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Search every verified Jackie Willyard interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Jackie Willyard, then known as Jackie Freeman, appeared on the "His and Her Money Show" in 2017 to discuss how she and her husband paid off nearly $100,000 in debt. She stated that the debt included their home, several vehicles, student loans, credit cards, and a home improvement loan. She said the process took 27 months to pay off over $50,000, and that they eliminated credit card use, tithed a portion of their income, and focused on reducing expenses like their grocery budget. Willyard noted that communication was key to their success and that they faced obstacles such as their son's multiple surgeries but avoided taking on new debt. Willyard described the experience as freeing, allowing her to pursue goals like qualifying for the Boston Marathon. She attributed their financial discipline to trust in God and advised others to take "baby steps," emphasizing that consistent small actions can lead to significant progress over time.
“We had nearly $100,000 worth of debt and that included our home, several vehicles, my college loans, my husband's college loans, several credit cards, and a home improvement loan.”
“One of the first things we did was get rid of those credit cards and we weren't using them anymore, and we just needed to trust in God to provide and He did above and beyond every single month.”
“It took us 27 months to pay off just over 50 thousand dollars of debt with intense focus, and one of the biggest expenses we tackled was our grocery budget which varied month to month.”
“We started tithing 5% at the top of our budget, which was scary at first, but later increased to 10% after reflecting on scripture, trusting that money is God's and we are just stewards.”
“Communication was a huge part of our success; we had to meet in the middle on budgeting decisions and keep open lines of communication to stay on the same page.”
“During our debt-free journey, we faced obstacles like our son's multiple surgeries and high deductible health insurance, which slowed us down but we avoided going back into debt.”
“After paying off all debt except the house, we lost some intensity but recommitted in 2015 to pay off the house by December 2016, and we actually paid it off faster than expected.”
“Being financially free has freed up so much for us; I was able to qualify for the Boston Marathon and pursue dreams that require money, which were on hold while we were in debt.”
“Trust is the biggest life lesson I learned; God knows the plans for us to prosper, and being financially free allows us to provide for our family and help others in our community.”
“To anyone discouraged by debt, take it with baby steps; consistent small actions like using coupons or cutting eating out can snowball into big progress over time.”
Unrealistic expectations and poor communication may be the two things that can cause trouble in a relationship, and can also ...
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