Learn how I finally got out of debt after years of struggle. In this candid, easy-to-read blog post you’ll find practical, real-life tips you can apply right away—from budgeting and prioritizing to finding extra income and changing mindset—so you too can move toward financial freedom.

How I Finally Got Out of Debt After Years of Struggle

    I’ll be honest: for years I felt like I was drowning in bills, interest charges, and the constant worry of “How will I ever get ahead?” I watched my bank account dip into the red, received calls and notices from creditors, and postponed dreams because debt was holding me back. But finally — after a long, messy journey — I broke free. I got out of debt.

This isn’t a miracle story. I didn’t win the lottery or get rich overnight. What I did was steady, consistent work, small changes accumulating into a big shift. In this article I’ll walk you through how I got there, share practical tips you can apply today, and give you realistic examples from my own experience. If you’ve been struggling, I hope this helps you — because if I can do it, so can you.

My Debt Struggle

Let me take you back a bit so you understand where things started.

• I had credit card debt. Every month I paid the minimum, which felt like I was just treading water. The balance hardly dropped and interest kept piling on.

• I took out a personal loan to cover a medical emergency. The payment was higher than I expected, and I had no buffer.

• I lived week to week. If a car repair or unexpected expense hit, I’d slide into more debt.

• I felt stuck. I knew I should budget, I knew I should save, but I didn’t know how to change the pattern.

For five years, this was the rhythm. One step forward (maybe making the minimum payment), two steps back (a surprise expense, more interest). I felt embarrassed, frustrated, and tired.

The Turning Point

What changed? Two things, really:

1. I decided I had enough. One evening I sat down and felt the weight of the numbers: interest at 20 %, high balances, no savings. I asked myself: “Do I want to live like this another five years?” The answer was no.

2. I made a plan. Not a vague “I’ll try harder” plan, but a detailed list: which debts, how much, when, and what actions. Putting it on paper made it real.

Once those two happened, momentum started. I began to see little wins — and they mattered.

Practical Tips You Can Use Right Now

Below are the strategies I applied. These are actionable — you can start today. I include short explanations and real-life examples from my journey.

1. Create a Clear Budget and Stick to It

Why it matters: You can’t fix what you don’t track. A budget shows you where money is going.
How I did it: I used a simple spreadsheet and tracked everything for one month — rent, phone, groceries, coffee, impulse purchases. Then I compared that to my income.
Example: I realized I was spending $50/month on lunch out, plus another $30 on streaming subscriptions I rarely used. I cut lunch out to $20 and canceled one streaming service. The savings went straight to debt payment.

2. Prioritize High-Interest Debts First (or Use the Snowball Method)

Why it matters: High interest = the fastest-growing problem.
How I did it: I listed all my debts by interest rate. My credit card was at ~19 % APR, my loan at 12 %. I focused extra payment on the credit card, while paying minimums on the others.
Example: That $100 extra payment to the card each month meant less interest and faster payoff. Once it was gone, I rolled that payment into the next debt (“snowball”).

3. Cut Unnecessary Expenses (And Redirect the Savings)

Why it matters: Freeing up money = more fuel for debt payoff.
How I did it: I audited my subscriptions, shopping habits, and impulse spending. I asked myself: “Do I need this? Does it bring value?”
Example: I canceled a gym membership I barely used and switched to free YouTube home workouts; I reduced cable TV and shifted to a cheaper plan. The saved $75/month went into an extra debt payment.

4. Increase Income (Even If Just a Little)

Why it matters: More income speeds up progress and gives breathing room.
How I did it: I picked up weekend freelance work in my area of interest and sold unused items around the house.
Example: I earned an extra $200 one month by selling old electronics and doing freelancing. That $200 got thrown at my highest interest debt — I saw meaningful difference that month.

5. Build Up an Emergency Fund (Small but Immediate)

Why it matters: Without a backup, surprise costs force you back into debt.
How I did it: I committed to saving $500 as a mini-emergency fund before going full throttle on debt. It acted as a buffer so I wouldn’t slide into new debt when something came up.
Example: A car repair that could have cost me $300 in credit card debt instead was paid out of the fund. I kept the debt plan intact.

6. Change Your Money Mindset

Why it matters: The mindset you carry drives your actions. If you think “I’ll always be in debt”, you may act accordingly.
How I did it: I started reading books about personal finance (simple ones), listened to podcasts, and reminded myself daily of why I was doing this: freedom, less stress, future possibilities.
Example: When I was tempted to buy a new gadget, I asked: “Will this help me become debt-free or delay it?” Often, the answer was “delay it.” I put it off, felt proud I did — and kept pushing ahead.

