My first Debt Confession | 2023 - 2024 | Debt Payoff Journey | Low Income

This video was harder to record than I thought it would be.
A year ago, I was drowning. I was behind on bills and nearly had my gas heat cut off in the middle of winter.
I have been struggling with debt since I took my first credit card out at 20 years old, but I had never been this low before.
I don't think I could have done this if it weren't for cash stuffing. Maybe it sounds dramatic, but I truly believe that cash stuffing saved my life. I don't know where I would be without it, and I don't care to know.
I hope you enjoy this video and please feel free to check out my other videos.

[@lorettacarroll6015]

A suggestion. Don't compare yourself to others. Your debt is your debt. Even if it is only $1, it is your debt that you are tackling. Be proud of what you have done, because you have done fantastic. You are conquering this.

[@JuneteenthBaby]

I totally agree

[@Aprilsonabudget]

Look.... I've been making videos for over 17 months and have over 100 Videos. And I STILL haven't found the courage to do debt confession. Give yourself some grace and this was a huge first step!!! Kudos for this ❤New Sub!! 😊 I look forward to following your Journey. The budgeting Community is a great group of people from all walks of life. But we all are here for the same goal.

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Awe, thank you so much! I'll have to go catch up on some of your videos! This community is definitely one of the best I've come across on the internet, everyone is so sweet and supportive. 💕

[@lcronkright]

I really appreciated your vulnerability in this video. That takes a lot of courage and it is inspiring. And for you to pay off that much debt on such a low income truly highlights your dedication and commitment. Let me just say how proud I am of you. I am sure many others join me in saying the same. If you can do this, so can I.❤❤

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! You've got this, I'll be rooting for you! 💕

[@ebullock1000]

The people who make that much a month are in debt too… I promise you this much. You did awesome and paid off a lot!

[@jrich905]

I started following Dave Ramsey July 2023 and have been tackling debts. It's a daily battle but worth it. We have all wasted $ on dumb things. I'm just glad you're handling this young. I'm 39 and tackling it working 5 jobs.

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Five jobs!? 😯 Dave Ramsey would love to make an example out of you to his other listeners, you're really hustling! Gazelle intensity for sure. I'm wishing you luck and a fast escape from your debt. It's never too late to change your life. You've got this! 💕

[@jrich905]

@@SaveThatMoneyHoney thanks! It's exhausting but I'll get there.

[@papabear2515]

Wow! Good for you! With that effort, you will get there! All the best!

[@tmusa2002]

I like Ramsey. He’s helpful with motivation and mindset. My only warning is that if you 100% follow his plan, you want to be done in two years, max. If it drags on longer, what you lose in retirement savings and compound interest is not good. So if it drags on, check out what The Money Guys suggest so you’re not sacrificing retirement savings.

[@nikitatewary3477]

New sub here❤ You are already doing better than a lot of people. You have started doing what you need to. You will definitely overcome everything and get to a point where you will earn more than you owe.

[@CashBearMama]

New Subbie supporting you on your journey ❤ I’ve been in this place before: shutoffs, negative $500 or more in the bank, no foods gasoline, credit cards maxed out, etc. I understand. You’re making progress, and I salute 🫡 you 💜🕊️🤗

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@jdawg414]

I keep making mistakes and am in my forties and know better. It’s a struggle for sure.

[@tamip208]

Great job! Be proud of how far you've come! You are doing amazing! ❤

[@beverly608]

You have done an amazing job at kicking your debts butt. Be proud of your accomplishments. Can't wait to see your journey. ❤

[@barnosmamo]

Awesome job!!! Keep going, you are doing great🎉

[@Cherlovesorange]

Amazing!! You are doing fantastic!!

[@maryloubosco2788]

Congratulations on paying off those debts. Keep up the good work. ❤

[@shelleyk7462]

New subscriber here. Well done 👏 on the progress you made over the past year, it is not easy. I look forward to watching future videos. I’m from the UK 🇬🇧 👋

[@deysireyes4160]

Thank you for sharing this. It reminds me that there is light at the end of the tunnel! I am also trying to pay off my car this year! I know we can do it!

