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Debt-Free and Never Looking Back: How Scott Paid Off $72,000

January 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment

<p>Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Scott Maderer of Inspired Stewardship. Scott and his wife have paid off $72,000 in debt and, since then, they haven't looked back. Seriously, no credit cards, no mortgage, nothing! Here is a look at Scott's amazing story and how becoming debt-free helped him regain control of his life.</p>::Pexels

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Scott Maderer of Inspired Stewardship. Scott and his wife have paid off $72,000 in debt and, since then, they haven’t looked back. Seriously, no credit cards, no mortgage, nothing! Here is a look at Scott’s amazing story and how becoming debt-free helped him regain control of his life.

Scott’s Story

During our chat, I found out that Scott and his wife paid off all of their debt in just about two and a half years. Here are some highlights from the discussion…

  • Scott began seeking debt freedom because he was finding himself depressed because of his finances.
  • They don’t currently stick to a strict budget, but they spend next to nothing on entertainment (thanks to an extensive DVD collection, which he will talk about).
  • He and his wife will never carry debt again. They don’t even have a mortgage now.
  • For Scott, having a plan but being able to roll with the punches has been vital to his success.

I’ll let you give the full interview a listen below.

How Scott Really Paid Off $72,000

In one part of our chat, Scott talks about what has led him to be successful in his debt-free journey and what has kept him free of debt since. For him, there was a “never again” moment where he knew he would never want his finances to have such a stronghold over his life, especially his debts.

This is key for many people to maintain their finances after reaching their debt freedom goals. Having that moment where you realize you truly do not want to hold debt anymore and you don’t want to put yourself in that situation ever again can be life-changing.

If you would like to learn more about Scott or reach out to him about his story he has set up a special page for Our Debt Free Family readers here. 

Read More

  • How Lauren Greutman, The Recovering Spender, Paid Off $40,000 of Debt
  • We Are Officially Credit Card Debt Free!
  • How Marian and Dave Paid Off $120,000 of Debt in 3 Years!
  • How a Family of 7 Paid Off $137,000 of Debt in 4 Years

Filed Under: Debt Reduction Tagged With: debt-free inspiration, debt-free interview, debt-free stories, how to get out of debt

From Credit Card Debt to Loving Her Money with Sarah Li Cain

December 11, 2023 | Leave a Comment

A few years ago, Sarah Li Cain found herself jobless, broke, and in $9,000 credit card debt after a breakup with her boyfriend.

Today, Sarah is debt-free, married, and living a happy life with her husband and spirited toddler.

Sarah is a freelance writer and illustrator. She believes in the power of storytelling and wants people to share their money stories to remove the stigma around money. An avid traveler, she believes that the way to a happy and productive life is to love your money and be compassionate when it comes to your finances.

I am so excited to share Sarah’s story and introduce her brand new book, Cha Ching! A Money Coloring Book.

In the interview, Sarah shares:

  • The lessons she learned from racking up more than $9,000 in credit card debt from an unhealthy relationship
  • How she paid off the credit card in less than a year
  • Her advice to anyone currently in a similar situation
  • How she’s using her experience to teach others to love their money
  • And the message behind her brand new coloring book

Thanks again to Sarah for sharing her debt-free journey and her new coloring book with us! [bctt tweet=”How @sarahlicain went from credit card debt to loving her money.” username=”MonicaRLouie”]

Sarah’s brand new coloring book, “Cha Ching! A Money Coloring Book” is available by clicking here.

You can find out more about Sarah at HighFivingDollars.com.

Now I’d love to hear about you!

What did you learn from Sarah’s story? Have you been in a relationship that put you into debt? If so, how did you handle it? Please share in the comments below.

Have you joined our free community yet?

Join me in our private Facebook group called Your Debt Freedom Family, where we’ve got an awesome community of people who are kicking debt to the curb so they can break free and live life on their terms.

Click here to join the fun!

I’d love to see you there!

Keep moving forward toward your goals. You really can live the life you dream about!

Filed Under: Budgeting Tagged With: credit card debt, debt-free interview, Get out of debt, how to pay off credit card debt, Monica Louie, Our Debt Free Family, Sarah Li Cain

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Five Steps To Debt Freedom

Here are five simple guidlines that will help you pay off debt.  

1) Get an emergency fund so you don’t take on debt when something comes up.

2) List your debts. This way you know where you stand.

3) Use the debt snowball. Pay your debts from smallest to largest, or most expensive to least expensive.

4) Avoid new debt. No new credit cards or loans. Period.

5) Go all cash. After everything is paid off, switch to all cash.

Helpful Resources

The Free Checklist for a Strong Financial Plan

U of Tennesse Debt Repayment Plan Basics

Vertex 42's Debt Payoff Calculator

Savingadvice's Helpful Debt Forums

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