This guy paid off $118,000 in loans using his ‘debt tornado’ method

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet. In this series, NerdWallet interviews people who have triumphed over debt. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.Steven Donovan didn’t get an education in personal finance growing up. The topic wasn’t covered at his high school or college, as is the case for many Americans. So Donovan had to figure out how to manage his money, overcoming one stumbling block at a time.

The bloggers who helped along the way inspired him to start his own online resource to help others. With Even Steven Money, Donovan serves as a financial coach to those who need help managing their money. He recently talked with NerdWallet to share his story, which may inspire your own journey to get debt-free.I had around $118,000 when I decided to focus on paying it off. Today I have no debt.When I left college my credit card debt was around $5,000.

Another big moment, fast forwarding a bit, was when I moved to Miami from Chicago. In Miami, I was working first as a volunteer basketball coach, then doing side hustles like mowing lawns via Craigslist and selling items from Ross ROST, +1.75% , Marshalls MSLH, +6.16% , Nike NKE, +0.97% on eBay EBAY, +1.47% . Then only later on did I find part-time work at a kiosk in the mall. I was just trying to make minimum payments on my debts and cover groceries.

My cost of living was less, but most of why I moved back to Chicago was to obtain a full-time job. At first, I was working at a golf course that was essentially full time, and very shortly after I did obtain full-time work at U.S. Bank as an assistant branch manager. I was also looking for a side hustle, and I ended up getting into selling men’s gently used clothing and new clothing on eBay.

So dumb

I paid off a lot of debt. Live below your means, spend nothing. It was magic.

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