I once owed $30,000 in debt. I had a few credit cards with high-interest rates with a balance that would roll into the next month repeatedly.  I also had a car payment. On top of that, I had zero savings in the bank.  Paycheck the paycheck was the way of life and it stresses me out just to think about it.  It took me 2 years to pay the debt off, and I will NEVER. EVER. go back. (I did marry into a small student loan balance that will be gone next month-  I’ll dive more into how we went .