Learning to pay off debt is one of the most effective paths to financial independence. There are many bold and creative strategies people use to become debt-free, and I love hearing those stories.
A while back I published a post titled “60+ Extreme Things People Have Done To Save Money” that collected a lot of wild and inventive approaches—people shaving their heads to save on haircuts, taping shoes back together, dumpster diving, and more.
Since then, readers have shared even more creative ways they tackled debt. Below are many of those real-life strategies to pay off debt. They vary widely in intensity and style, but each demonstrates how determination and ingenuity can accelerate debt freedom.
Reading other people’s debt payoff stories can provide motivation, introduce new tactics you hadn’t considered, and reinforce the idea that getting out of debt is possible. Even small changes add up over time—if someone else’s extreme step inspires you to cut back a little or pick up a side hustle, that progress matters.
Becoming debt free can bring many benefits, including:
- Reduced financial stress.
- Breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.
- Freeing up money to save for retirement or other priorities.
- More freedom to pursue life goals like travel or a career change.
Some of the examples below may seem extreme, and that’s okay—everyone starts where they are. Even if you can only adopt a portion of these tactics or it takes longer than you’d like, taking steps toward debt reduction is progress.
Great debt payoff stories worth reading:
- How I’ve Paid Off $29,000 In Debt By Living In a Van
- Our Financial Detour: How Budgeting Freed Us to Follow Our Dreams
- How We Paid Off $40,000 of Debt While Saving for a Rainy Day in Less Than Two Years
- How We Paid Off $195,000 in Debt in 18 Months!
37 Strategies People Used to Pay Off Debt
I moved into a Toyota Prius. One person left an expensive San Francisco apartment and lived out of a Toyota Prius, camping nearby to save money. With only about $4,000 of debt from high-interest loans, the high local cost of living made it difficult to pay it off. Living without a traditional home allowed them to achieve financial freedom and save cash quickly.
I searched neighbor recycling for coupons. While paying down debt, one reader collected neighbors’ Sunday papers on recycling day to gather coupons for grocery savings. It wasn’t glamorous, but it helped reduce expenses.
We used washable cloths instead of toilet paper. A family paid off $89,000 and saved for a down payment by making dramatic lifestyle shifts: reusable cloths instead of disposable toilet paper, heating only with a wood fire and fans, foraging for food, sewing children’s clothes from adult cast-offs, and other resourceful habits.
We moved in with my parents. A newlywed couple rented a small room from parents after rent spiked. By living cheaply for 14 months, they accelerated payments and eliminated $87,000 in student loan debt in under 2.5 years.
I lived with my husband and his friend for three years. Splitting rent and bills with another person dramatically cut housing costs. One reader used the savings to pay off $28,000 in student loans while also building an emergency fund.
We ignored social spending norms. Couples have eliminated large mortgages by refusing to participate in costly social obligations—no gifts for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or other events that encourage unnecessary spending.
We moved to a cheaper neighborhood despite the risks. One family relocated to a very low-cost area, even with obvious drawbacks, to eliminate more than $120,000 in debt. They prioritized community and affordability over appearances.
I brought my own ingredients to restaurants. To avoid eating out while staying social, one person brought raw brisket to a pho restaurant and used the establishment’s broth to prepare their meal. Cringe-worthy in hindsight, but effective for staying on budget while chipping away at tens of thousands in student debt.
We flipped houses. Flipping a low-priced house for profit helped a couple cover medical bills and other expenses during a time of family growth. Real-estate side projects can be lucrative when you have the right skills or partners.
We stopped dining out for nearly two years. Strict budgeting and avoiding restaurants helped one couple fund degrees, accumulate retirement savings, and eliminate debt faster. They also started a small woodworking side hustle for extra income.
I took out a 401(k) loan (a risky move that worked for me). One borrower used a loan from their retirement account to aggressively pay down student loans. It’s controversial and not suitable for everyone, but after careful calculation it jump-started their debt-free journey. Anyone considering this should do thorough research first.
We salvaged and recycled scrap metal. A couple paid off $25,000 of mostly medical debt by budgeting, cutting possessions, reducing to one car, and salvaging metal from discarded items to sell for scrap.
I commuted four hours daily to avoid owning a car. To avoid car expenses in a car-centric city, one worker accepted a lengthy multi-leg commute by public transit. The time cost was high, but it eliminated vehicle payments and allowed them to clear immigration-related debt within a year while working minimum wage.
We bought a car for a dollar. A family eliminated roughly $50,000 in debt through intense budgeting, side hustles like flipping items online, negotiating raises, and very frugal food experiments. They even bought a car for a dollar as part of their thrift-focused strategy.
I lived without credit cards. Refusing to use credit and living on secondhand goods helped one teacher in the UK clear nearly £30,000 in debt and move to a career that allowed working from home.
I rode my bike for three years. A graduate with $23,000 in student loans avoided vehicle costs by cycling for years, working overtime, tutoring, and refinanced to a lower interest rate—ultimately paying down student debt and sticking to a frugal lifestyle.
I slept on my parents’ twin bed to save money. After overspending post-graduation, one person moved back home, took an extra weekend job, and paid off $24,000 in 18 months—despite uncomfortable nights on a small bed.