[@PocoAPoquitoMonies]

Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You did great, are doing great, and will continue to be great. 👏💜

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Awe, that's so sweet! Thank you so much! 💕

[@Chatty-KathyBudgets]

💜💜💜 New subscriber! You are absolutely amazing and should be so incredibly proud of yourself 🎉🎉🎉Anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Fantastic job and I’m excited to follow your journey! 💜💜💜

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Omg, thank you so much! I love your channel 💕💕

[@TrappedQue]

I would frame that list of debts to remind you how well you have done. You got this. Wishing you future success & prosperous.

[@Magdalena287]

Heck yeah girl I’m rooting for you 🎉

[@tiramisu7221]

Great job! New sub here and I’m so impressed with how much debt you paid off. Rooting for you! ❤

[@Mardet6]

Wow amazing job! Thanks for sharing. I’m happy you realized this at a young age. I’m going through debt free journey still , and it’s been a while.

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

You got this! Some roads are longer than others, but they all have an end. I'm rooting for you!

[@homefitness_j]

Whoa congrats on the progress and be proud of that. Love to see you coming out on top. Be easy on yourself- once you pay it all off you will be able to save your money going forward and avoid the same mistakes. Stay positive rooting for your success from Cali ❤

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@Colourfulbudgetsuk]

you are doing so well and don't give up there is light at the end and you can do this.

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@annaadaeze]

I am so proud of you 👏. I just subscribe to your channel well done 👏 ✔️ 👍. Hello from Athens

[@miraclehuntley8257]

Man you just gained a subscriber, I’m starting my debt journey right now after starting last year but having a huge unfortunate event but I’m ready to knock this out. Thank you for being realistic and relatable.

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you for the support! And I'm wishing you lots of luck on your journey! 💕

[@nancykay4128]

New subscriber here. We understand and can relate to your situation with a low income. I’m always up at night thinking how the heck am I going to do this? I am writing things out with pen and paper each month. That is much more helpful than doing an online spreadsheet for me. It helps me to see it on all down on paper like you are showing here.

[@maryrock6990]

Great pay off, great budgeting, and great attitude! You are so young and taught yourself pretty quickly how to make your situation better. I foresee great things for you now that you are focused on your future. Good for you!!!

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! That's so sweet 💕

[@petitereina]

You're very brave for acknowledging where you're at on your debt journey! Good luck 😊

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you! 💕

[@FormingNewHabits]

Wow! Is all I can say, you did an amazing job so far! New subbie 👋🏾

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you! 💕

[@crystalramirezmoreno9190]

new subscriber here! i wanted to say how impressive your debt confession is! dealing with debt while on a low income is challenging enough by itself but adding school into the mix and making mature financial decisions is PHENOMENAL! kudos to you and all the growth you’ve achieved so far. there is nothing stopping you from here on out. keep up the great work and know that i’m rooting for you! ❤🎉

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@pavelm4484]

That’s so impressive! Great job 🎉

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you! 💕

[@nr4ever]

You recognized what was happening and put a stop to it. Be proud

[@jdawg414]

This is so motivational!

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Awe, thank you! 💕

[@wegotthisforyou]

I've been exactly where you were in Feb 2023, so I was feeling your pain. What an inspiration your last year is! Well done and I'm sending a massive high five for beating the loans!!! 😊

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕 Feb 2023 was a whole nightmare! haha

[@annettebrowde7143]

Congratulations you did a great job.

[@gannbudgets]

Hi! Here supporting you on your journey ❤

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Hi! Thank you so much! 💕

[@DreamingonaDime]

Listen, we have all done stupid stuff. You're being a bigger person, laying it all out there and now have a plan. Im in the same boat. We got this!

