Annemie, a programmer and former teacher from Wilmington, North Carolina, took on more than $70,000 in debt after moving expenses and healthcare costs overwhelmed her budget.
Enrolled Debt: $73,020
Started: August 2022
Monthly Savings: $981 (⏷ 46%)
How Annemie Got Into Debt
A few years ago, Annemie relocated for a teaching job. Unfortunately, the pay turned out to be much less than she was originally promised. Since she had already moved and was committed to a new apartment she decided to make it work by relying on credit cards and taking side jobs to pay them off.
The debt escalated when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and rapidly accumulated medical expenses from MRIs and blood work.
With so much pressure on her, she tried consolidating the debt with personal loans, but the cycle of debt just got worse. She couldn’t afford the monthly payments and trying to work extra jobs was exhausting and unsustainable.
“My monthly payments [were] over $2,000. I tried to afford [it] by getting more and more jobs. I was extremely tired – no human can keep up with all of that on top of the anxiety and stress of having all of that debt. It felt like I was a failure – like I was never going to get out of it.”
Getting Help From Accredited Debt Relief
Annemie initially called a nonprofit that referred her to Accredited Debt Relief, but she was skeptical and decided to wait a year and keep trying on her own. When she saw how little progress she was making, she realized it was time to get help.
“I called the first time, got scared and decided to try another year to do it all myself and get as much paid off as I could. It didn’t end up going anywhere. I thought it was because I wasn’t trying hard enough or that I wasn’t enough, but in the end I needed help. I took that first step because I knew I wasn’t going to get out of debt alone.”
Creating New Savings Habits and Working Toward Big Goals
With Accredited Debt Relief, Annemie was able to save $981 a month on her eligible monthly payments. This extra money has allowed her to create savings habits and plan for the future. She dreams of starting her own business and wants others to know that there is hope – if debt is standing in your way it’s ok to ask for help.
“There is hope out there and [Accredited Debt Relief] is a company I trust.”
About This Testimonial
Annemie is a real client who was compensated for sharing her story with us. She saved 46% on her eligible monthly payments. We determined her monthly savings by subtracting her program payment from her self-reported payments or tradeline minimums.