How I Paid Off $7,000 in Two Months | Bi Monthly Budget | Aja Dang

[@kiarabeard87]

I dont normally comment on videos but I feel comfortable here. Hi, I a 22 year old female struggling financially. I've put on a show to my friends and family that I'm doing alright but I'm falling. I recently watched a Denzel Washington speech about falling forward and Aja, you are falling forward gracefully. I aspire to have your mindset and kindness. I've come to a conclusion that everyone has to fall backwards at least once in their life to see themselves as they really are. I don't blame myself anymore for my bad choices because I'm learning. Self-doubt and constantly tearing oneself apart only allows for failure to attach itself to you. To loosen the grip you gotta wake up, do something for yourself! Aja, please keep spreading your compassion to the community. It's so warm and astonishing that even someone like me can wake up believing in myself and really giving life a chance! God bless you and I can't wait for your next video 😁😁

[@broookehunter]

I pray to God for the Best life for you, Kiara! So many times, we're just an attitude or mindset away from our goals. You're going to make it, hunny, and you'll do even BETTER that you thought or imagined. I love you a lot, and I believe in you

[@kiarabeard87]

Brooke Hunter Thank you so much for your kind words, they mean the world to me! God bless you and may everything you wish for come true!

[@AjaDang]

everyone is in the exact sane situation, it might not be about money (like you and i) but everyone has something they need to work on. I hope you always feel comfortable sharing your truth on my channel, we've built a pretty good and supportive community here.

[@budgetnthangs]

Kiara Beard thank you for sharing ❤️ ig: moneycruncher

[@ursulaisajerk]

Kiara Beard I love this comment, I'm 25 And still struggling to figure things out, we call just have to keep moving forward and know there's always a next day to do things better

[@BRBRidingMyHorse]

Aja, this is awesome! I'm so glad you're on the Dave Ramsey train. In less than two weeks, I will finish paying off my $155,000 in student loans. It has been a long road, but the debt free community REALLY helps you stay on track. Keep going!

[@AjaDang]

WOWOWOWOWOW! Girl, that is so amazing, I got chills thinking about that accomplishment. You're an inspiration!

[@broookehunter]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! Aja, you're next!!! ;D

[@BRBRidingMyHorse]

Thank you! I'm writing a fun essay about it - maybe I'll send it to you for more inspiration:)

[@sunshinefashionlove]

Congratulations Tara! I'm recently debt-free and it's the best feeling ever!

[@sclement20]

#debtfreecommunity

[@jennifersmiles]

So proud you!! Thanks so much for your transparency! I remember paying off $10k in 4 months (Nov 2016 to March 2017), so $7k in TWO MONTHS? You're amazing. Keep rocking, girl!

[@SuperJasmineUniverse]

I finished paying off $70,000 of my student loans December of 2016! I had to make a lot of sacrifices but I would say the one thing that helped me was just seeing the number go down every month. After a while I got used to the lifestyle. The most important thing I told myself was no one is going to know your ups and downs. I think sometimes we feel this shame and that we're not living in a normal way. But life is a complete investment, all choices matter and it leads us to the present moment. No one knew that I couldn't afford certain shoes or that blazer I had been wanting. I just kept telling myself that I was popping! I kept telling myself that I wanted to be debt free and eventually I was! You're doing the right thing by taking control!!!! People who take control of their lives are successful because they CARE! Financial health is so important!

[@AjaDang]

congrats girl! That's amazing

[@MsDianaJean]

I really love what you said here! You're right, people don't care about what we have. Not really. And how do they know if we're being a trendy minimalist or just trying to stick to a strict budget? I need to remind myself of these things! As Dave Ramsey always says, "normal" is broke; "normal" is in debt. We don't want to be normal.

