Client Exclusive: How We Helped Teacher Andrea S. Rebound From More than $30,000 in Debt

When summer break began this year, most teachers were thinking about rest, travel or hobbies. But for Andrea S., a dedicated educator from Indiana, her focus was on something more pressing — taking control of her finances while recovering from shoulder surgery. As a widow navigating fixed income parameters and reduced earnings, Andrea knew the summer was her chance to breathe and rebuild.

Meet Andrea: A Teacher and Widow From Indiana

Much of Andrea’s life has been marked by resilience. After losing her husband, she changed jobs to reduce stress and qualify for Social Security survivor’s benefits. While the decision brought stability in some ways, it also meant a drop in income and an increasing reliance on credit cards to cover expenses.

I started relying on credit cards to get me through and ended up with a lot of debt that I was only able to make minimum payments on.

How Debt Crept In

At first, Andrea was able to keep up with her monthly minimums. But over time, she found herself shifting payments from one card to another, skipping one bill to catch up on another. The juggling act became exhausting and unsustainable.

It got to the point where I was missing one to catch up on another. It was getting very stressful.

Recognizing the Need for Help

Scrolling through Facebook one day, Andrea spotted an ad that spoke directly to teachers struggling with debt. She clicked — a decision that would change her financial future.

I was drowning in debt and saw an advertisement about helping teachers so I checked it out.

Turning Things Around With Beyond Finance

Andrea connected with Stephanie, her Consolidation Specialist, who became an instant source of reassurance. Stephanie’s patience and understanding helped transform Andrea’s nervousness into confidence.

My contact person, Stephanie, has made this a wonderful experience. When I start to get nervous about how things are going or have questions, she is always right there to answer them. She is so kind with no judgment.

A Plan That Reduces Her Stress and Fits Her Life

After starting with Beyond Finance, Andrea reduced her monthly payments by more than half — from $1,164.42 to $514.96 — freeing up $649.46 a month for essentials and savings.

The program structure allows Andrea to focus on healing from surgery this summer without the constant pressure of unmanageable credit card bills.

Andrea’s Advice for Others

Andrea wants others feeling trapped in debt to take the leap. She knows firsthand that the hardest part is making the first call — and that the relief that follows is worth it.

Do it! It can be scary at first, but you won’t regret it.

Looking Ahead: A Future Without Credit Cards

Andrea’s financial goals are simple yet powerful: She wants to pay ahead on her mortgage and car. With her plan in motion, she’s not just looking forward to debt freedom, she’s building a future without credit cards so she .

To be able to pay ahead on my mortgage and car and to have extra money so it won’t matter if I don’t have credit cards!

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