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How Do You Pay Off $113,000 When You’re Making $6,000 a Month? She Did It

Jahanzeb Writer

November 2, 2025

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The moment of reckoning often arrives not with a bang, but with the quiet dread of a monthly budget that no longer makes sense.

For Michelle Whitley, a photographer from Maryland, that moment came during her daily commute as she listened to a personal finance audiobook.

A quick mental calculation revealed a stark reality: she and her husband, Michael, were spending about $200 more each month than her salary could cover. It was a familiar feeling of being underwater, of an income that was consumed before it even arrived.

But this quiet realization was the first tremor of an earthquake that would reshape their financial lives. The number they were facing was not a small, manageable figure; it was a staggering $113,000.

This story is not an outlier. It is a deeply personal reflection of a national crisis. In 2025, the financial landscape for many American households is defined by debt. Total U.S. household debt has surged to an unprecedented $18.39 trillion.

Beyond mortgages, the non-housing debt that encompasses credit cards, auto loans, and student loans has climbed to $5.45 trillion.

This burden is made exponentially heavier by a punishing interest rate environment. The average annual percentage rate (APR) on credit card balances has soared past 21%, with some analyses placing the median rate closer to 24%.

At these rates, carrying a balance is no longer just a convenience; it is a financially devastating cycle that can turn manageable purchases into insurmountable burdens.

This reality poses a daunting question: In an economy where, as financial expert Dave Ramsey says, “Debt is normal,” and rising costs are a constant pressure, is it truly possible to escape a debt load that eclipses an entire year’s salary?.

The journey of Michelle and Michael Whitley provides a definitive, resounding answer. Over 28 months, on a combined income that averaged out to the equivalent of the one in this article’s title, they systematically dismantled their six-figure debt.

Their story is more than just inspiration; it is a blueprint.

By deconstructing their journey—the mindset shift, the strategic choices, and the relentless execution—we can build a universal, actionable guide for anyone to reclaim their financial future and achieve a life free from payments.

The Anatomy of a Debt-Free Journey: Michelle’s Story

The Financial Snapshot: A Mountain of “Normal” Debt

The Whitleys’ debt was a tapestry woven from the threads of ordinary American life. It was not the result of a single catastrophic event, but the slow accumulation of decisions that, in isolation, seemed reasonable.

Their $113,000 mountain was composed of approximately $75,000 in student loans—the price of admission to higher education and better career prospects.

It included $16,000 in car loans, a necessity for commuting in most parts of the country. And it was rounded out by $22,000 in credit card debt, a catch-all for furniture purchases, daily living expenses, and the small gaps between income and outgo that widen over time.

This composition is a mirror for millions, reinforcing the unsettling truth that a six-figure debt can be built one “normal” transaction at a time.

Their ability to tackle this was grounded in a solid, yet not extraordinary, income. Over the 28-month payoff period, their combined annual earnings ranged from $68,000 to $98,000.

This translates to a gross monthly income of roughly $5,667 to $8,167, placing them firmly in the middle-class bracket and making their story relatable to a broad audience who may not have the luxury of a six-figure salary to bail them out.

Their situation was a classic case of good income being undermined by significant liabilities, a common financial trap. To fully grasp the scale of their challenge and accomplishment, their starting point can be summarized in a simple dashboard.

The Whitley Debt Dashboard

This table does more than present data; it serves as a model for the first crucial step anyone must take: a fearless inventory of their own financial reality.

The clarity of these numbers, however intimidating, is the necessary foundation upon which a plan can be built.

The Catalyst for Change: The “Total Money Makeover”

The journey out of debt rarely begins with a spreadsheet. It begins with a fundamental shift in perspective. For Michelle, that shift was delivered through her headphones during her work commute. The voice was Dave Ramsey’s, and the book was The Total Money Makeover.

The principles she absorbed were not complex financial algorithms but simple, powerful behavioral truths. She was introduced to the idea that one must “gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you”.

The concept of a budget was reframed from a restrictive cage to an empowering tool for “telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went”.

Perhaps most importantly, Ramsey’s philosophy gave her permission to be different. In a culture where payments are a permanent fixture of life, the goal became to “be weird”.

This counter-cultural mindset was the psychological fuel required to undertake a journey that would demand sacrifice and discipline far beyond the norm.

It was the realization that the pain of their current financial situation had become greater than the perceived pain of making a drastic change—a tipping point that Ramsey identifies as the essential catalyst for transformation.

This initial spark of motivation, born from a new philosophy, was the true inciting incident of their story.