[@lynninfinite]

Wowwww congrats!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@MistressSerenity]

Hey Aja :) I don't normally comment but I really appreciated your honesty and vulnerability with putting this information online. I know a lot of KZbinrs keep this stuff very private which can make it hard for viewers to understand and relate. This is really helpful information for anyone hoping to diversify their revenue streams more, so thank you! :)

[@thereafterish]

Aja, girrrrrrlll. Thank you for 1) saying that “influencer” is a douchery term for all the work you do, 2) breaking down the revenue streams and how you make it work, and 3) for acknowledging the numbers but keeping it realistic. I think too many content creators paint an unrealistic picture of what it is to create and earn for it, so to talk about revenue and different streams helps to create a fuller picture of how much you need to hustle (and HOW) in order to live a real adult life. Again, another reason why I love you and admire your motivation, guts, diligence, and transparency about what you do. This is why I feel you’re my role model (even though I’m 5 years older than you). Get it, warrior wahine. Xo and aloha, Mae

[@thereafterish]

Also, congrats on paying off the car! That’s huge!

[@conflictpersona8]

Girl you kept it REAL with mom helping you out with the cell phone bill 😗 i love your honesty

[@lori6704]

Congratulations!! I am just about to pay off my last personal credit card that was at $5,000 two months ago. I’ve been working a TON of hours, but it’s so invigorating to see that $0.00 balance!

[@AjaDang]

that's amazing! It's the best feeling

[@MsDianaJean]

Wow! Congrats!

[@sarahlewis4002]

Love your honesty and transparency.

[@missblingful]

Congratulation on paying off your car loan! You mentioned seeing a financial advisor, make sure they are fiduciary advisor. Fiduciary advisors are legally obliged to act in your best interest. Good luck on your journey to financial freedom. I'm rooting for you!

[@AjaDang]

I was not familiar with the term "fiduciary advisor" so thanks for that!

[@rusdierahim]

I'm so proud of you Aja ! 💖💖💖

[@jesseeec]

That’s awesome. No matter how daunting your debt is , you should contribute to your retirement. Even if it’s $50 a month. It’s better than nothing. Time flies after 30...

[@BradFinn]

Just paid off my car and was looking at other people who have and I got a 2fer! I found another Dave Ramsey Supporter! New Subscriber. Cant wait to see some more content!

[@andyjacobs9400]

You mentioned the SAG dues that are due once per year, and you don't have it in the monthly budget. If you put 1 twelfth of the amount each month in the budget and collect it over the year, you don't have a single bump in one month. This helps me with insurance and annual subscription services. Look into the concept of "sinking funds."

[@ggaleluya]

I just payed off my car loan TODAY after 5 years! I wish I could have found your channel sooner. However, finally paying it off & finding this has motivated me to be more financially responsible & attacking my student loans is next!

[@bythao]

I'm late to the game but I'm really enjoying these old videos. I'm a freelancer and that has always stopped me from budgeting but you have inspired me - thank you!

[@tiffwong6050]

You are a great inspiration. Love your transparency and honesty. Also love the way you speak, very eloquent and clear.

[@queens6583]

Aja, missblingful is absolutely correct about the fiduciary advisor so please make sure you use one and not someone who just calls themselves an advisor but doesn't have the credentials.

[@tc1539]

This is amazing. In total my husband and I have roughly 30k in debt give or take combined...mostly on my part. However, broken up we owe about 3,200 on his car, about 8,200 on my car and then my loans when I graduate+all the total interest combined is about 15,600 and my last payment according to the calendar is like 2026 or something like that. We're wanting to get a new used car because we're about to have a baby in April and need the family vehicle, which we'll be trading in my car since I don't use it and my parents do(long story.) So when that hits on the new year we'll probably have like...38k or more in loans 😬 But! We're wanting to pay off his car loan by the time April comes, then work on the next. This honestly is an inspiration because it's gonna take sacrifices and honestly, I'm so ready to do that in order to get rid of all this debt! I'm currently a SAHM and he's in the military and we live on post and we live comfortably. But I think when I start budgeting again we'll be able to pay it down in the amount of time you did with your loans so far!

