I graduated from college debt-free!

Last month, in December 2019, I graduated from college debt-free! Now I want to share my story to inspire others to do the same!

Ever since I took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University when I was 13, I knew I wanted to win with money... and that began by not going into debt during college. The problem? What to do with my life!?

2009-12

During high school, I had a different idea every month regarding what I wanted to be when I grew up. My parents, God bless them, didn’t push me, and helped me sort through my thoughts and feelings about life.

2012-13

When I graduated from high school, I was still undecided, so I purposed to acquire a bunch of prerequisites for whatever degree I decided to get.

I knew a few things: I didn’t want to go into the medical field, I never wanted to own my own business (sooooooo apparently that changed, lol), I wanted a Bachelor’s degree (I liked school, still do, so it was a personal goal alongside a practical one), and I wanted to stay out of debt!

The later came from my 10th grade Dave Ramsey class at my homeschool co-op. I was inspired by Dave’s eloquence, wisdom, and stories of how one could practically become financially healthy and even wealthy, in a God-honoring way. To be honest, it was cool to just imagine that I’d be able to go on any vacation that I wanted someday.

He also appealed to my very concrete, cautious, and step-by-step way of thinking. I knew that getting out of college with money in the bank could set me ahead for life. (I’m an over-conscientious, goal-oriented, only child. I like to get ahead. Yeah, God’s still working on me with that one!)

So, Dave’s way seemed like the best way. But what was I to do when I didn’t know what to major in?

This was a big struggle that most students have to wade through. However, I decided to just start and see where it led. As long as I didn't have to pay anyone back for a degree I never got, I would be okay, right?

It began with my graduation money. By the time anyone reads this, I’m not sure how much inflation has gone up, of what the normal amount for money received at a grade party is currently (you may be looking back at me like Little House on the Prairie). However, I thought myself very blessed at the about $2400 I received from family and friends.

I knew that that amount could get sucked up in. like, one class at a university, maybe plus books. So, I found a new way. I acquired my first 33 college credits with that $2400 from my grad party, thanks to a few little-known tests called CLEPs and DSSTs.

Want to know how I did it? Stay tuned for my future posts(: