Starting Out
Debt-Burdened Debbie
Marketing Manager · Austin, TX
Drowning in $68k of student debt, trying to build a life anyway.
About Debt-Burdened Debbie
Debbie graduated with a Communications degree and $68k in student loans. She's been making minimum payments for 4 years while trying to save for a down payment and build an emergency fund. Something has to give — but what?
Financial Snapshot
$72,000
Annual Income
-$41,000
Net Worth
29
Age
Debt-Burdened Debbie's Story — 5 Chapters
The Reckoning
Debbie finally opens all her loan statements and adds up the real numbers. $68,400 across 6 loans at rates from 4.5% to 7.8%. The minimum payments total $720/month. She's been paying for 4 years and the balance has barely moved.
Uses: student-loan-payoffThe Emergency Fund Dilemma
Debbie has $3,200 in savings. Her car needs $1,800 in repairs. Should she drain her emergency fund or put the repair on a credit card at 22% APR? She models both paths — and discovers a third option she hadn't considered.
Uses: emergency-fundThe Avalanche Decision
Debbie just got a $4,200 tax refund. She's torn: pay down the highest-rate loan, split it across all loans, or start a proper emergency fund. The math is clear — but the psychology isn't.
Uses: debt-payoffThe Rent vs. Buy Question(Coming soon)
Debbie's lease is up. Her landlord wants to raise rent by $300/month. A colleague bought a condo for $285k. Is it time to buy — even with $41k in net debt?
Uses: rent-vs-buyThe Salary Negotiation(Coming soon)
Debbie gets a competing offer for $89k. Her current employer offers $81k to stay. What's the real financial difference after taxes, benefits, and relocation?
Uses: salary-jump