Client Exclusive: Mackenzie a Texas Teacher with $28,396 in Debt

For many folks, debt doesn’t happen suddenly, it builds slowly — one unexpected expense, medical bill and credit card charge at a time. That’s what happened to Mackenzie and her husband, Josh.

Meet Mackenzie: A Teacher, Wife and Mom from Texas

Mackenzie is a teacher from Texas so you know she’s used to helping others, staying calm under pressure and juggling a hundred things at once without breaking a sweat. But when her husband Josh was diagnosed with epilepsy, she was in uncharted territory.  

There were hospital visits. Missed work. Lost income. And like so many families trying to hold things together during emergencies, they turned to credit cards just to get by.

My husband’s health issues caused a lack of income temporarily, so we relied on personal loans and credit cards. We got overwhelmed with those payments and also couldn’t pay other things, so it just spiraled into a bad situation.

The Weight of Financial Anxiety

It’s waking up anxious. It’s doing mental math while you’re at the grocery store. It’s the constant, lingering worry that you’ll never get ahead. If you’ve been in debt, you know that the weight of financial stress can’t be ignored.

We constantly felt stressed and worried about how we were going to make it to the next payday — how we were going to permanently get out of debt and create a financially secure future.

A Turning Point

Eventually, Mackenzie realized something had to give. She’d been researching her options for a while but had been afraid to take that leap. She was worried about what others might think or whether it would even work. Then she had a moment of clarity that moved her to take action.

I realized we might as well get help to get out of debt instead of continuing to struggle and making no progress.

That’s a brave thought, isn’t it? The recognition that staying stuck is riskier than trying something new.

The Power of the Right Help

Mackenzie and Josh called around and talked to multiple companies. They compared programs and asked all the hard questions. But one call stood out — Beyond Finance.

I googled and researched many companies and had many quotes and phone calls, but Beyond Finance was the most professional and made me feel the most at ease, like it might actually be the answer to our problems.

Imagine that — after years of feeling buried, someone made them feel like freedom was possible again.

The Moment Relief Set In

Once they enrolled, things changed quickly. Beyond Finance took over the communication with creditors. Everything became transparent in the app. For the first time in years, Mackenzie felt she could breathe again.

Knowing that everything is transparent on the app and knowing that Beyond Finance is handling everything so that we don’t have to.

And when I asked what advice she’d give others in the same spot, she didn’t hesitate.

The New Chapter

Today, Mackenzie and Josh are finally moving forward. They’ve said goodbye to sleepless nights wondering if they’ll make it to the next payday.

Not having the constant stress always in the back of my mind, and knowing that I don’t owe anyone anymore,” she said. “I will never get back in debt after this. So far, it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Mackenzie and Josh didn’t find a quick fix. They found something better, a path forward and a chance to make a meaningful change for their future.

And that’s something all of us deserve — the chance to start again, with hope, with peace, and with the belief that no matter how deep the hole feels, there’s always a way out.

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