Client Exclusive: How We Helped Chris C. Find Relief From More Than $67,000 in Debt

Meet Chris: Uncle, Sports Fan and New Texas Resident

When Chris C. and his wife left the Portland area for Texas, it wasn’t just a move. It was an opportunity to show up for family and watch his nephew’s kids grow up.

We thought it’d be fun to watch the little kids grow up… We don’t have kids, so they’re kind of like our grandkids.

Debt From a Big Move Put Pressure on His Budget

The move to Texas cost far more than expected. Long distance shipping costs, replacing a TV and appliances they couldn’t bring, a vet bill and a lengthy stretch looking for a new job put pressure on his budget. 

Complicating matters more, Chris’s wife left an HR director role and took a pay cut. At that point, minimum payments were beginning to stack up and the family finances were out of balance. 

We were told [the move] was going to be a certain amount and it ended up being way more… then we had to buy a new TV, washer and dryer… some of our minimum payments were like 250 bucks.

Recognizing The Need For Help

Chris had kept a strong credit score for years. He was proud of it, but ultimately using that to take on all of these debts wasn’t serving him financially. Leaning on credit to pay for gas, groceries and other essentials had led to an unsustainable amount of debt. 

He knew he needed help, so when he saw a Beyond Finance ad and read testimonials he decided it was time to make the call.

I told [my wife] we need to call this place… If you’re just struggling paycheck to paycheck, it’s not a bad idea to look at a debt program.

Turning Things Around With Beyond Finance

Chris and his wife enrolled together. He recalls that the first call took under an hour, the process felt honest and he was surprised by how quickly they had a plan. 

Ultimately, enrolling helped Chris save more than a thousand dollars a month, which means he was paying around 55% less on his eligible monthly payments. Typical clients save 40% or more on their eligible monthly payments with an average savings of $480.

Having one consolidated payment, helped Chris and his wife breathe easier, shop for essentials and plan for the future.

It was a really easy phone call… We pay twice a month and it’s been nice to kind of live normal again.

Real-Time Support And Community

Finding community with Beyond Finance has been extremely important to Chris and his wife. Between quick email responses, 24/7 chat and client support groups, they’ve found guidance and motivation built into the program. 

Less Stress At Home, More Clarity In The Budget

Like many couples, money tension was starting to affect their relationship. All that has eased up considerably since they entered the program. Having a steady plan and defined budget means there’s no guess work about where money should and shouldn’t go.

We started in March and things have gotten a lot better… We have a good budget and we’re doing a lot better.

Advice For Others: “Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help”

Chris wants anyone feeling stuck to know they aren’t alone. Debt can happen fast at any age and asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure.

Credit doesn’t care how old you are… Make a goal, be dedicated, make sure the money’s in there. There are people who will help and you won’t be alone in the journey. Trust the process and hold on. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

An Exciting New Future For Chris

With a plan in place, Chris can look forward again. More football games. A Disney trip with the kids. Breathing room in the budget and a path to finish strong.

I want to take vacations and go to lots more football games.

*A quick note about Chris’ story: He’s a real client who was compensated for taking the time to share his experience with us. Chris’ savings were calculated by subtracting his program payment from her self-reported payments or tradeline minimums. Typical clients save $480 on their monthly payments.