[@vickyalbert3670]

Are you in huge debt?or Do you have a bank account or a credit card with a good limit ? if yes then its a jackpot for you. You can get up to $10,000 three times in a week ($30,000 per week) depending on the credit card or bank limit, contact SPACEHACKER098 AT GMAIL . COM or text him directly on +1 40,8 560 22,9,7 He helped me clear up my credit card debt and pay up my auto loan, since then i have been earning at least $2300 weekly through him. Thank me later

[@shinyvang4445]

Aja I am ABSOLUTELY loving this content!!! It resonated with me SO much right now. I am 31 years young and am currently taking a personal finance college class. I finally got the courage to go to college about 10 months ago. I shamefully admit I was never financially responsible and was never raised to be financially independent like my husband. Getting married young at 18 and with my husband being 5 years older than me, he went to live the single college campus life and learned great money ethics from his parents. I left finances up to him. That being said, it is a shame and very sad to not be financially educated or aware. My sister lost her husband 3 years ago and he managed all finances and when he unexpectedly passed away she was financially burdened and did not know her options and learned everything the hard way. Its wonderful that you are bringing this topic up because I love learning about healthy eating, beauty, and self care. But we often ignore the reality of our finances because it can be a scary reality to confront. I' know I'm behind on this series but I am all caught up because I watched all the videos today! LOL I am looking forward on going on this path to financial health with you. It is very inspiring and informative!!!

[@kimbropham]

Congratulations on paying off the car! & thank you for sharing your different revenue streams, it's encouraging me to branch out to find other creatives ways to make money ♡

[@NadineFelice]

YAY im so happy for you, Aja!! Now that you’ve accomplished this, i bet you can kind of estimate and BELIEVE that despite the larger scale of a student debt, you CAN pay it off! You paid off your car! Now onto the next! ❤️

[@AjaDang]

exactly, for the first time in... forever, I see freedom!

[@RunRiotProd]

Wow, I love how open and honest you are about your income and your budget! I think it's so important as women to talk openly about it so we can learn from each other! I'm in a similar situation. 28 with student loans (although not as much) and after years of overspending now starting to really pay attention to my money! and to be honest, I always felt a little embarrassed about my financial situation and never had the courage to talk honestly to anyone about it, except my best friend. But seeing a successful woman like you having the similar struggles of trying to get a good education and trying to have a good life, I really feel inspired! I'm not alone!

[@AjaDang]

unfortunately we are not alone. It might seem like we are a minority but we aren't, millions of people are in debt. ....actually, we are in the minority, because we are willing to do something about it!

[@ParachuteRoses]

Thank you for being a realistic person on KZbin to give us tips with money and financial problems.

[@crystalbuchan3868]

How awesome for you!! yay!! I bet that feels so rewarding. I've been budgeting this year (thank you for inspiring me to do so) and let me tell you it's been rough! I am thinking about getting a side job; especially before adding grad school expenses this fall. I want to make sure I can pay all my current bills before I start school again.

[@AjaDang]

you're ahead of the curve girl, you can do it!

[@vintagecladius]

Oh my gosh! So glad I found your channel! I’m working Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps too and have over $100k in student loans. It’s definitely a struggle to stay motivated but we can do it! Visioning a life of financial freedom helps keep me motivated. Keep going!

[@shannon3375]

Congratulations Aja! So happy for you! My students were completely paid off in December of 2017 and I can't express the relief and happiness I felt. It feels wonderful to start the new year off debt free. I wish you the best on your journey!

[@janewiseman]

YES GIRL! Paying off my car was the first thing I did to. I also changed my plan on the fly but stuck to it enough that it works great. Keep it up! So happy for you.

[@The_Goldsmiths]

WOW, Congrats! It's amazing to see other people commit to their finances such as this. We just paid off our 20K car loan in 10 months, its just so empowering seeing others doing similar things. Thanks for your openness it helps.

[@JaninesMaquillage]

HELL YEA GIRL ON LAST MONTH'S INCOME!!!!! I don't have any debts but these videos have been very helpful with budgeting (I have a problem with overspending) and they've helped me start a savings account! Thank you for being so honest and open!

[@PaperPanduh]

LOVE your budget videos! Can’t wait for next months! Congrats on paying off your car 🤗 💜

[@iheartscookie]

I love how you're so transparent with salary/revenue. Its so amazing to see! Keep up the good work!!

