Client Exclusive: How We Helped Caroline M. Overcome $36,895 in Debt

Caroline’s journey into debt began with good intentions. “I got into debt when I started my career as a teacher,” she shared. “I got my master’s degree, but was suggested by my colleagues to take post-graduate classes to earn more credit and max out on the pay scale.” Those educational investments added up fast.

Then, life threw her a heartbreaking curveball. Right after she got engaged, her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she put her life on hold to care for him. 

“A couple weeks after my husband and I got engaged, my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. We eloped before I took time away from my job at school to be a caretaker for him in his final days. Everything was ‘put on the credit card’ and it finally caught up to me.”

As debt piled up, Caroline felt its impact in every corner of her life. Her turning point came when her husband’s income declined and she found herself supporting the whole family on a teacher’s salary. It was impossible to make ends meet with the high cost of living in her state and she knew something had to change.

“The debt added so much more unwanted stress. Every day I wonder how I’m going to make ends meet to pay for groceries, bills, and even have spending money for fun before my next paycheck—because everything goes toward paying my credit cards.”

Caroline found Beyond Finance while scrolling through Instagram. “I found Beyond Finance through an ad to help teachers get out of debt,” she said. For the first time in a while, she felt a sense of possibility. “It made me feel more at ease that I don’t have to be in debt forever and I can climb out of this hole.”

Beyond Finance offered not just a plan, but a support system. 

“I just have to pay the amount twice a month and everything else is taken care of. It’s also nice that their team is easy to talk to and always reassuring. They’re happy to answer any and all of my questions.”

Caroline wants others struggling with debt to know they’re not broken, and they’re not alone.  Her story is a reminder that support is out there—and that taking the first step can be life-changing.

“They’ve got your back and many people have been in your position. It’ll all work out in the end.”