our first year of marriage. We still had “us” time, but we struggled to find time when we were both working so much. It was stressful, but worth it.
What is the biggest lesson you've learned becoming debt free?
I don’t want to “owe” people. I want to give to people. That is the biggest shift in my heart. I used to think “everyone has debt,” or “ I can afford a car payment so why not?” Now I think, “If I can’t afford the whole car up front, I cannot actually afford the car!”
What is your best piece of advice you'd like others who want to pay off debt to hear?
Paying off debt can be a lot like dieting. I see so many people give up, stop checking on their finances daily/weekly, and think “I’ll never pay this off.” Just like a diet, if we don’t find something that we can be consistent with, we will have inconsistent success. Find what works for YOU and your family, and stick with it, even when it gets hard.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with those who want to become debt free?
I love encouraging others to become debt free. It really does provide a new sense of freedom, such as being able to stay home and raise my babes when my anxiety got too challenging to go to work every day. Without paying off our debt, we wouldn’t have had that option!
I'm sure you've enjoyed reading Courtney's story as much as I have, be sure to check out this beautiful mama on Instagram!
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