![Couple looking at paying debts on tablet](https://www.bankrate.com/2019/03/14145851/My-husband-and-I-paid-50-k-in-debt-with-zero-sum-budgeting.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
How my husband and I paid off $50,000 in debt with zero-sum budgeting
Now that we’re debt free, we’ll never go back to our old spending habits.
"I write expert content with the goal of helping consumers make the most of their credit, their money and their lives."
— Holly D. Johnson
Holly Johnson began her career working in the funeral industry, which may make you wonder why she works in personal finance now. Yet, the funeral industry taught the author everything she needs to know about the value of one's money and time. Johnson left the mortuary business a decade ago in order to explore her passion for personal finance and travel the world, and since then, she and her husband have built a debt-free lifestyle that has them on the path to retire very wealthy in their 40s. Holly's love of budgeting also led to the creation of her debt payoff book, “Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love."
Currently, Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more.
"I write expert content with the goal of helping consumers make the most of their credit, their money and their lives."
— Holly D. Johnson
Now that we’re debt free, we’ll never go back to our old spending habits.
Now that we’re debt free, we’ll never go back to our old spending habits.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred offers an exceptional earning rate on groceries, gas and transit.
The Amex Green card offers several different payment options and a very generous rewards scheme.
The Amex Green card offers several different payment options and a very generous rewards scheme.
If you have bad credit, will opening more than one card help your score to improve?
If you have bad credit, will opening more than one card help your score to improve?
A HELOC has low interest rates, but it requires you to use your home as collateral.