Member-only story
The Mindset That Made It Happen
My Manifestation of 2024
You know that saying, “If there’s a will, there’s a way”? Well, this year proved it true. I can hardly believe it myself, but I managed to completely annihilate my student loan debt. Earlier this year, I wrote about this journey in my article titled “” Looking back, I think the key to my success was keeping my eyes on the prize and refusing to give up, no matter what.
My remaining debt was $69,454.93, part of a staggering $280,000 total from the previous six years. To tackle it, I saved a percentage of each paycheck for extra payments while continuing to pay the monthly minimum. Once my savings hit at least $5,000, I applied the entire amount toward the debt to accelerate progress. Then, I repeated this process for a few months. On top of this, I worked overtime and took on two extra jobs — a per diem and a part-time role. It wasn’t easy, but I kept reminding myself of the reward waiting for me: a trip to Europe once I hit my goal in July.
The process required major sacrifices. I skipped mini trips, cut back on eating out, and resisted the temptation to buy new things. These sacrifices were difficult but ultimately worth it.
Through it all, I learned that money is a tool — a double-edged sword. It can work for or against you, depending on how you use it. In my case, I used it to eliminate debt and pave the way for a brighter financial future. Moving forward, I plan to invest in more exchange-traded fund (ETF), properties, stocks, and bonds. Eventually, I hope to use my money to purchase a business, grow it from there, and release myself from my regular day job.
