How I Cleared $20,000 of Student Loans Before 30

The Story

"By 26, I had $20,000 in student loans hanging over me. I committed to an aggressive payoff plan — side hustles, strict budgeting, and using the debt snowball method. Four years later, before my 30th birthday, I was debt-free."

Advisor Breakdown

Situation:

• 26-year-old professional with $20K in student loans.

• Standard repayment plan = 10 years → too slow.

Task:

• Shorten debt timeline to free up cash flow and start building wealth earlier.

Action:

• Picked up freelance gigs on nights/weekends.

• Lived below means (roommates, no car payment).

• Used the debt snowball method: extra payments toward smallest balance first → built momentum.

👉 I like this story because it shows discipline. The borrower didn’t rely on forgiveness or shortcuts — just focus and consistency.

Result:

• Cleared $20K in under 4 years.

• Freed $300/month → redirected to investments.

• Entered 30s debt-free and ready to build wealth.

Key Takeaways

• Side hustle income accelerates debt payoff.

• Debt snowball creates psychological wins.

• Freeing cash flow early = investing sooner.