First Steps and Quick Wins: The Power of a $150 Victory

With a new mindset in place, the first step had to be tangible, immediate, and validating. Ramsey’s plan advises that if there isn’t enough cash to start paying down debt, you should generate it by selling things you own.

The Whitleys took this advice literally. They scoured their home for assets they could liquidate—furniture, clothing, and miscellaneous items—and sold them.

The cash they raised was not put toward their largest, most intimidating liability. Instead, it was aimed like a laser at their smallest debt: a PayPal Credit account with a balance of just $150.

In the grand scheme of $113,000, this was a drop in the ocean. But its strategic value was immense. Paying it off completely provided an immediate, tangible victory. It was proof that they could, in fact, eliminate a debt.

This quick win generated a powerful sense of progress and excitement, creating the momentum that is the psychological cornerstone of the Debt Snowball method. As Ramsey states, “Knock out a small debt first so you get a quick win. Momentum is key”. That $150 victory was the first small snowball pushed from the top of the mountain, setting in motion an avalanche of progress that would follow.

The Blueprint: Deconstructing the Strategy

The Whitleys’ success was not accidental. It was the result of a disciplined adherence to a clear, four-pillar strategy.

Each pillar represents a critical component of a successful debt-elimination plan, a component that can be adapted and applied by anyone, regardless of their specific numbers.

By examining their choices through the lens of established financial principles, we can extract a universal blueprint for financial freedom.

Pillar 1: Choosing Your Weapon – The Battle Plan for Repayment

Every successful campaign requires a clear strategy of engagement. In the war against debt, the primary choice lies between two competing methodologies: the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche. The Whitleys’ decision to follow Dave Ramsey’s plan meant they unequivocally chose the Snowball.

They began by meticulously listing all their consumer debts, from the minuscule $150 PayPal credit to their multi-thousand-dollar credit card balances and beyond. They then attacked them in order of size, regardless of the interest rate.

After vanquishing the PayPal debt, they moved on to a $300 Synchrony Bank account from a furniture purchase.

Next in line were their three credit cards, tackled in ascending order of their balances: Chase Slate ($3,500), followed by Chase Freedom ($8,000) and Discover ($8,000). This method is designed to leverage human psychology.

By focusing on the smallest debts first, it engineers a series of quick wins that build motivation and create a powerful sense of momentum, making it easier to stay committed for the long haul.¹⁴

The alternative, and the mathematically superior choice, is the Debt Avalanche. This strategy, advocated by experts like Suze Orman (who calls it the “roll-down”) and Ramit Sethi, prioritizes debts by their interest rate, from highest to lowest.

By making minimum payments on all debts and directing every extra dollar toward the one with the highest APR, this method minimizes the total amount of interest paid over the life of the loans, saving money and often shortening the repayment timeline.

The debate between these two methods gets to the heart of personal finance itself: is it a game of pure mathematics or a challenge of human behavior? Ramsey’s philosophy is built on the premise that personal finance is “80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge”.

Therefore, the Snowball is optimized for what he sees as the most critical variable: the debtor’s ability to stay motivated and consistent.

The quick, successive victories act as powerful behavioral reinforcement. Conversely, experts who champion the Avalanche argue for financial efficiency, believing that a disciplined individual can stay the course while also saving the most money possible.

Ultimately, there is no single “correct” answer. The most effective strategy is the one that a person will actually execute with consistency.

The danger is not in choosing the “wrong” method, but in succumbing to analysis paralysis and choosing no method at all.

As Ramit Sethi advises, the key is to “Choose a Debt Repayment Strategy Quickly” and get started. The following table can serve as a diagnostic tool to help make that choice.

Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche – Which Path Is Yours?

Pillar 2: The Non-Negotiable Foundation – The Zero-Based Budget

Regardless of the repayment strategy chosen, it is doomed to fail without the foundational tool of a budget.

The Whitleys committed to this principle by creating a monthly zero-based budget. Their tool of choice was EveryDollar, Dave Ramsey’s recommended app, and they used the free version to meticulously plan their spending.

Michelle Whitley is candid about the learning curve, noting that it took them about three months to get the hang of it—a realistic and encouraging timeline for anyone new to the process.

The principle of zero-based budgeting is simple yet profound: income minus expenses must equal zero.

This doesn’t mean spending everything you earn. It means that every single dollar is assigned a specific purpose, or “job,” before the month begins.

Some dollars are assigned to rent, others to groceries, others to debt repayment, and still others to savings.

The goal is to eliminate the category of “unaccounted for” money, thereby transforming finances from a reactive mystery (“wondering where it went”) to a proactive plan (“telling your money where to go”).

This level of intention is the ultimate act of taking control over one’s financial life.

For those looking to implement this strategy in 2025, several powerful apps are available, each with a slightly different approach to the same core principle:

• YNAB (You Need A Budget): This app is the gold standard for proactive, zero-based budgeting. It is best suited for individuals who are willing to be hands-on with their finances, as it requires active engagement to assign every dollar that comes in.

• EveryDollar: Developed by Ramsey Solutions, this app is designed specifically for simple, straightforward zero-based budgeting. Its interface is intuitive and focused on helping users execute the Ramsey plan.

• Goodbudget: This app digitizes the classic “envelope” system. Users create virtual envelopes for different spending categories and allocate funds to them. It’s an excellent visual tool for those who think in terms of distinct spending buckets.

The first step in using any of these tools, or even a simple pen and paper, is to conduct a thorough financial inventory. This act of gathering all the data in one place is often the most difficult and most empowering step in the entire process.

It transforms the vague, amorphous anxiety of “being in debt” into a concrete, solvable problem with defined parameters. The worksheet below provides a template for this critical first action.

Your Personal Debt Inventory Worksheet (The First Step to Freedom)

Pillar 3: The Two-Engine Approach – Slashing Expenses and Supercharging Income

Paying off a significant amount of debt requires a two-pronged attack. It can be thought of as a game requiring both a strong defense (cutting expenses) and a powerful offense (increasing income).

Many people focus solely on defense—cutting coupons, canceling subscriptions, and forgoing lattes. While important, this strategy has a floor; one can only cut expenses so much before hitting bare necessities.

The offense, however, has no ceiling. There is no limit to how much one can potentially earn.

The Whitleys’ rapid success was a direct result of their mastery of both sides of this equation.

Their offensive strategy was relentless. While holding down her full-time job, Michelle continued to build her photography business during nights and on weekends.

After completing a full-time internship where he was not permitted to work, Michael immediately secured a 20-hour-per-week job to contribute to their shared goal.

Even within her primary job, Michelle maximized her earnings, securing two raises that totaled an additional $4.50 per hour.

They embodied the principle of “hustle”—aggressively seeking out every available avenue to increase their cash flow. For those looking to replicate this in 2025, the playbook is diverse:

• Maximize Your 9-to-5: The primary job is the biggest asset. This involves strategically negotiating for raises, seeking promotions, or acquiring new skills to qualify for a higher-paying role or career change.

• The Gig Economy & Side Hustles: The modern economy offers a plethora of flexible work options. This can include driving for rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft, delivering for services like DoorDash, or leveraging skills through freelance work in writing, design, or consulting. Selling digital products like templates on platforms such as Etsy has also become a viable income stream.

• Monetize Your Assets: The sharing economy allows individuals to generate passive or semi-passive income from things they already own. This includes renting out a spare car on Turo, a spare room on Airbnb, or even unused storage space through services like Neighbor.

Simultaneously, the Whitleys played formidable defense. Their single most impactful strategic decision was a lifestyle change. In the summer of 2018, they moved from Gaithersburg to Frederick, Maryland.

This one move, which placed them halfway between their respective jobs, had a cascading effect on their budget.

It immediately saved them approximately $300 per month in rent and slashed Michael’s daily commute by 50 miles, resulting in significant savings on gasoline.

This illustrates a key principle: making one or two major, structural changes to your largest expense categories can have a far greater impact than a dozen small, nickel-and-dime cuts. The modern expense-cutting playbook includes:

• The “Big Three”: These are typically the largest budget items and offer the greatest potential for savings.

• Housing: Consider getting a roommate, moving to a lower-cost-of-living area, or even moving back in with family temporarily if possible.

• Transportation: Explore carpooling, using public transit, or, like the Whitleys, strategically selling a vehicle if it’s not essential.

• Food: This is a major variable expense. Consistent meal planning, smart grocery shopping (buying generic, using lists), and drastically reducing dining out are proven methods for freeing up hundreds of dollars per month.

• The Subscription Audit: In an economy dominated by recurring payments, a thorough audit of all subscriptions—from streaming services to gym memberships—is essential. The key is to be ruthless in canceling anything that is not actively providing significant value.

• Behavioral Adjustments: Small changes in habits can yield significant results. Unsubscribing from retail marketing emails reduces temptation. Leaving credit cards at home and using cash forces more mindful spending. Trying a “no-buy” challenge for a week or a month can reset consumption habits and reveal the difference between true needs and wants.

Pillar 4: The Accelerant – Windfalls, Intensity, and Mindset

A solid plan of attack and a disciplined budget are the engine of debt repayment, but certain factors can act as powerful fuel accelerants, dramatically shortening the timeline.

