January 14 2025 – The Night Everything Changed
It was 1:37 a.m. My apartment was really quiet except for the fridge humming in the background. I was sitting on my bed holding my phone and staring at the number on the screen: €18,472.36.
I felt really bad. My chest was tight. My stomach was all knotted up. I had been avoiding looking at my bank account for months. That night I just could not look away. I had credit card debt, a personal loan and this one repair that ended up costing me a lot of money. I felt ashamed and angry at myself. I was tired. I felt like giving up.
I had a job and I was not being irresponsible. But I was, stuck in debt while I saw other people on social media talking about investing and being free. That night I opened my notes app. I wrote something with tears in my eyes.
I wrote that I was done living like this. I was going to pay off my debt without messing up my life or my future. I was going to invest my money while I paid off my debt. I did not want to have to choose between paying off my debt and investing my money.
That promise I made to myself was really hard to keep.. It was also the most important thing I have ever done.
Chapter 1: Facing the Ugly Truth
The morning I sat at my kitchen table with a cup of strong coffee. I made myself look at the truth. I made a list of all my debt.
- Credit Card 1: €7,800 at 19.9% interest
- Credit Card 2: €4,200 at 22.4% interest
- Personal Loan: €6,472, at 11.8% interest
My total minimum monthly payments were €682. Looking at these numbers made me feel sick. I had been paying a lot of money in interest for years. I was barely paying off the debt. I cried in the shower that morning.. Crying does not pay off debt. I needed to take action. So I decided to make a plan that I could actually follow for a time. I did not want to do something that would make me miserable and then give up. I wanted a plan that would really work for my debt, my loan and my credit card debt.
Chapter 2: Creating a Human Plan (Not a Perfect One)
I did not want to follow the tips I saw online. I knew I would get tired if I lived like a monk. So I made a plan:
- 70% of any extra money I made went straight to paying off debt
- 30% went to my emergency fund and investments least €300 per month
I used a mix of Debt Snowball paying off the smallest debts first to get quick wins and Avalanche targeting the highest interest rates.
I cut expenses in a way: I cancelled subscriptions I did not use started cooking at home 5 nights a week but I still allowed myself one nice dinner out per month and one coffee shop visit per week.
Some months I only managed to pay €900 towards the debt. Months when my side hustle paid well I paid €1,800. It was not perfect. It was sustainable.
Chapter 3: The Brutal Months (The Ones That Almost Broke Me)
March 2025 – My car needed a €1,200 repair. I wanted to scream and use the debt money. Instead I made a payment plan with the mechanic. Kept my €300 monthly investment going. It was tough. I kept my promise.
June 2025 – A close friend invited me on a weekend trip, to the coast. I almost said yes. Put it on credit again. I sat on my balcony for two hours watching the sunset reminding myself why I started this journey. I said no. Saying no was one of the things I’ve ever done.
August 2025 – Work was stressful. My income dropped. I felt like a failure. That night I wrote in my journal: “This is harder than I ever imagined but giving up now would make everything harder later.” Those low moments tested my willpower.
Chapter 4: The Small Wins That Saved Me
Every time I paid off one credit card I did something nice for myself. I would have a good dinner at home like a steak or I would take a walk in the park without feeling bad about it. I made a chart on my bedroom wall to see how I was doing. It was great to see the amount I owed go down every month.
Seeing that amount go down was a help to me. It made me want to keep going.
By September I had paid off the two credit cards. I felt much better. It was like something was no longer on my chest.
Chapter 5: The Final Payment (November 12 2025)
I made my payment at 9:14 a.m. On a Tuesday.
The credit card balance went from €1,237 to €0.00.
I did not have a party. I just sat at my desk. Cried. I was so relieved. I felt free. For the time in years I felt like I could breathe again. I felt like I was, in charge of my life again.
Since that day I have been able to put money into my savings every month. I can now invest €800 every month.
What I Learned After Paying Off €18,000
I paid off €18,000. I learned that you can pay off debt and invest at the same time. I did not stop investing in anything. I think shame is useless. What matters is what you do about your debt. Making payments all the time is better than having a perfect plan that you cannot follow. When things get tough be kind to yourself. You are only human. You will have bad months. Seeing how far you have come is a way to stay motivated.
The feeling you get when you pay off debt is amazing. It is better than buying anything. If You’re Carrying Debt Now… I know how you feel. I know about the anxiety and the shame you feel when you look at your bank account. I know about the nights when you cannot sleep. You do not need a plan to pay off debt. You just need a plan that you can follow.
Start now. Make a list of what you owe. Pay an extra this month. Then pay an extra next month. You will start to see progress.
If you want to know how I paid off my debt I can send you the spreadsheet I used. Just comment “SEND DEBT KIT”. I will send it to you.
One Last Honest Reflection From the Heart
Paying off €18,000 did not make me rich. It gave me peace of mind. It helped me sleep better. It made me feel more confident. It made me feel hopeful about the future.
I am still a person who makes mistakes. I still have fears.. I learned that I can change my life one step at a time. If you are in debt I want you to know that you are not alone. You can pay off your debt. Just take it one payment at a time. Take it one month at a time. You can do this.
Tell me honestly how debt do you have right now? What is the hardest part, for you? I read all the comments. I will reply to help you.
Let’s do this together.
