I Was Drowning in Debt—Here’s the 7-Step Plan That Saved Me

I Was Drowning in Debt—Here’s the 7-Step Plan That Saved Me 

Introduction:

Let me be brutally honest—three years ago, I couldn’t sleep.

Not from caffeine. Not from stress at work. But because I was $42,000 in credit card debt, my rent was late, and my phone buzzed daily with collection calls.

I smiled at friends, posted like life was perfect, but inside?

I felt like I was quietly falling apart.

If this sounds like you—please keep reading. This isn’t a story of “get rich quick.”

This is the story of how I clawed my way back—and how you can too.

---

🪙 Step 1: Get Real with the Numbers (Even if it Scares You)

The scariest part was opening the bills and actually looking at the total. I made a spreadsheet. I cried. I felt shame. But I finally saw my truth on paper.

👉 Tip: List every debt, interest rate, and minimum payment. That’s your starting line.

---

💥 Step 2: Stop the Bleeding

I cut up two cards. Froze the rest (literally—put them in a ziplock bag in the freezer). I unsubscribed from every “SALE” email.

It was time to stop living on borrowed money.

---

🔥 Step 3: Start a Bare-Bones Budget

No more Uber Eats. No more subscriptions I wasn’t using. I created a “survival budget” that focused on:

Rent

Utilities

Groceries

Minimum debt payments

Everything else? Gone.

👉 I used the 50/30/20 method, but flipped it to 70/20/10:

70% needs | 20% debt | 10% emergency fund

---

💼 Step 4: Side Hustle Like It’s Your Full-Time Job

I became a delivery driver after work. I flipped old books and clothes on Facebook Marketplace. I used cash-back apps for everything.

I wasn’t trying to get rich.

I was trying to breathe again.

---

📉 Step 5: Snowball or Avalanche? Just Start Paying

I used the Debt Avalanche method—highest interest debt first. Some friends swear by the Snowball method—smallest debt first for motivation.

The truth? It doesn’t matter which method you pick. Just pick one and move.

---

🛡️ Step 6: Build a $1,000 Emergency Fund—Fast

Nothing derails progress faster than surprise expenses. That $1,000 was my buffer.

Flat tire? Covered. Doctor visit? Covered.

It stopped me from reaching for the card again.

---

🌱 Step 7: Track Progress & Celebrate Milestones

Every time I paid off a card, I danced in my living room.

When I hit a credit score of 680, I cried happy tears.

Celebrate small wins. Post sticky notes on your mirror. Track your credit score monthly with apps like Credit Karma or Mint.

---

❤️ Final Thoughts:

You are not a failure because of debt.

You’re not lazy, stupid, or broken.

You’re someone who’s waking up and taking control.

That alone is powerful.

If this post resonated with you—bookmark it. Share it. Come back to it when you’re tired.

Your comeback story starts today. And I'm rooting for you. 🫶

---

#Tags:

#PersonalFinance #DebtFreeJourney #USAMoneyTips #Budgeting #SideHustleLife #CreditScoreFix #FinancialFr