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Inspiring debt-reduction stories of 2013: They did it - so can you

This article was published more than 10 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

These stories of regular Canadians and their struggles to repay large amounts of debt were very popular with readers. Kudos to them. To share your debt-reduction journey with the Globe, click here.

Picture from blog of Cait Flanders, Blonde on a Budget.

This 27-year-old repaid $28,115 in debt - in under two years

“I thought it would feel anti-climactic but instead I can’t stop smiling. I used to lose sleep over how much debt I had… I don’t have to do that any more,” she said. Read the full story here.
Terry Cheater/Handout

Drinking, divorce put ex-banker $85,000 in debt. How did he get out?

“It was part of the bank culture at the time,” the Winnipeg man said. “I spent a lot of money on drinking, dining out, clothes and my life at home. I have no idea how much I spent but I gather it was substantial in relation to my income.” Read the full story here.

Louise Wallace handout

B.C. couple revamp lifestyle to start repaying $52,200 debt load

"All of a sudden, I had no wiggle room left. I realized this debt was like a runaway train. And I needed to push this train back into the station," she said. Read the full story here.
JOHN LEHMANN/The Globe & Mail

How did this woman repay $26,000 in student debt? She planted trees

“I did an arts degree, so there was no clear career path for me,” she said. “And I knew that moving forward, if I wanted to do something like go to grad school, it would be prohibitive. I had to get this debt under control.” Read the full story here.

Jordann Brown handout

How this 23-year-old grad tackled $53,349 in student and car loans

“I did all the normal student stuff: I went out, ate out, and yes, I borrowed to the max,” she said. “It never occurred to me to try to not borrow as much as I could, it never occurred to me not to spend it all. I thought that going into debt was normal, that this is what everyone did.” Read the full story here.

iStockphoto

Indebted Ottawa couple says "I do" to saving for their $25,000 wedding

“We want to get married and weren’t willing to sacrifice a wedding or wait – he is military so there is always a chance of a forced move or deployment – so we are trying to get married as cheaply as possible, without sacrificing the big things,” she said. Read the full story here.