--- title: I Was $9,000 in Debt. Here’s How I Paid it Off in Two Years description: I went from $9,000 in credit card debt to debt-free in just two years. Here’s the exact plan I used, plus the mindset shifts that changed my finances (and my life) for good. image: https://theindependencelab.com/hubfs/young-woman-in-debt-worried-about-finances.png --- [![image (58)](https://theindependencelab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%20(58).png?width=195&height=70&name=image%20(58).png "image (58)")](https://theindependencelab.com/) - Offerings - [Interview Frameworks Mini Kit](https://theindependencelab.com/interviewminikit) - [Mock Interview](https://theindependencelab.com/mock-interview) - Free Resources - [Senior Year Job Search Timeline](https://theindependencelab.com/jobsearchtimeline) - [Life Resume Template](https://theindependencelab.com/liferesumetemplate) - [Networking Rubric](https://theindependencelab.com/networking) - [Interview Warm-Up Worksheet](https://theindependencelab.com/interviewwarmup) - [Interview Checklist](https://theindependencelab.com/master-your-first-job-interview-checklist) - [First Job Survival Kit](https://theindependencelab.com/first-job-toolkit) - [Post-Grad Glow Up](https://theindependencelab.com/post-grad-glow-up-guide) - [Emotional Wellness Cheat Sheet](https://theindependencelab.com/mental-wellness-cheat-sheet) - [401k Checklist](https://theindependencelab.com/401k) - [Books I Recommend + Notes](https://theindependencelab.com/22-books) - [Archive](https://theindependencelab.com/blog) - [About](https://theindependencelab.com/about) - [Press](https://theindependencelab.com/press) [Get the Weekly Drop](https://theindependencelab.com/subscribe) ![](https://47169197.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/47169197/young-woman-in-debt-worried-about-finances.png) [< Go back to blog](https://theindependencelab.com/blog) [Financial Literacy](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/tag/financial-literacy) [Emotional Intelligence](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/tag/emotional-intelligence) # I Was $9,000 in Debt. Here’s How I Paid it Off in Two Years When I left New York City, I was nearly $9,000 in credit card debt. Looking back, it’s a bit mind-boggling that I wasn’t more concerned. But at the time, I had a mix of beliefs and blind spots that made me think it wasn’t a big deal. More make up When [I left New York City](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/why-i-chose-to-quit-my-dream-job), I was nearly $9,000 in credit card debt. Looking back, it’s a bit mind-boggling that I wasn’t more concerned. But at the time, I had a mix of beliefs and blind spots that made me think it wasn’t a big deal. Growing up, I saw my mom, and later, my older sister, use credit cards for everything. They had separate cards for nearly every retail store we visited. So when I turned 18, I followed suit, not realizing those cards often came with sky-high interest rates (20% or more!). Like so many of us, I never learned how [personal finance](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/michelle-glass) actually worked. I didn’t know how to check my credit score, what impacted it, or how compound interest quietly made debt worse over time. Ignorance really was bliss, until it wasn’t. In New York, I earned between $30,000 and $38,000 a year. That sounds doable, but with Manhattan rent, subway rides, groceries, and the occasional night out, it added up fast. I joke that they used to put peanuts on my desk every Friday. It just wasn’t enough. By 25, I was thousands in debt with no real plan to get out. I did what I could to make minimum payments, knowing missed payments would hurt my credit. But I didn’t realize how little those minimums did to stop the interest from snowballing. The debt felt like a mountain I couldn’t climb. I knew something had to change. ## **How I Paid Off $9,000 of Debt in Two Years** Here’s exactly what I did to get out of debt and start building a stronger financial foundation. ### I Moved Back to Ohio There were several reasons for leaving NYC, but one of the biggest was this: I didn’t see a sustainable future in the magazine journalism path I had chosen. So, I packed up and moved home to Ohio. My sister let me live in her condo for just $200 a month, an incredible upgrade from my $1,600 shoebox apartment in Manhattan. My pride took a little hit, but financially, it was the smartest decision I could’ve made. ### I Took the In-Between Job Back in Ohio, I had no clear plan. My dream job had turned into a financial dead end, and I didn’t know what came next. Fortunately, a friend of my sister’s had just had a baby and needed a nanny. I said yes. The job gave me the freedom to write freelance articles during nap time and slowly figure out what was next. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. I was earning enough to cover my reduced expenses, and I could finally breathe. ### I Hatched a Plan Every extra dollar I made no longer went to clothes or takeout. Instead, I got serious about debt. I did some research and found two strategies: - **The Avalanche Method:** Pay off the highest-interest debt first while making minimum payments on the rest. Once one’s paid off, move to the next highest.  - **The Snowball Method:** Start with the smallest debt balance to build quick wins, then roll that payment into the next one. I chose the avalanche method and built a spreadsheet to track every cent. It wasn’t fun. But it worked. ### I Consolidated My Debt Eventually, I found a credit card offering 0% interest on balance transfers for 18 months. I ran the numbers and realized this would allow me to finally pay down the actual debt instead of just battling the interest. So I made the transfer and threw every extra dollar at it. That move accelerated my progress more than anything else. ## **Two Years Later, I Was Debt-Free** Getting out of debt wasn’t easy. I gave up my dream city, late-night drinks with friends, and more than a few new shoes. But the confidence I gained from finally understanding personal finance, and taking back control, was unmatched. Becoming debt-free didn’t just change my finances. It changed how I saw myself. Now I know building a financial foundation is non-negotiable.   If you’re ready to make your financial foundation a priority, I’ve got a great place to start. [Here are seven books I highly recommend for anyone beginning their money journey.](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/unlock-financial-freedom-7-essential-books-for-independent-living) Then, if you’re ready to get the exact strategies I used to land my dream job, earn 4 promotions and 5x my salary straight to your inbox, [subscribe to my weekly newsletter here. ](https://theindependencelab.com/subscribe)   ## Latest articles There is so much more to learn on your journey to your independent life. Check out all our articles here. [![woman worrying she does not have enough experience](https://47169197.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/47169197/woman%20worrying%20she%20does%20not%20have%20enough%20experience.png)](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/dont-have-the-years-of-experience-required-do-these-5-things-to-get-ahead) [Career Growth](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/tag/career-growth) ### **Don't have the years of experience required? Do these 5 things to get ahead** Written by Brianne Rush, on Sep 10, 2026, 9:00:00 AM A client came to me recently feeling stuck. Read more [![](https://47169197.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/47169197/woman%20looking%20at%20Viral%20LinkedIn%20Post.png)](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/my-viral-post-makes-interviewing-a-little-bit-easier) [Career Growth](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/tag/career-growth) ### **My viral post makes interviewing a little bit easier** Written by Brianne Rush, on Sep 3, 2026, 9:00:02 AM One of my LinkedIn posts recently went viral. It provided so much value people were sharing it like crazy. Read more [![my-first-interview](https://47169197.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/47169197/Financial%20Independence-1.webp)](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/bombed-my-first-job-interview-job-interview-tips) [Career Growth](https://theindependencelab.com/blog/tag/career-growth) ### **I Thought I Bombed My First Job Interview + 3 Job Interview Tips** Written by Brianne Rush, on Aug 27, 2026, 9:00:01 AM Ever had a moment where you felt your dream slipping away right before your eyes? That was me, sitting at my college ... 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