How I Paid Off $68,000 of Debt in 15 Months

June 2, 2026

After reaching my “enough is enough” moment and realizing something had to change, I was left with one big question:

How?

How do I actually get out of debt? Where do I even begin?

Like most people, I turned to YouTube University.

There was a lot of advice out there. Some good. Some that had me completely confused.

As someone who studied business and accounting in school, I was able to use some discernment. And somewhere along the way, I stumbled across Dave Ramsey and went down the rabbit hole listening to his teachings and learning about the 7 Baby Steps.

But one thing he said completely changed how I viewed my finances:

“Debt robs you of your income.”

And honestly, until that moment, I never really thought of myself as being “in debt.”

I paid my bills on time.

I had a decent job.

I was functioning.

I just never had money left over to actually enjoy my life.

So in my mind, I thought I had an income problem — even though I was making more money than many people around me.

But once I sat down and added up my monthly “bill payments,” I realized something shocking:

More than half of my paycheck was going toward debt every single month.

Then I added up the balances.

I was $68,000 in debt.

Before that moment, I truly had no idea.

That was the moment everything changed.

I gave myself two years to become debt-free.

I did it in fifteen months.

Here’s How I Did It

1. I Used the Snowball Method

I started paying off the smallest debt first and worked my way up.

Some people debate the math of this method, but for me, the emotional wins mattered.

Every account I paid off gave me momentum and motivation to keep going.

2. Every Extra Dollar Went Toward Debt

Tax refunds. Birthday money. Christmas money.

Matter of fact, I told my family not to buy me gifts — just give me the money because I was on a mission to dig myself out.

It may have seemed tacky to some people, but I had a goal.

3. I Sold What I Wasn’t Using

I went through my closets and sold clothes, shoes, and things still sitting in boxes collecting dust.

Plate sets. Unused items. Anything that could generate extra money.

That process also taught me how much money I had tied up in “stuff.”

4. I Cut Back Without Completely Losing Myself

I stopped getting my nails done and started doing them myself.

I still went to the hairdresser, but I washed my own hair beforehand to lower the cost.

At the time, my job required me to regularly interact with people, so presentation still mattered to me. As someone with locs, I wanted to remain polished and professional while still cutting costs where I could.

5. I Learned to Enjoy Low-Cost Experiences

Instead of expensive vacations, I started doing staycations.

I found free events in town, spent more time at parks, and discovered my library offered free museum passes.

To my surprise, there were actually a lot of affordable ways to enjoy life.

6. I Got on a Budget

This was the real game changer.

For the first time, I was telling my money where to go instead of wondering where it went.

I knew:

• what was coming in

• what was going out

• and what decisions I could realistically make

  
  

That clarity changed everything.

7. I Got Back to Cooking

Before my debt-free journey, eating out was part of my routine.

Friday afternoon through Sunday night, I was constantly spending money on food.

So I got back to my roots and started cooking more consistently at home.

Not only did it save money, but it also helped me become more intentional overall.

The Biggest Lesson

Paying off debt was not just a financial transformation.

It was a mindset transformation.

I had to become honest with myself about:

• my habits

• my emotional spending

• and the life I was trying to create

What Paying Off Debt Really Taught Me

One of the biggest things this journey taught me was that I actually did have money.

It just wasn’t staying with me.

Before paying off my debt, so much of my income was going toward:

• monthly payments

• interest

• credit cards

• and financial obligations

  
  

I thought I had an income problem.

But in reality, a large portion of my paycheck was simply going to the wrong places before I ever had the chance to enjoy it, save it, or build with it.

And once that debt was removed, I finally felt the difference.

Not because I suddenly became wealthy overnight…

But because I finally had room to breathe.

Final Thought

The truth is, becoming debt-free gave me more than financial relief.

It gave me breathing room.

It gave me options.

It gave me peace.

And most importantly, it showed me that financial change is possible — even when the numbers feel overwhelming.

Because sometimes the first step isn’t making more money.

Sometimes the first step is finally deciding:“Enough is enough.”

Keep your money Irie.

About Petra-Ann Brown

Petra-Ann Brown is a financial educator, speaker, and founder of Brown Financial Solutions, LLC, where she helps individuals and families build healthier relationships with money and create financial clarity. Through her writing, workshops, and podcast Island Money 365, she shares real-life money lessons, immigrant stories, and practical financial guidance rooted in honesty, culture, and everyday life.