HOW'D YOU GET OUT OF DEBT?
As part of a larger package on American debt and debt forgiveness, I'm looking to talk to people from all across the country who are willing to be transparent about their own debt — and, more specifically, how they got out of it. The specific budgeting is interesting, and there are hundreds of sites and experts who specialize in providing just that. But just as interesting are the larger questions of assistance (from your family or partner), negotiating/consolidating, and how you paying down debt makes you *feel.*  

Please don't feel the need to apologize or explain any choices — just be as honest and as frank as possible. I've asked for your name below; you can also provide a pseudonym if you'd like to be anonymized.

No information will be used without me first getting in touch and obtaining explicit consent — which is why I'm asking for your email address. Feel free to email me with any questions (anne.helen.petersen@buzzfeed.com) or with suggestions on people to get in touch with or articles/books/studies to read.


Email *
Please give your real name (so I can check to make sure you're a real person) and, if you'd like, a pseudonym to use in the piece (we'll only use first names).
How old are you, and where do you live now?
How would you describe your racial and class identity? (For class, you can be specific as you'd like: class growing up, class while you were in debt, class now)
Approximately how much debt did you have at its highest amount, and where did it come from? (Be as specific as you can: if it's medical debt, what sort of medical debt? From an accident, or debt from caring for a chronic condition? If it's student debt, was it from undergrad, grad, votech school, certificate program? If credit card debt, how and why? Tax debt? No need to defend spending!)
What made you decide that you should prioritize getting out of debt? (Rather than, say, paying it off over many decades, or even defaulting or declaring bankruptcy)
Describe, in as much detail as possible, the way you got out of debt. Think big picture (moved in with parents, accepted parents/grandparents' help, partner's help, etc.) and small picture (specifics of budgeting). What was your salary while paying it off? Did you have kids and/or were paying for childcare? Did someone handle certain costs so you could allocate more to debt? (Specific bills, etc) Did you negotiate to reduce certain debts? Which debt did you prioritize first?
How long did it take? (Date you started paying off, and date you finished)
Of all the things described above, which was the biggest/most radical change?
Are there any ideas about money, thrift, and/or debt that you remember internalizing before/during/after your own debt — ideas that influenced your own process? For example: a person in debt has made a mistake in some way; a person in debt shouldn't spend any money until they're out of debt, etc etc.
How do you talk about debt? Did you talk about debt with your friends/family while you were in debt? How do you talk about it now?
What were the biggest sacrifices you made (if any) during the time you were paying off your debt? Looking back, do you feel like you missed out on things? How would you describe your quality of life?
How would you describe the feeling of having paid off your debt? Be as detailed as you can. Pride, guilt, anger, relief? Did it feel the way you thought it would?
Having paid off your debt, what is your attitude towards debt forgiveness for others?
Having paid off your debt, are you now assisting anyone else in paying off theirs? (Family members, friends, etc)
What advice would you give someone in high school about debt and how to approach it?
Any final thoughts about debt in America and your own experience with debt?  
A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.
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