Client Exclusive: Tracie H., A Former Operations Manager Finding Her Way Back to Financial Wellness

Tracie H. lives in Western New York with her husband and their three corgis. She describes herself as a proud “Disney Adult” who likes to have fun and enjoy life. For years, Tracie was successful in her career as an operations manager in corporate travel, staying on top of her bills and never missing a payment. But when the pandemic hit, everything changed.

Before Beyond Finance: When Minimum Payments Became the Norm

Reduced hours during the pandemic meant less income and more reliance on credit cards. While Tracie never missed a payment, making only the minimum quickly became routine and the balances stopped moving in the right direction.

How did you get into debt?
The pandemic was not kind to the travel industry. My hours were reduced. I always had credit cards, but I found I was using them more and was only able to make the minimum payments.

How did the debt make you feel?
I think I was naive about it for a long time and had my head in the sand. It became my normal, and until I was drowning in it, I hadn’t realized how bad it was.

Recognizing It Was Time to Do Something Different

As time went on, Tracie realized that staying current wasn’t the same as making progress. She explored a personal loan first, hoping a lower interest rate would finally move the needle.

How did you know it was time to get help?
I actually applied for a loan first. When they explained how long it was going to take me, I realized I truly was stuck and needed to do whatever I had to do to get my finances back on track.

Finding Beyond Finance Through an Unexpected Path

After clicking on a social media ad, Tracie was introduced to a new approach — one that focused on affordability and a clear plan forward.

How did you find Beyond Finance?
They explained that what I really needed was a debt consolidation program, and they connected me with Beyond Finance. At first I thought, “Not for me,” but then it all clicked.

An Exciting New Future for Tracie

Today, Tracie is focused on building healthier habits and planning ahead. Beyond Finance didn’t just help her address her debt, it helped her change how she thinks about money and the future.

Now, I’m much better at saving money and planning ahead for the future.

*About this testimonial: Tracie is a real Beyond Finance client who was compensated for sharing her experience. Her savings were calculated by subtracting her program payment from her self-reported payments or tradeline minimums. Clients typically save $480 per month on their debt payments.