[@littlegiantprod]

I truly appreciate your honesty! I feel you stand out with your personal story and ways to make money. The job market is very volatile and it's amazing of you to be so transparent no bringing in money from several directions. It helps me with my online business. Thanks again! I truly applaud you!

[@gold518]

Congratulations! I love how honest you are. It separates you from the plethora of KZbinrs. I've been following you forever and the changes are all positive! God bless! Keep encouraging and keep teaching. You are awesome!

[@annakoto823]

Congrats on paying off your car!!! Remember this feeling if you hit a hurdle in the future to keep you moving forward.

[@millyjeffries8422]

I'm so happy somebody is finally being open about this taboo subject that is money and debt! Thank you for sharing your journey and congrats!!👏👏

[@IamMissPaulski]

I love how honest and real this video is

[@phoenixbpos]

Wow. Congrats Aja. So motivational to see how all your baby steps are paying off. Please please please do a video on revenue streams and how to make it. It would mean so much.

[@jackandjill18]

Congrats!! I'm currently in school and just checked what I owe in student loans thus far... $122,000.00!!! I still have another 2 years of school so it's only gonna get worse. I totally relate to your minor freakouts at the size of the debt. I'm super not looking forward to having to pay it off down the line but watching you work (and succeed) at it makes me believe I can do it too! I'm rooting for you!! Love your videos. Keep the budget-related videos coming please :)

[@sophievng]

Congrats on paying off your car!!!! And for being so honest and transparent about your budget!! Love it! ❤️

[@leilani2258]

I'm beyond happy for you Aja!! Your videos have been really helpful, and I always leave them feeling inspired. And for the future, I cannot wait to see when you upload the video of how you paid off your school debt! 😊😊😊

[@TheEickert]

Awesome aja! I can't think of another lifestyle youtuber talking about debt and finances like you do. This is doing so much to educate young people and to motivate people like me who are trying to become financially healthy! Thank you!!

[@skatergurljubulee]

My family saves for retirement and also pay off debt. We are high income earners, so that works for us. I understand why D. Ramsey does it, but we can do both AND pay off our debt (will be done by the end of the year!). You do you, and congrats on the car payment and making your money work for you instead of the other way around!

[@AjaDang]

that's exactly what my financial advisor said. I'm interested to see how my budget changes when I include saving for retirement.

[@vangbaoyt]

Woo hoo, was waiting for this video!! Congrats on paying off your car, Aja!

[@CarlosReyesP]

Congrats on paying off your car. I'm nearly over with my students loan which at the end of my degree seamed like an imposible mission, especially when so much goes to interest and not much to pay debt, but after a few years cutting on unnecessary things and making additional payments whenever I could now I'm almost there. I know you can get there too!!

[@AjaDang]

Carlos Reyes congrats!

[@AlyssaVilaipanh]

This video actually makes me interested to watch your channel! Please continue this series. I love seeing what everyone else makes and spends their money on bc I just started getting into Dave Ramsay too!! I kind of personalized his steps to fit my lifestyle, but I’m kind of having a hard time budgeting with my boyfriend same as you bc I’m budgeting and he’s not, but he makes more money than me.

[@AjaDang]

I think for our circumstances, we have to be very clear about our budget for the month. If the boys want to do anything additional (go out to dinner, go on a trip, etc) they'll have to pay for that on their own.

[@josefineoijer]

So proud of you! It's crazy how much numbers on a paper and making a budget actually makes it easy to save money. When I was saving money without proper restrictions it was way harder than when I started making a budget!

[@AjaDang]

it is so weird. Before budgeting, I thought I wasn't spending a lot and then by the end of the month, I'd have no money! It's easy to lose control when you're not really paying attention

[@Yoonsuny]

Congrats on paying off your car loan! It must feel great!

[@Yolanda.Winston]

Congrats!!! Can't wait to see you tackle your student loans now that your car is paid off. Proud of you Aja! I absolutely love this budget series!

[@AjaDang]

me too. These student loans gotta go!

[@lilydaquila9847]

Congratulations to you, Aja! I admire how you're approaching your financial situation. Thank you for sharing this with us. Your transparency is a welcomed change from a lot of other KZbin channels.

