A Michigan mom is sharing her debt payoff journey on TikTok, gaining a supportive community and accountability

NEED TO KNOW

• Elizabeth and her husband faced $90,000 in debt after years of small financial decisions added up
• She began sharing her debt payoff journey on TikTok, gaining a supportive community and accountability
• The couple’s goal is to achieve financial freedom, create family memories, and set their kids up for success

Like so many people, Elizabeth was trying to balance a career, family and financial responsibilities. But as the years went on, the full-time mom from Michigan and her husband found themselves overspending.

At the end of 2019, the couple began building their dream home on family land. Not long afterward, in early 2020, they welcomed a baby. Around the same time, Elizabeth’s husband was laid off because of the pandemic. Through it all, Elizabeth says the family made financial decisions that seemed manageable at the time, but those choices eventually caught up with them, leaving them with $90,000 in debt.

“It wasn’t one big mistake—it was years of small decisions that added up,” Elizabeth tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Eventually, after watching several people close to them struggle financially, they had a wake-up call.

“My husband and I realized we wanted to put ourselves in a better position for the future,” Elizabeth says. “We were tired of living with the constant stress of debt. We didn’t want to keep wondering where our money was going or work so hard just to make monthly payments. We wanted our money to start working for us instead of against us.”

@elizabeth.debt.payoff

Day 1 I might have cried today when I watched @Amber | Money Accountability make her payment and see her success. Yesterday was terrifying putting myself out there and today wasn’t any less scary but doing hard things makes you stronger, right? At least I’ll try to keep telling myself that 😬#debtfree #debtpayoff #micropayments #debtfreejourney

♬ original sound – Elizabeth.debt.payoff

She started searching online for the best ways to pay off debt while raising a family. The biggest priority, she says, was creating a realistic budget that still allowed room for the things that mattered most. She knew an all-or-nothing approach wasn’t going to work because she and her husband had tried that before and always ended up right back where they started.

During her research, Elizabeth says she started watching debt payoff videos on TikTok. Before long, her algorithm kept bringing her back to everyday people making micropayments, which sparked an idea: What if she created an account to share her own debt payoff journey?

“I went back and forth for months before finally posting my first video,” Elizabeth says. “Even after I hit ‘post,’ my anxiety was through the roof—and honestly, it still is every time I share something so personal. Spending money is fun. Paying it back…not so much. But somehow, making these payments alongside this community has made the journey much more enjoyable.”

“I also wanted to be honest about something that’s still such a taboo topic,” she adds. “Debt can feel incredibly isolating, and I hope that by sharing our story, someone else realizes they aren’t alone and that change really is possible.”

@elizabeth.debt.payoff

Day 7!! QotD- what is your favorite ice cream flavor? #debtfree#micropayments #creditcards #payoffdebt

♬ original sound – Elizabeth.debt.payoff

Since then, Elizabeth who goes by @elizabeth.debt.payoff on TikTok has built a community of thousands of people who follow her journey and cheer her on while helping keep her accountable. She says that support has made a real difference. Since July 1, her family has paid off about $750 by making micropayments.

“Making daily payments forces me to check our bank account every single day,” she says. “I track every dollar that comes in and every dollar that goes out. We’ve also started setting aside one night each week to review our spending, talk about what went well, where we can improve, and what needs to change for the upcoming week.”

“We’ve worked hard to build better habits, like meal planning and setting spending limits, instead of spending as if we have unlimited money,” she adds. “Those small habit changes have made a huge difference.”

Despite posting online, Elizabeth says opening up about her finances wasn’t an easy decision. Still, she believes that if sharing her journey inspires even one person to start paying off debt, then being vulnerable has been worth it.

She also wants others to know that debt doesn’t define who they are and that it’s never too late to take the first step toward financial freedom.

“The support that we have received so far from the online community has been incredible, sure there are those few people that don’t have nice things to say, but for the most part, they are so encouranging and that has made it so easy to come back daily and make the payments,” she says.

@elizabeth.debt.payoff

Day18- QotD- do you prefer to fly or drive places that are further away? #micropayments #debtpayoff #debtpayoffjounery #debtfreejourney#creditcarddebt

♬ original sound – Elizabeth.debt.payoff

But despite the progress, she says the journey hasn’t been easy. She explains how unexpected expenses can throw an entire budget off track, and those moments can be incredibly discouraging. There have also been times when she’s had to say no to family and friends because she and her husband are choosing to stay focused on their goals.

While those sacrifices aren’t always easy, she says becoming financially free someday is worth more than a few hours of fun.

“There are definitely times when it feels like pressure, but I’ve also learned that life doesn’t move in a straight line,” she adds. “There will be setbacks, and some days, weeks, or even months will be slower than others. That’s okay. Sometimes what feels like the slowest progress ends up being the most meaningful.”

At the beginning of the year, Elizabeth says she and her husband had a conversation about what life could look like once they became debt-free. They realized their biggest goal wasn’t just eliminating debt, it was creating more time with their family and building a more secure future. They want to travel, make memories with their children and avoid leaving them with financial burdens one day.

@elizabeth.debt.payoff

Day 23- we are so close to our July goal, maybe we will get there before the end of July 🤔🤞QotD- what is your favorite writing utensil? #micropayments #debtpayoff #debtpayoffjourney #creditcarddebt #debtpayoffjourney

♬ original sound – Elizabeth.debt.payoff

More than anything, Elizabeth says they want to set their kids up for financial success. Their goal is to invest instead of paying interest, save for the future and make decisions based on what they want—not what their debt allows. Personally, she says, she simply wants the peace of mind that comes from knowing their finances are no longer the biggest source of stress in their lives.

“I hope people realize they don’t need to be ashamed of where they’re starting,” she says. “Progress is possible, even if it’s slow. You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to make huge payments. You just have to keep going.”

“I think a lot of people believe you need to make a lot of money or throw huge payments at your debt to make any real progress,” she continues. “While a higher income certainly helps, I’ve learned that your habits and consistency matter just as much.”

Another misconception is that people with debt are irresponsible. In reality, many people simply weren’t taught how to manage money, or life circumstances forced them into difficult financial decisions. Debt doesn’t define your character.”

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