How much debt have you paid off?: $44,000
What was it for?: Mortgage. Vehicle. Credit card.
From deciding to become debt free to making the last payment, how long did it take you?: At least 8 yrs
What age did you take on your first debt, and how old are you now?: 20 and 62
Did you do it alone or as a family?: Couple
Did you pay off debt from your regular income, take on extra work, or change jobs to speed it up?: Regular
Did you sell anything or receive cash gifts to contribute towards your debt payoff?: No
What people, books, websites, podcasts, budgeting tools, debt trackers and resources helped you?: Finance books
Did you keep an emergency fund while you paid off debt? If so, how much?: No..tried..failed
Did you have any setbacks along the way, and how did you overcome them?: Took on more credit card debt.
What tips/hacks could you share?: Credit cards charge interest daily. Pay off more than the minimum repayment. Avoid community fundraising. Figure out your fortnightly budget.
Was there a structure to your debt payoff? i.e. paying smallest to largest, or highest interest rate to lowest?: Yes… Date due. Had to stagger accounts. Reduce spending. Reduce costs.
How did you stay motivated, and what was the most challenging part of paying off your debt?: Figuring a budget. Asking for financial assistance by using a budgetor.
How did you celebrate making your final payment?: Haven’t yet. But there is a small surplus each fortnight.
Was getting out of debt worth it, and what have you learned about yourself?: Im a deadly spender. Have very little discipline.
Will you ever go back into debt again?: Yes… Have a better understanding.