https://debtcheckusa.com/ https://debtcheckusa.com/debt-check https://debtcheckusa.com/tools https://debtcheckusa.com/learn https://debtcheckusa.com/stories https://debtcheckusa.com/how-we-make-money https://debtcheckusa.com/disclosures https://debtcheckusa.com/privacy https://debtcheckusa.com/terms https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/paid-off-20000-credit-card-debt-debt-management-plan How one woman paid off $20,000 in debt: She shares her debt management strategies https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0eDTdPDSJKk/maxresdefault.jpg After a breakup left her covering rent alone, Tracy Schultz ran up $20,000 on credit cards and couldn't keep up with the minimums. A nonprofit debt management plan worked with her creditors on one monthly payment she could afford, and she paid it all off. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0eDTdPDSJKk 159 2025-05-15 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/paid-off-102k-student-loans-debt-snowball-side-jobs Paying Off $102K In Student Loan Debt https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iTZGRROYVG8/maxresdefault.jpg Mandy Velez left school with $75,000 in loans and a $40,000 salary in New York. She used the debt snowball, took on dog walking, babysitting and freelance writing, and paid the last $32,000 in about eight months. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/iTZGRROYVG8 2021-03-29 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/paid-off-20k-student-loans-16-months-autopay Woman digs out of nearly $20,000 in debt https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9rbsURKiCXk/maxresdefault.jpg NiaChloe Bowman paid off nearly $20,000 in student loans 16 months after graduating. She listed every debt, automated payments from a separate bills account, and explains why refinancing federal loans can cost you their protections. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/9rbsURKiCXk 2026-02-18 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/pay-off-car-loan-early-principal-payments-34-months 5 Tips to Paying Off A Car Loan Early - How I Paid $40K in 34 Months https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NoXHrcdZItI/maxresdefault.jpg Diamond Edwards bought a new truck with no money down on an 84-month loan. He paid off his smaller debts first, put $9,000 of savings toward the truck and made principal-only payments to finish in 34 months. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/NoXHrcdZItI 2020-04-09 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/single-mom-paid-off-50k-debt-no-spend-weekends How single mom knocked out $50K in debt https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gA1M8gH-41k/maxresdefault.jpg A Chicago single mom tried no-spend weekends, moved somewhere cheaper, cooked from what was already in the cupboard and paid down a high-interest car loan. Her freelance writing side job grew into a full-time one. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/gA1M8gH-41k 2020-01-22 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/paid-off-55000-debt-with-0-balance-transfer-cards She paid off $55,000 using 0% balance transfer cards! https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I9qvUhSMVJ0/maxresdefault.jpg Lorelei ran up about $55,000 on credit cards. She looked into bankruptcy, then moved most of the balance to 0% balance transfer cards with 3% fees and worked six days a week to pay it off in under two years. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/I9qvUhSMVJ0 1502 2021-04-03 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/pay-off-maxed-out-credit-cards-debt-management-plan GreenPath, a Michigan based nonprofit, helps families regain financial wellness after burden of debt https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aA4f0P7GFuk/maxresdefault.jpg Lavell's debt started with a card that came in the mail when he was a teenager and grew to five maxed-out cards. A nonprofit counseling agency set up a plan estimated at about five years and got one card's rate cut from 24% to 2%; he says he's now out of credit card debt. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/aA4f0P7GFuk 197 2021-09-16 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/paid-off-70000-eight-credit-cards-debt-management-plan 2022 NFCC Brighter Financial Future Award: MMI client Johnika Dreher https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-Vpf_W3beh0/hqdefault.jpg Johnika Dreher owed about $70,000 across eight cards after furnishing a new home. Her bank referred her to a nonprofit debt management plan that lowered her rates; she finished in 49 months, paying a monthly fee under $50. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-Vpf_W3beh0 230 2022-09-20 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/paid-off-10000-credit-card-debt-in-6-months How I Paid Off $10,000 of Credit Card Debt in 6 Months https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f8JjqrVcv6s/maxresdefault.jpg Tiffany explains how uninsured dental work, study abroad and a low income added up to $10,000 of card debt. A strict budget, a jump in income and a few balance transfers paid it off in six months. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/f8JjqrVcv6s 1691 2019-10-24 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/filing-bankruptcy-for-18k-credit-card-debt-at-25 I filed for bankruptcy & have been thriving since! https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aU3ubri4aEo/maxresdefault.jpg At 25, pregnant and on a low income, Caitlyn filed Chapter 7 with an attorney over $18,000 of credit card debt. She walks calmly through the process and how it set her up to manage money as a single mom. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/aU3ubri4aEo 841 2025-04-30 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/chapter-7-bankruptcy-experience-from-filing-to-discharge How Declaring Bankruptcy Changed My Life https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qAzdAYEJazQ/maxresdefault.jpg Jay Swanson grew up believing bankruptcy was shameful, then found himself owing $86,500 on about $2,000 a month. He filed Chapter 7 in 2017 and reflects on how he got there and what changed afterwards. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/qAzdAYEJazQ 1700 2025-02-07 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/pay-off-credit-card-debt-lower-interest-rate How to deal with debt | Life Kit https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kQlQGF7vyxY/hqdefault.jpg NPR's Life Kit on where to start with credit card debt: asking for a lower rate, whether to save while you pay it down, spending less, and handling the hard money conversations. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kQlQGF7vyxY 1047 2023-04-19 2026-09-15 https://debtcheckusa.com/stories/how-to-negotiate-medical-bills-hospital-financial-assistance How to negotiate your medical bills | Life Kit https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sPBF53vPALA/maxresdefault.jpg Jared Walker of the nonprofit Dollar For explains hospital financial assistance, how to ask for an itemized bill and negotiate it, and paying in installments, with a practice phone call. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sPBF53vPALA 1270 2023-03-30 2026-09-15