# You'll never guess how I got out of debt! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926 "2011-06-26T18:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/41 "2011-06-28T11:37:58Z")
Whatever. It sounds more like spam again. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/42 "2011-06-28T14:20:28Z")
Why? At some point I had to out-compete a lot of people. One doesn’t come out on top by doing the same thing as everyone else (not that I’m champ of the world or anything. ha!) You need to reach at least their performance, +1. Obvious perhaps, but true. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/43 "2011-06-28T14:28:09Z")
I’m not getting where the animosity in this thread is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/44 "2011-06-28T14:33:29Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m not getting where the animosity in this thread is coming from. Do you think “just make more money” is productive advice? It’s not like we’re working at 7-Elevens holding medical degrees waiting for the Doper who illuminates the grand secret of getting a higher-paying job. If I could get a 3x higher paying job, I’d do it already. On the other hand, I’m going to start using this more. You pit your kid’s lack of financial aid? Just triple your income, duh! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/45 "2011-06-28T16:25:42Z")
Is the OP saying that they tripled their income over 10 years time? Heck, I think I’ve done that too. Ten years is a long time. Most people should be able to at least more than double their income over that amount of time. OP, how much debt did you pay off in total in that time? If your debt equaled 100% of your annual income, and your income started at or under $30k, taking 10 years to pay off $30k really isn’t that impressive if clearing debt was your #1 goal. That’s only $3k. Should have been pretty doable on your original income. If you tripled your income (now making $80-90k) you should be posting about the enormous amounts of money you have saved and invested. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/46 "2011-06-29T00:43:27Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Why? At some point I had to out-compete a lot of people. One doesn’t come out on top by doing the same thing as everyone else (not that I’m champ of the world or anything. ha!) You need to reach at least their performance, +1. Obvious perhaps, but true. You mean, you’re at the diamond level? Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/47 "2011-06-29T00:59:49Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > What really did it, without going into all the details, was jacking up my income. I have just about tripled my income since those days and have paid off most of the bills. That was my guess! It really is God’s own way of getting out of debt. However, as am currently applying for jobs that pay 1/3 to 1/2 what I was paid a couple years ago, my current plan involves saddling my widow with it all, and that leaves me sitting in the catbird seat. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/48 "2011-06-29T01:13:49Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The advice in the OP sounds a little naive on the surface but I swear there is something to it. Most people that get into financial trouble spend beyond their means but there are people would would do much better by finding a way to make more money than saving on the little that they do have cutting corners any way they can. I see this in all kinds of schemes like expert level coupon cutting and people that drive from store to store to save 5% on an item. I don’t know how much they make but that stuff just isn’t worth it to people with a professional level income in terms of an hourly return. If you are that good at finding deals and micro-managing money, there are actual jobs that work out much better per hour spent in effort. If you want to do it as a hobby anyway after you are done making the most money you can for skills and interest, knock yourself out but some people are missing the forest for the trees. Study or work your way to a better paying job overall and then live the same way you did before. It is easier in many cases. Problem solved. I see what you are saying and you make good points. If you are making high 5 figures per year and are in debt, your problem is not your morning latte or Jimmy Johns for lunch. You have achieved a certain level of professional knowledge to where you can parlay that in some more productive way of making money. Whether that is trading in the Lexus or going back to grad school, you are at a different level than needing to clip coupons. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/49 "2011-06-29T01:19:01Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > That was my guess! It really is God’s own way of getting out of debt. However, as am currently applying for jobs that pay 1/3 to 1/2 what I was paid a couple years ago Well, there’s your problem! Get a job making three times as much, and you’ll be out of debt! Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/50 "2011-06-29T02:37:48Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Do you think “just make more money” is productive advice? It’s not like we’re working at 7-Elevens holding medical degrees waiting for the Doper who illuminates the grand secret of getting a higher-paying job. If I could get a 3x higher paying job, I’d do it already. > > On the other hand, I’m going to start using this more. You pit your kid’s lack of financial aid? Just triple your income, duh! Well, it is MPSIMS for one. And taken as an example of what the government should do about its debt, well it is a lot easier for them to increase their revenue than us. Stroke of a pen! Focusing on spending cuts only is not going to work. Insofar as there is any advice to be gleaned from this thread, see what I have to say about ‘dramatically increasing my athleticism’, ‘high motivation’, ‘hatha yoga’ and ‘struggle against acedia’. I physically changed myself into a far more energetic individual, and I credit that with giving me the edge when it came time to compete for my position. And for making it possible for me to work like an absolute slave for awhile. And no, I’m not with Amway. Too bad though, **HH** sounds pretty impressed with the Diamond Level salesforce. I’m just a regular Joe I’m afraid. Let’s see… ~90% of my original debt (yes, a little over $30k) got paid off in about 15 months @2 jobs, about 5 years ago (work 70hrs a week at almost any pay rate and you’ll probably get ahead, but it is haaaard). Yes, it took about a decade for the pay tripling. I haven’t been at my current pay level for quite a year yet. I do have what I consider decent investments already (especially compared to my history of jack squat), but they don’t amount to something to crow about. Sorry for all the people who are insulted by this thread. I’m not pointing my finger at the unemployed or claiming to be better than anyone… I’m just happy with what I’ve done, and want to poke a hole in the pubbie’s silly repeated example of ‘ordinary folks’ behavior’. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/51 "2011-06-29T15:14:45Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > If you were investing some money from the start, then no, for you it would be much much better. I’m not sure what your point is, but in order for you to land a position tripling your income, hundreds, if not thousands of similarly qualified/talented people had to _not_ get your job. There simply aren’t that many triple- **T2C’s** -prior-income jobs out there. I don’t see how your plan could possibly work for more than the few for whom it’s already working. Savings is a good idea, but I don’t see how it’s really designed for wealth-building, and wise investments is largely a crap-shoot for most individuals and again, the system is designed - and requires - more losers than winners. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/52 "2011-06-29T21:18:28Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Is the OP saying that they tripled their income over 10 years time? Heck, I think I’ve done that too. Ten years is a long time. Most people should be able to at least more than double their income over that amount of time. Heck, I’ve raised my income by two orders of magnitude from ten years ago! (I’m twenty.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/53 "2011-06-29T22:02:27Z")
[Call now!](http://youtu.be/5ysMt_9JnyI) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/54 "2011-06-29T22:08:24Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Let this be a lesson to legislatures across the U.S., including the one in D.C. Legislatures should take a lesson from someone who got out of debt by increasing his income? That means you’re calling for higher taxes. I just can’t tell if that’s your sincere belief, a whoosh, or a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/55 "2011-07-02T08:24:48Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > Legislatures should take a lesson from someone who got out of debt by increasing his income? That means you’re calling for higher taxes. I just can’t tell if that’s your sincere belief, a w.hoosh, or a mistake. To be clear- Increase taxes. Especially on the rich ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/56 "2011-07-02T08:29:43Z")
This is like that amazing tip of “buy low, sell high” isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926/57 "2011-07-02T08:34:56Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > “buy low, sell high” :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youll-never-guess-how-i-got-out-of-debt/586926.md?page=2)