The Debt-Free Journey: Stories From 4 Women Who Paid It Off

Debt can feel like an unavoidable part of modern life — whether it’s student loans, credit cards, or medical bills, many people find themselves burdened by financial obligations that seem impossible to shake.

While the process isn’t easy, the freedom paired with paying off debt can be life-changing, offering stability, peace of mind, and new opportunities.

Her Agenda spoke with four women who successfully paid off their debt, each taking different approaches to regain control of their finances.

Daniela felt trapped in a cycle of paying off her $20,000 credit card debt, only to pile back up. Living in an expensive one-bedroom apartment with high-interest payments, she knew something had to change. In just eight months, she eliminated her debt with a few key strategies. She moved back home, cutting her rent from $2,000 to $700, which made her lifestyle much more affordable.

“The decrease in rent helped a lot, and I focused on strengthening my relationship with my family and cooking at home — it’s so much more fun when you have people to cook for,” she said.

She opened a balance transfer line of credit, moving high-interest debt to an interest-free account for 10 months. This saved her over $100 a month in interest payments, allowing her to pay down the balance faster.

“The first big step was self-awareness. Coming to terms with having a spending problem or living beyond your means is humbling, but it’s the first step in the right direction,” she said.

Jada was overwhelmed managing $20,000 in credit card debt, which added five extra bills to track each month.

“I really value a light mental load, so I knew I had to lessen that somehow,” she said.

To tackle her debt, she moved home, redirecting rent money toward payments. She created a strict payment schedule, automated savings for emergencies, and even froze her credit cards in a block of ice — her “secret hack.” She also unfollowed influencers who encouraged excessive shopping.

“Moving home was a huge motivator — I wasn’t willing to miss a payment and stay home longer,” she said. “I love my parents, but I also love my independence. I kept the rest of my lifestyle the same so I wouldn’t feel deprived, and now that I’ve moved back out, I’m adjusting again.”

Whitney ran her own business, assuming she would eventually earn enough to pay off her growing credit card debt. Eventually, she connected with The Financial Gym, which recommended bankruptcy — a six-month-long process she pursued.

“I moved home to eliminate rent expenses and went completely cash-based,” she said. “I finally sat down and analyzed my business finances — I had so many unnecessary expenses I wasn’t even aware of.”

Whitney lowered her spending, creating a Google Sheet to track past expenses and understand how she got into debt, confronting mental health struggles that contributed to compulsive spending.

“I realized how much I spent on takeout, Amazon, and new outfits just because my friends were shopping,” she said. “I was trying to keep up appearances and self-soothe. Once I went cash-based, I checked my bank accounts daily and normalized financial awareness.”

Since then, she’s rebuilt her credit, pays off her cards weekly, and saves for taxes and trips in separate accounts. A stable job allowed her to regain financial stability and develop healthier money habits.

Samantha and her husband were barely affording groceries for their family, which pushed them to pay off $40,000 in debt and build a $20,000 emergency fund in just two years. Despite the hard work, she says it was worth it.

Their strategy had three parts: planning, leveraging resources, and consistency. They listed every debt in a spreadsheet, tracking minimum payments, amounts owed, and interest rates. Using the avalanche method, they tackled the highest-interest debt first while making minimum payments on the rest.

“I looked for small ‘levers’—moves with a big impact. At first, my only leverage was free resources—library books and online content on financial literacy. I had little money and limited opportunities, but I could learn and take small steps,” she said.

When the pandemic hit, she used their stimulus check to earn her real estate license and began selling on evenings and weekends, significantly increasing their debt payoff ability. While they cut back on expenses, they still allowed room for fun. Samantha notes that extreme restrictions often lead to burnout and binge spending, which can undo progress.