7. Automate Payments and Savings

Why it matters: Automation removes “forgetting” and procrastination.
How I did it: I set up automatic minimum payments for all debts. I also set up automatic transfers: each payday, a portion went to my mini emergency fund and a portion to my extra debt fund.
Example: Because I didn’t have to manually send payments, I avoided late fees and interest rate hikes. My progress stayed consistent even on busy weeks.

8. Communicate with Creditors If Needed

Why it matters: If you fall behind, creditors might offer relief or options — but only if you engage.
How I did it: When I saw I couldn’t make a full payment one month (because of a medical expense), I called the credit card company and explained. They offered a temporary interest reduction.
Example: That saved me several hundred dollars in interest and kept the debt from ballooning further.

9. Track Progress (and Celebrate Small Wins)

Why it matters: Debt payoff is a marathon, not a sprint. Celebrating keeps you motivated.
How I did it: I kept a “debt balance” chart and watched the number drop month by month. Each milestone (half-way, 75 % paid off) got a small celebration (not expensive — maybe a picnic or a free hike).
Example: When I hit “only 30 % left” I treated myself to a day outing with no cost beyond gas. It felt good and reminded me of the goal.

10. Avoid New Debt While Paying Off Old Debt

Why it matters: Getting out of debt only to go back into debt defeats the effort.
How I did it: I froze my credit card for a few months, removed saved payment information on online stores so I wouldn’t buy impulsively, and committed to paying cash (or debit) unless there was a very good reason not to.
Example: A tempting sale email arrived — I deleted it and said: “I’m not buying unless I have cash in hand.” Over time, this habit became natural and I avoided adding new liabilities.

Real-Life Example: How It All Tied Together

Let’s walk through a condensed timeline of how I used the above tips.

• Month 1: Tracked all expenses, set the budget, identified high-interest debts.

• Month 2–3: Cut subscriptions and dining out from $80/month to $30/month, freed ~$50/month. Started selling unused stuff (earned ~$150 total) and transferred that into extra payment toward the highest interest credit card. Started an emergency fund with $500 (automated $50 per paycheck).

• Month 4–6: Income-boosted by freelancing, brought in another ~$300/month. Applied all extra funds to the credit card while minimum payments maintained on other debts.

• Month 7: Credit card paid off! That relief alone was energizing. Took what I had been paying for that card and rolled it into the next debt (loan at 12 %).

• Months 8–12: Continued to apply the “extra payment + automation + mindset” combo. Tracked progress monthly. When unexpected car repair came, I used the emergency fund instead of another loan.

• Year 2: Last debt paid off. I had built up more savings, changed habits, and felt a new sense of possibility.

What Worked (and What I’d Do Differently)

What worked:

• Small consistent payments added up more than random occasional big payments.

• Automating behavior helped remove decision fatigue.

• Tracking progress and celebrating kept morale high.

• Redirecting freed-up money (not just cutting for the sake of cutting) made a huge impact.

What I’d do differently:

• I wish I started the emergency fund before taking on new debt, but I waited too long. If I had a buffer early, I wouldn’t have needed to borrow as much.

• I also wish I asked for help sooner — reading personal finance blogs/podcasts earlier would have saved time.

• I could have been more aggressive with extra income earlier — the momentum that built later could have come sooner.

Tips for Staying Debt-Free (Once You’ve Got There)

Getting out of debt is a big milestone — staying out of debt is the next phase. Here are some tips:

• Keep tracking your budget for a few months even after you’re debt-free. Habit matters.

• Maintain your emergency fund (now build it up further) to avoid falling back into debt when surprises happen.

• Revisit your money mindset — now your goal might shift toward savings, investments, or experience-based spending rather than just paying off debt.

• Avoid complacency: defaults may creep in if you slip back into old habits.

• Continue to automate savings and investments so that “making money work for you” becomes the norm.

My Final Thoughts

    I won’t pretend that getting out of debt was easy. It took discipline, patience, and a series of trade-offs. I missed some dinners out; I delayed some purchases; I felt stressed on tough months. But here’s the truth: the relief and freedom on the other side are so worth it. Today I don’t wake up worried about minimum payments or interest rates climbing. I wake up thinking about possibilities.

If you’re in the thick of it — feeling stuck, worried, maybe ashamed — I want you to know: you’re not alone. And you can change your story. Painfully slowly or somewhat quickly, what matters is that you begin. Pick one of the tips above and take the first step today: open up a spreadsheet, call a creditor, cancel a subscription — whatever feels doable. That first step matters.

Remember: being debt-free doesn’t mean you’ll never spend again; it means you’re in control of your money, not the other way around. And that control gives you options: the option to save, to invest, to treat yourself, to build a future you’re excited about.

So here’s to your journey toward freedom. May your story end with relief, joy, and a financial life you’re proud of. And if you want — I’m happy to help you map out your own plan. Let’s get started.