[@amandashines]

I started reading a Dave Ramsey book and it was like my life was changing with each page. I too started to budget (month 2 underway) and it's an adjustment. I know by April I'll have find tuned it enough. Our stories are similar because I picked up his book after sulking about how large my student loan payments were going to be each month and just knew something had to give. It's been great watching your videos because it's like watching my journey play out before I reach the same goals. Can't wait to rejoice when my car is paid off in March! Credit cards totally done by 2019 and student loans...well, we'll get there haha. Loving the videos!

[@AjaDang]

we will tackle those student loans eventually girl!

[@MissGammons]

Yay!!! What a great accomplishment. Congrats girl, very happy for you.

[@sl33pysl0th]

CONGRATS!! 🎉 this is freaking huge! So happy for you!!

[@threepistols7]

Congrats and I'm glad you are following the Dave Ramsey plan. x

[@MsSuiite]

Super proud of you Aja! I’ve really been loving you’re content since vlogmas, very relatable and authenticity you! Love from London 🇬🇧

[@watermelonxmomo]

I really love these videos. You have been so real with us, and so helpful. Thank you and keep them coming!

[@jadedxserpent]

For car insurance I'd recommend shopping at your renewal. At least to compare if you can get better coverage for same or less than you pay now. For Chase premier fee, I think you can definitely find a bank or account that offers everything you need and has no fees. I think bankrate.com has good comparisons and also look at local credit unions as well which might offer better interest rates. Can you talk more about disability insurance? Reason and cost for coverage purchased? I've been thinking about getting a policy for myself.

[@jadeinthashade]

Congrats! These videos and updates are really helpful and motivating! Keep it coming!

[@pearlsaremybestfriend]

I'm proud of you. Keep the spirit of learning and sharing .

[@ashandblake]

You are motivating and inspiring! Love watching these finance help videos.

[@USMCwife81]

Congrats on paying off your car! 💵🚘 I was glad to see that you uploaded a video! I’ve missed them!

[@AjaDang]

I know, I've been slacking

[@ejstaychill1]

First like before watching the video!!! Cuz I know it’s gonna be a great one ☝️

[@gorgeouscurls]

I always appreciate your openness with finances. loved the video!

[@sharasimmons]

Congratulations!!! Your financial videos are my favorite 🖤

[@NicoleHolguin]

Love this and you! 😊 I paid off my car last year and it is one of the best feelings in the world! Can't wait to see you pay off your student loans!

[@shaelae24]

So proud and happy for you congrats! You’re going to squash this student loan 💪🏼

[@ilsamalsi5267]

Thank you Aja for being so honest! This is so helpful!

[@KellyChase]

this series is so insightful aja! thank you for being so open and such an honest resource to refer to!

[@soitsawhat]

Congratulations!! This is an amazing accomplishment, I admire your focus and dedication!!!

[@K-dub12345]

Love your honesty and congrats on paying off your car!

[@Dan-fx8ho]

Congrats, Aja!!! That's a huge accomplishment. I only started really budgeting a few years ago so it's always a struggle but I do love the feeling of putting money away and paying stuff off. Your budgeting videos keep me inspired to keep sticking to my budget. Thanks for keeping it real.

[@alexisngu5564]

I'm so happy for you Aja! congrats!

[@annaleearcher]

Thank you for this video! So insightful and helpful😊

[@christinasiew3707]

Congrats on paying off your car!!! I respect your transparency and your amazing work ethic!

[@DalenaVo]

Congrats on hitting a big milestone! 💖 Just tackle it on step at a time and you’ll conquer your student loans sooner than you’ll think. It’s all about consistency. Also thank you for sharing about content creating on KZbin! I found it very helpful since I’m working on building my channel rn 😊

[@apryllminnis2632]

Congrats on paying off a major debt! One suggestion if you are comfortable with your budget now from your brand deals when you get your ad sense or residuals do not add them to your budget put it straight to your savings

[@AjaDang]

ya, I was thinking of doing that. Live off my brand deals and use my Adsense for student loans. I'll see how the numbers add up.

[@equaloskat]

Congratulations! You are so real and your content is so genuine i love u!

