đź’ł How I Paid Off $30,000 in Debt in 18 Months

Let’s rewind to the moment I hit rock bottom: I was staring at my bank account, seeing less than $100 to my name — and over $30,000 in debt staring back at me. It felt suffocating. Credit cards, student loans, a personal loan… it had all piled up while I was just trying to survive.

Fast forward 18 months — and I was debt-free.

No windfall. No magic. Just a game plan, consistency, and a few (painful but worth it) sacrifices.

Here’s exactly how I did it — and how you can too.

🔍 Step 1: I Faced the Numbers (Even When It Hurt)

The first step was facing the truth.

I opened a spreadsheet and wrote down every single debt:

  • Credit Card 1: $6,300 @ 24% APR

  • Credit Card 2: $2,400 @ 19% APR

  • Student Loans: $17,000 @ 6.8%

  • Personal Loan: $4,300 @ 9%

Just seeing the total — $30,000 — in one place made me nauseous. But it also gave me a clear picture. You can’t fix what you won’t face.

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🧠 Step 2: I Picked a Payoff Strategy

I went with the Debt Snowball Method:

  1. Pay minimums on everything.

  2. Attack the smallest debt with any extra cash.

  3. Once that’s paid off, roll that payment into the next smallest, and so on.

Why snowball instead of avalanche (which tackles high-interest debt first)? Because I needed the emotional wins. Seeing small balances disappear early on kept me motivated.

✂️ Step 3: I Cut My Spending — Hard

I slashed my lifestyle and embraced temporary discomfort:

  • Canceled Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, and Audible

  • Moved back in with family for 6 months to save on rent

  • Cooked everything at home (rice and beans became life)

  • Cut out new clothes, gadgets, and anything that wasn’t survival or debt payoff

  • Sold my car and switched to public transit

  • Started shopping exclusively at Aldi and Dollar Tree

Was it fun? Nope.
Was it effective? 100%.

đź’Ľ Step 4: I Increased My Income Relentlessly

Frugality helped, but I knew I’d need more cash to make a dent. So I hustled:

  • Picked up freelance writing gigs on weekends

  • Delivered groceries with Instacart

  • Flipped furniture on Facebook Marketplace

  • Tutored online in the evenings

  • Sold stuff I didn’t need — old clothes, electronics, books

I made an extra $600–$1,000/month, and every dime went toward debt.

đź“Š Step 5: I Made a Budget & Tracked Every Dollar

I used EveryDollar (free version) to track every cent. My budget looked something like this:

  • Rent (while living alone): $800

  • Groceries: $150

  • Transportation: $60

  • Debt Payments: $1,300+

  • Misc: $50

Having a zero-based budget — where every dollar had a job — changed the game. It made my money feel like a tool, not a mystery.

🔄 Step 6: I Repeated That Cycle — Again and Again

Every month I checked in. Every month I adjusted. I celebrated small wins and reminded myself what freedom would feel like.

Some months were brutal. Unexpected car repairs, emergencies, burnout — it happened. But I kept going.

🥳 18 Months Later: I Was Debt-Free

I made my final payment on a chilly Monday morning — and I cried.

I didn’t just pay off debt. I took back control. And the skills I learned during those 18 months? They’re still with me — budgeting, saving, side hustling, and living intentionally.

🧠 Final Takeaways: What I’d Tell Anyone Starting

If you’re drowning in debt, I see you. I’ve been you. Here’s what I’d say:

  • Start small. Start now. Don’t wait for perfect conditions.

  • Track everything. Ignorance is what got you here. Awareness will get you out.

  • You don’t need more money, you need a plan. At least to start.

  • Celebrate wins. Pay off $100? Throw a mini party (a free one).

  • It gets easier. What feels impossible today becomes routine tomorrow.