I worked 60-hour weeks while pregnant. A hospital physical therapist endured long hours and severe morning sickness while pushing to eliminate $100,000 in student debt in just over two years. The sacrifice paid off and they don’t regret it.
We started multiple businesses and hustles. One couple launched a home-based cakery, provided cybersecurity consulting, sold physical products on Amazon, and built a blog and YouTube presence. Diverse income streams helped them pay off more than $40,000 over two years.
We cut up our credit cards. A couple consolidated credit card debt, destroyed the extra cards, tracked progress on a spreadsheet, and took extra jobs to eliminate $17,000 of credit-card debt in two years.
I managed other people’s garage sales and consignment efforts. Offering services like organizing garage sales and tagging consignment items provided fee income and leftover items to resell, enabling one person to pay off about $6,200 in school-related debt in 18 months.
I deployed with the Navy to save on living costs. A reservist leveraged a year-long deployment—during which living expenses were covered—to accelerate repayment of more than £30,000 in combined student and other debts.
I picked up two side hustles tied to live events and legal writing. Working at a stadium during games and writing legal briefs part-time helped one person pay down $6,000 in credit card debt while still working full time.
We dumpster-dived for children’s items and shopped thrift. To pay off a $400,000 mortgage in 7.5 years, one family shopped thrift stores, salvaged baby gear, bought bulk groceries affordably, and kept expenses minimal.
I flip items for profit regularly. Reselling items from deep-discount stores, estate sales, and garage sales on platforms like eBay can produce steady side income. One reader combined thrift finds and strategic resales to help eliminate over $600,000 in debt over time.
I became debt-free at 23 by hustling. A young graduate worked a weekday job and a higher-paying weekend job, created extra income by offering private swim lessons, and paid off $38,000 in loans in 18 months.
We flipped guitars for profit. Buying underpriced guitars, refurbishing, and reselling them allowed one couple to pay off student loans and continue growing a profitable side business.
I stayed home to pay off my parents’ debt. One person delayed moving out after high school, worked multiple jobs, and directed earnings to pay off $100,000 of their parents’ debt before establishing their own household.
We lived like college students. Choosing thrift over lifestyle upgrades after salary increases helped one couple pay off more than $80,000 in student loans within three years, while a blog provided supplementary income.
I walked dogs 4–5 days a week while pregnant. A side hustle walking dogs in all weather—while pregnant and chasing toddlers—generated cash that went straight toward paying off over $55,000 in debt in two years. They also made household staples from scratch to save more.
I delivered pizzas to clear debt faster. Taking a part-time job delivering pizzas allowed one person to repay an £18,000 student loan in nine months instead of a year—demonstrating how temporary extra work can greatly accelerate payoff timelines.
I tutored a specialized exam to cover a car loan. Tutoring students preparing for a specific professional entrance exam provided targeted, above-average income that helped one person manage a $5,000 car loan while on a low fellowship salary.
I destroyed my credit cards and found new purpose. A passionate cook stopped relying on credit, cut up cards, and redirected culinary energy by volunteering to teach cooking classes to veterans—transforming a spending habit into a fulfilling and budget-friendly pursuit.
I used an employee discount creatively. One worker used a large employee discount to purchase an expensive item for a family member in exchange for debt repayment, then used interest-free paycheck deductions to finish paying the balance.
I combined extreme couponing with side gigs. Faced with more than $125,000 in mixed debt, one reader used extreme couponing, survey and rewards sites, virtual assistant work, focus groups, mystery shopping, and serving at events to make significant progress toward becoming debt-free.
Quick tip: Taking online surveys and joining rewards sites can provide supplemental income. Signing up for multiple reputable platforms increases the number of opportunities and potential earnings.
Other Extreme Ways People Saved or Made Money
If you want more ideas, past roundups collected many unusual but effective methods people used to save or earn extra cash. Here are a few additional examples readers shared:
Sell smelly shoes or niche items online. Some sellers found niche markets for unusual items and have earned thousands reselling used goods on platforms like eBay.
Live in very inexpensive, even uncomfortable, housing. Temporary sacrifices—sharing cramped spaces or foregoing heat and AC—can dramatically reduce rent and free up cash for debt repayment.
Consider unconventional income sources—carefully. Some people turned to options like paid companionship platforms or niche freelance work when desperate for cash. These choices come with personal and ethical considerations and aren’t right for everyone.
Sell used clothing and household items. Flipping used clothes, bras, toys, and other items can be a surprisingly profitable side business when you find discounted inventory and the right buyers.
Shave or cut your hair at home. Reducing grooming expenses—cutting or shaving your own hair—has helped some people maintain a lower-cost lifestyle while paying down debt.
Repair or temporarily tape shoes and clothing. Small repairs and creative fixes—like using tape to hold broken sandals together—can extend the life of possessions and delay replacement costs.
Wash clothes by hand to save on laundromat fees. Hand-washing laundry and other small habits, like taking free restaurant bread home or repurposing meals, helped students and tight-budget households reduce recurring expenses.
Sleep on an air mattress temporarily. Short-term compromises—such as using an air mattress or accepting leftover furniture from a roommate—can be low-cost ways to bridge a transition period while saving aggressively.
Question for readers: What extreme or creative steps have you taken to pay off debt? How much have you paid down, and which strategies worked best for you?