Success Story Archives - Making Sense Of Cents

How This Family Moved To The “Hood” and Paid Off $120,000 in Debt

Last Updated: August 9, 2022 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 27 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Recently, I decided to start a new series where I interview people who are doing extraordinary things with their lives. First up was JP Livingston, who retired with a net worth over $2,000,000 at the age of 28. Today’s post is about Aja McClanahan, who made big sacrifices to pay off $120,000 in debt!

In this interview, you’ll learn:

How she got out of debt
How she kept up with her debt paying discipline
The sacrifices she made to get out of debt
Her tips for paying off debt when you feel like you have no money
How she increased her income so that she could pay off debt
What she would do differently, and more!

Her article, Hood Rich- How Living in the Hood Saved Our Finances, got me hooked. In it she says “We live in ‘Da ‘Hood.’ Corner stores, kids out late at night, gunshots, alley mechanics and all the glory of what the ‘hood life entails. Yes, this is where our home is located. A home on the next block is selling for $2,500.” [Read more…]

How This Couple Paid off $204,971.31 in Debt

Last Updated: October 9, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 33 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Recently, I decided to start a new series where I interview people who are doing extraordinary things with their lives. First up was JP Livingston, who retired with a net worth over $2,000,000 at the age of 28. Today’s post is about Claudia and Garrett, who paid off a crazy amount of debt and are now living debt free!

Claudia and Garrett sold their 1,500 square foot house, downsized to a 500 square foot home, sold 80% of their belongings, side hustled like crazy, and were able to pay off $204,971.31 in debt.

Yes, they paid off over $200,000 in debt!

Due to that, I thought they would be great to interview for my series. Paying off that amount of debt and being debt free is no small feat.

Related articles that will help lead you to debt free living:

I asked you, my readers, what questions I should ask Claudia and Garrett, so below are your questions (and some of mine) about living debt free. Make sure you’re following me on Facebook so you have the opportunity to submit your own questions for the next interview. [Read more…]

How This 28 Year Old Retired With $2.25 Million

Last Updated: January 1, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 73 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I’ve recently decided to start a new series where I interview people who are doing extraordinary things with their lives. First up, I have JP Livingston, who retired at age 28 with a net worth of $2.25 million. And, her net worth is still increasing!

Of that total, 60% of her net worth came from saving, while 40% came from growing her money through investing. This is why investing your money is so important, and it’s how you really allow your money to grow for you!

JP grew up listening to stories about financial insecurity during her parents’ upbringing. The freedom that early retirement brought really appealed to her, and who doesn’t want to retire early anyways?

She is now retired at the young age of 28 and says that she still lives “an incredibly luxurious life.” And, she managed to retire early while living in one of the most expensive places in the world – New York City. [Read more…]