[@c.parker8439]

Newbie here! Congrats 🎉🎉🎉

[@jessiesimmons6135]

Great job!🎉❤

[@CreditDelinquencies]

I am at minute 21:53 and already very proud of your accomplishments 👏 👏 I am a low-income single mom of 2 from Toronto and 100% understand your struggles as I also faced them. I have a new channel and am documenting, like you, my journey to become debt-free. Subscribing to you. You got this (I haven't finished the video so I am not sure how your situation looks like now but nevertheless, you got this!).

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! I'll have to go catch up on your videos 💕

[@lisagratefulme]

New subbie from the budgeting community!

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! I'll have to go catch up on some of your videos!💕

[@SouthernGirlBudgets]

You're doing great!

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@budgetwithrhia2452]

Hi! Thank you for sharing and new subscriber

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Hi! Thank you so much! 💕

[@tmusa2002]

I am very impressed with this confession. When you got to the car debt, what a relief to see you bought an affordable car! That’s almost always a ridiculous purchase. It sounds like you aren’t accruing new student debt, which is amazing. You are in an excellent spot. Do you have a retirement plan through work? What is your major? What will you likely earn when you graduate? Great job and I hear the pride in your voice. 🎊 🎉

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

My job does offer a 401k but I don't think I'm contributing to it right now. That's something I'll have to look into for sure. For school, I'm working on my Associates of Applied Science in Human Services. It's not exactly a necessary degree because I could get all the available jobs with just a high school diploma but hopefully it'll look better on a resume and maybe get me extra pay. Also I could transfer my credits to a social work degree or a psychology degree. I could probably go on to get a criminology degree if I wanted. The associates degree itself will probably max out at $35k a year at best, which isn't a lot but it's more than I make now and I think I'll like the sort of work involved.

[@tmusa2002]

@@SaveThatMoneyHoney Working in human services… is that a state or federal job? Does it offer a pension? If you don’t know, find out because just that alone I would consider a raise. Find out what you can, and also find out what the match is. Even if you start contributing 2%, you will be started and know where to go to increase it when you can (plus they might match your 2% and suddenly you’re saving 4%!). This is important for somebody your age when compound interest is your friend. You have become financially responsible and it won’t be long and you’ll be learning the best way to SAVE instead of PAY! I know you want a different car and house someday which will be part of your saving, and don’t be one of many who put off retirement savings because of debt, cars, and houses. It’s scary to be old, sick, and poor-I have a family member who is just that. Can’t work due to health, blew his money in his younger years, and barely makes it on social security. Let me know what you find out! Also, many employers have a retirement plan that includes a free financial advisor you can talk with. Knowledge is power and you’re ready for it. ✅

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Human Service workers do often end up working for the state or even the federal government, but they can also be employed privately. I'm not sure about a pension honestly, but I know that the sort of jobs I'm interested in almost always offer the regular benefits of a retirement plan, health insurance, PTO and things like that. As far as my car goes, I probably won't bother replacing it until it absolutely has to be done, or if I get a job farther away from home that requires a slightly more reliable car. Even in that case, I doubt I'll ever buy anything for more than about $8k tops. Retirement savings is definitely in the top of my list of goals. I'm giving myself this year to finish paying off the car, bulk up some sinking funds, and learn what I can about investing and then I'll be moving full speed ahead towards my future while I tackle the last of my student loans. I'm trying to stay positive about it because I know I would have been better off to do this sooner, but I also know that a lot of people start even later so I know I still have time. Thank you so much for your comments and I'll be back with an update when I get a chance to talk to someone about my current job's retirement plan situation. 💕

[@jdawg414]

Oh man payday loans are the worst! So predatory. Took me forever to get out of that cycle.

[@user-me4pr4gk2f]

You can do this 💥👊

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you! 💪💕

[@morethanenough6179]

New sub ❤

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you!! 💕

[@emilybudgetz]

New Subbie 💜💜💜

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@jevonim]

Budget Budget Budget! You got this! 🙏🏾 Love the video. I’m a new channel and would love your support in this community. 😃

[@SaveThatMoneyHoney]

Thank you! You got this too!

[@user56gghtf]

With God all things are possible.

[@uglyjaz41]

Fed 2024 or 2023