[@merieannvis]

Awesome vid, Aja! Thanks for sharing your budgeting to us! I don’t make that much as you do but i’ve been inspired since you posted your fist budget video. And I also learned about Dave Ramsey bec of you! So thank you 😊

[@Audie_G]

congrats Aja!! Cant wait for the next one!!

[@brin495]

This is great thank you for always being honest and sharing info! Congrats on your car boo! Yayyyyy

[@JC-pe8io]

consider using this app called "acasa", it lets you log all the house expense and divides it for you by the number of people in your household. It helps you split the cost of groceries / house supplies but keeping track of who paid for what!

[@AjaDang]

I like that for an app!

[@AP-oq5jn]

Nice one girl! Sending love from London 🙌

[@meghapatel3765]

Congratulations 🍾 way to go girl

[@KianaMonique]

Thank you so much for always keeping it real 💕 I myself am in the industry as well and not always knowing when your next job will be or when your next paycheck will come is difficult. So I appreciate you sharing all of this information. It’s nice to know there are other people on this struggle bus but still do what we do because we love to do it haha congrats on paying off your car! 🎉

[@Titus2Chic]

I totally get that it's easier for Aja to just pay for all of the home stuff but Brian not contributing just b/c it's easier for her to simply pay it on her own is an interesting perspective.

[@zach8291]

Very informative, thanks so much for this. Best of luck to you Aja!

[@Juliaandbeyond]

I love love these videos. This is the kind of info and motivation that I was looking for. Thanks!

[@missjulieishh]

Good job Aja! You've inspired me to use your spreadsheet as a guideline for my own budget. Thanks girl :)

[@lynninfinite]

Wooowwww that's awesome!!!! Congrats!!! 😊☺️

[@christinalauren5311]

Love your videos! Budgets are so interesting to me for some reason...lol Some advice, when I graduated I had 136,000 in school loans and kept them going at the student rate for a year before I realized that refinancing would save me so much cash in the long run. I was able to lower my interest rate from 6.8% to almost 3%. Since then, Ive been making a huge dent in my loans where before, my first year, I paid 11,000 in interest alone (which was so frustrating!). Anyway, just a thought! The downside is though that it is a set term loan so obviously you can't back out once you change your payment and it doesnt have the flexibility some other loans have if you were to run into a rough spot. It was worth it for me though and I probably saved over $100,000 in the life of my loan.

[@AjaDang]

i've been thinking of refinancing, specifically for that reason. My loans range from 5% - 7.9% so I'm paying a pretty penny in interest right now.

[@christinalauren5311]

Aja Dang yeah especially if you have good credit. I had a bunch of small loans that all combined into one big sum, but the bad interest rates were overriding the good ones. Check out SoFi or mine is through College Ave student loans. I’m much happier seeing the number drop every month now.

[@maytetalavera4321]

Congrats on paying off your car!!! That’s amazing. I also have 2 dogs, I’m wondering what you do or where the dogs go when your out of the home.

[@AjaDang]

Unfortunately, we spend A LOT of money on dog boarding. I'm hoping to find another, more affordable option. I just trust the people at our doggie boarding than have a stranger stay at our house for care for them.

[@Ztravelsinpumps]

I love you, girl! You’re so incredible!!! 💖 Keeep going! You’ve got this

[@adatran2154]

Congrats on paying off your car!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉I love this series very much. Very inspired 🤗🌝🙏🏼👌🏻

[@ezeman200x]

Congratulations! You're inspiring me to keep on my debt journey!

[@stephanielee3075]

LOVE this video, thank you so much for your transparency.

[@theonlycma]

I LOVE these budgeting videos thank you for sharing with us!! So helpful and I feel so much closer to you haha. Love it and congratulations!!!

[@cherb2795]

It feels good having not to worry about a car payment. Happy that you’ve accomplished one of your goals! On to the next...

[@AjaDang]

on to that student loan.

[@yagalterry]

Yas girl!! Proud of you 🌟🌟

[@Brandon-gj3vn]

Awesome! I've been waiting for this update

[@deleonma.reginacoeli90]

YAAAYY YOU GO GURL!