The Whitleys masterfully employed these accelerants, particularly in the final stages of their journey.

One of the most effective tools for acceleration is the strategic deployment of windfalls. When they sold Michael’s car, they generated a $6,000 profit.

Instead of letting this money get absorbed into their checking account or using it for a lifestyle upgrade, they immediately directed the entire sum toward their largest remaining credit card balance, wiping it out in a single transaction.

This is a textbook example of how to handle one-time influxes of cash, such as tax refunds, work bonuses, or inheritance.

By earmarking these funds exclusively for debt, they made a quantum leap in their progress that would have taken months of regular payments to achieve.

As they neared the finish line, their focus sharpened into what Dave Ramsey calls “gazelle intensity”—the focused, desperate sprint of an animal fleeing a predator.

In the final three months of their 28-month journey, they were throwing nearly $4,000 each month at their remaining debt.

To accomplish this, they lived on a bare-bones budget of just $2,000 to $2,500 per month, despite having a much higher income.

This period of extreme sacrifice was the final push that carried them over the finish line. It embodies Ramsey’s promise: “If you will make the sacrifices now that most people aren’t willing to make, later on you will be able to live as those folks will never be able to live”.

This intensity is only sustainable with the right mindset, as the journey is a marathon, not a sprint. The Whitleys acknowledged that the process was “extremely difficult and tested our patience”.

This psychological endurance is where the wisdom of multiple financial experts converges. Suze Orman’s advice to kick out shame and blame is critical; self-flagellation is not a productive strategy.

Instead, she advises focusing on taking one small, positive step at a time, like finding just $50 more to put toward a payment, and celebrating that progress.

Ramit Sethi emphasizes the importance of building systems, like automatic transfers to savings or debt payments, which operate independently of one’s fluctuating motivation or finite willpower.

Finally, the journey can have profound relational benefits. Far from being a source of conflict, the shared goal and mutual sacrifice brought Michelle and Michael closer together.

As Michelle wrote, “Through hard times, we carried each other and through happy times, we celebrated. We’ve undoubtedly grown closer as a couple”.

This transforms the arduous process from a solitary struggle into a constructive, team-building exercise, framing the fight against debt not as a burden, but as an investment in a shared future.

Conclusion: Your Turn to Be the “She” Who Did It

The story of Michelle and Michael Whitley is a powerful testament to the possibility of financial transformation.

Faced with a $113,000 debt on a moderate income, they did not succumb to the prevailing cultural narrative that such a burden is a life sentence.

Instead, through discipline, strategy, and unwavering focus, they achieved complete freedom from consumer debt in just 28 months.

Their journey, when deconstructed, provides a clear and repeatable blueprint for anyone feeling trapped by their own financial obligations.

The strategy can be synthesized into four essential pillars:

• Get a Plan: The first step is to move from anxiety to action. This means conducting a fearless inventory of every debt you owe and making a conscious choice of your repayment strategy. Whether you choose the psychological momentum of the Debt Snowball or the mathematical efficiency of the Debt Avalanche, the most important decision is to commit to a plan.

• Take Control: A plan is useless without execution, and execution is impossible without a budget. By implementing a zero-based budget, you give every dollar a purpose and eliminate the financial drift that leads to overspending. This is the foundational act of seizing control of your financial destiny.

• Attack from Both Sides: Financial progress is maximized by playing both offense and defense. This means not only strategically cutting expenses—focusing on major categories like housing and transportation—but also aggressively pursuing every opportunity to increase your income through side hustles, career advancement, and monetizing skills.

• Stay Intense: The journey requires sustained focus and a marathoner’s mindset. Accelerate your progress by directing any windfalls, like tax refunds or bonuses, entirely toward your debt. As you near your goal, adopt a “gazelle intensity” to finish strong, and lean on systems and partnerships to maintain motivation when willpower wanes.

While the six-figure number is what grabs the headlines, the core components of the Whitleys’ success were not financial wizardry or a stroke of luck.

They were simple, timeless principles: discipline, consistency, sacrifice, and a powerful, motivating “why.” Their story proves that the tools for achieving financial freedom are accessible to everyone, regardless of their starting point.

The journey out of debt is challenging, but it is not impossible. It begins not with paying off $113,000, but with a single, decisive action. It begins with opening the bills you have been avoiding and filling out the inventory worksheet.

It begins with canceling one subscription you no longer use. It begins with making one extra $50 payment.

The path to freedom is paved with thousands of such small, intentional choices. Start now. Be the next “she” who did it.