Debt isn’t just about numbers. It’s about peace of mind, freedom, and control over your future. I know this not just as a financial advisor, but from personal experience.

When I was 19 years old, I thought I had it all figured out. Like a lot of young adults, I thought I was smarter than my parents. I craved independence, so I moved out to Southern California, got a minimum wage job, started college, rented my own apartment, and tried to live the grown-up life I thought I deserved.

It didn’t take long before reality hit hard. I racked up over $15,000 in debt trying to make it all work. My income was between $2,000 and $3,000 a month, but my bills were closer to $3,500. Every month felt like I was drowning slowly, it was death by a thousand cuts. I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until the balance crossed into five digits.

That was a turning point. I had to face the truth: the life I was trying to live wasn’t sustainable. And that’s where this conversation really has to start.

You Have to Be Honest With Yourself

Getting out of debt requires one of the hardest things you’ll ever do financially: admitting that the way things are right now can’t continue.

That’s not easy to accept. It can feel devastating. Because money is personal. In some ways, it feels like a reflection of who you are, what you're worth, and how good you are at "adulting."

But here’s what I’ve learned, both from my own experience and from working with hundreds of clients: you’ve got to put those feelings aside long enough to take action. Emotions are real but they can’t lead the process.

The fix is simple to say, and incredibly difficult to live out:

You have to make more money and spend less money.

That’s it. There’s no magic formula. Until your budget balances, you can’t stop the bleeding. You can't patch a sinking ship without sealing the leak. And that means changes. Real ones. Sometimes painful ones.

In my case, that meant selling my car, asking my mom (who couldn’t afford it) for help, moving in with my younger brother, and picking up extra work. It took a full year before I could breathe again. But I came out of that year with hard-won clarity and momentum and I’ve never gone back.

Tackle Interest Head-On

Once you’ve balanced your cash flow, the next step is to address the interest working against you.

The fastest way to escape debt is to reduce how much of your payment goes toward interest. That means looking for options like:

• 0% balance transfer credit cards (just make sure you pay it off during the promo period)

• Refinancing to lower rates

• Consolidation loans with better terms

• Even asking lenders directly if hardship or interest relief options exist

If you don’t have access to any of those, then you focus all your energy on the next best option: make extra payments as aggressively as possible to minimize the total interest over time.

Yes, it’s hard. But here’s the part that I want you to hold onto because this is the part that can change your life.

From Debt to Wealth: The Long Game

Let’s say you work your way out of debt and you’re finally in a position to save $500 to $1,000 a month. At that point, your momentum becomes your greatest asset.

If you take that same amount you were using to pay off debt and start investing it instead, the long-term payoff is massive.

Let’s run the numbers.

• $500/month invested for 35 years at a 7% average return = $857,000

• $1,000/month invested for 35 years at a 7% average return = $1.7 million

And if you’re younger and have more time? The numbers only get more impressive.

That’s the power of compounding. And that’s why getting out of debt is more than just escaping—it’s about building. Because the money you free up today can become the wealth that funds your future, supports your family, and lets you retire on your terms.

What You Can Do Today

Here’s where I’d recommend starting:

• Pick a strategy: Debt Snowball for quick emotional wins, or Debt Avalanche to save the most on interest.

• Cut the bleeding: Balance your budget first. That’s the foundation. Nothing else works until that’s in place.

• Cut interest where you can: Explore all options to lower your rates.

• Automate and simplify: Make your minimums automatic. Then add extra to your highest-priority debt whenever possible.

• Track your progress: Use a chart, an app, or just a notebook. Momentum matters.

• Talk to someone: Don’t go through it alone. Whether it's a financial planner, a partner, or a friend—accountability helps.

  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re already working with me, you’ve probably had some version of this conversation before. We may be refining your budget, creating a debt snowball, or preparing to refinance. Either way, just know that you're doing the hard work already. And it’s going to pay off.

If you know someone else who’s struggling and could use this kind of guidance, send them my way. They don’t have to figure it out alone either.

Getting out of debt isn’t easy, but it is possible. And once you do, you unlock the freedom to build something meaningful with your money.

Start small. Stay consistent. And don’t stop.

— Charles