Paid it off themselvesCredit cards$15,000
Newlyweds Paid Off $15,000 of Credit Card Debt in 7 Months by Paying It First
Newlyweds Anthony and Luan paid off about $15,000 of combined credit card debt in seven months by sending part of every paycheck to the cards first. They talk through money arguments, sacrifices and what came next.
Video by His And Her MoneyPublished January 20, 2020Breakdown updated September 15, 2026
Key moments
“How this Couple Paid Off $15,000 of Credit Card Debt in Just 7 Months” by His And Her Money. We didn't make this video; it loads from YouTube when you press play.
Where Anthony and Luan started
Before they married, Anthony and Luan each carried credit card debt, and Luan had also used a personal line of credit to replace two cars she totaled in one year. They started paying it down separately, with Luan moving back home and Anthony sleeping on a friend's couch to save. By their August wedding, about $15,000 to $16,000 of card debt remained between them.
What Anthony and Luan did
- 1
Before the wedding, each cut back to necessities and moved to cheaper living arrangements to free up money.
- 2
After marrying, they combined accounts, added up their card balances and set a target date to be free of credit card debt.
- 3
A 30 to 40 percent slice of each paycheck went straight to the credit card, and they lived on what was left.
- 4
They packed lunches, rarely ate out, skipped Christmas gifts and furnished their new home slowly, sleeping on an air mattress for a while.
- 5
Anthony tracked the numbers on a whiteboard, and they finished the cards in March before turning to Luan's student loans.
What you can learn from it
Treat the card payment like a bill
Instead of paying whatever was left over, they paid the card first and budgeted around the rest. That made extra payments automatic rather than optional.
Put a date on it together
They had been chipping away without a timeline. Marriage pushed them to agree on when the cards would be gone, then to set goals for the student loans and the house.
Money talks can be uncomfortable
Anthony admits he kept pushing the conversation while Luan avoided it during wedding planning. Asking what they wanted most versus what they wanted now helped them decide.
Paying more than the minimum matters
The CFPB notes that paying only the minimum could take years to pay off a card, and the more you pay each month, the less interest you pay over time.
In their words
“if we at least get the credit card debt paid off right then that basically gives us more income”
“paying off the credit card was a bill so we put that money first”
Before you copy this path
They had two incomes, no children yet and family or friends who could house them for a while, which not every couple has. Their story covers the credit cards; student loans and a mortgage were still ahead.
Watch out: It needs a steady monthly budget, and nobody negotiates for you.
Build your own payoff planCommon questions
How long does it take to pay off a credit card with minimum payments?
It can take years. Card statements must show how long paying only the minimum would take and what monthly payment would clear the balance in 36 months, assuming no new charges.
Source: consumerfinance.govShould we pay off the smallest or highest-interest card first?
The CFPB describes both. Paying the highest-rate debt first saves money over time, while paying the smallest balance first shows progress sooner but may cost more in the long run.
Source: consumerfinance.govSources
By DebtCheckUSAEditorial Team. This is our summary of a video we didn't make, and nobody paid us to include it. It's one person's experience, not financial, tax or legal advice. Advertiser disclosure
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