{"id":6926,"date":"2026-10-07T23:03:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T23:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondfinance.com\/blog\/?p=6926"},"modified":"2026-10-07T23:03:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T23:03:51","slug":"graduate-exclusive-matthew-t","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beyondfinance.com\/blog\/graduate-exclusive-matthew-t\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Exclusive! Matthew T. Takes Alaska Trip, Saves Up, and Starts Thinking About Homeownership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
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We interviewed Matthew \u2014 statistical analyst, Denver native, and Dungeons & Dragons player \u2014 to learn how a pandemic layoff left him covering the basics on credit cards, and how his Beyond Finance program helped him start saving again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
    \n
  • Debt Amount: $31,692<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Started: November 2022<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Graduated: July 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Can you tell us a bit about yourself?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    I live here in Denver, Colorado near friends and family. Friends and family are around. For fun, I like to play Dungeons and Dragons.<\/em> For work, I’m a statistical analyst, so I do lots of math and fun stuff like that! I have two master’s degrees.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How did you find yourself in debt?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n

    I moved up to Seattle for my first \u201cbig boy\u201d job after I got my second master’s degree. And then COVID hit, and I was laid off. I had to exist somehow, so I put expenses on credit cards.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And I just couldn’t find any other job. Nobody was hiring \u2014 it was terrible. It was two or so years just trying until I got hired. But by that time, it’s just like, “Oh, look at this mountain of debt.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When I did finally get another job, I was paying close to $800 a month, and I’m like, “Oh, geez. I’m basically back to living like I was during COVID again.\u201d I thought, “This is not sustainable at all.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \n

    Y’all basically took up that giant rock that I was trying to push up the hill and were just like, “All right, cool. Let’s just nuke that rock and make it a pebble and then just throw it away.” It was life-changing.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Honestly, it felt like a life sentence in jail or something, because I literally did the math and I’m like, “Oh, in 25 years, I’ll get it all paid off.” And I’m just like, “Well, I don’t know if I can live like this for the next 25 years.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Matthew enjoying a kayaking excursion on his recent trip to Alaska.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    How did you find Beyond Finance and what was your experience like with us?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    I figured, “Hey, there has to be something\u2026” So I did some research, and then you guys came up because you were the best according to the Better Business Bureau. So I thought, “Okay, I’ll go with them then.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I was nervous, but then once the representatives said, “Hey, this can be your new monthly payment,” I’m like, “Oh, that would actually be fantastic.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the back of my mind, it was like, this almost sounds too good to be true.<\/em> (laughs) When I was on the phone, I’m just like, “Is this actually legit?” And it was.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    I read all the articles \u2014 what to expect and that sort of stuff. I used all your resources \u2014 I’m that kind of nerd.<\/em> (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I remember when I got my first offer, I was like, \u201cYay, the end is in sight!\u201d I thought, “Oh, so they do know what they’re doing. Awesome.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I was able to start saving during the program too. It\u2019s like, “Oh, look, I actually have a savings account again.” Some months I was able to pay extra toward my program, and I’m like, “Okay, that’s a strange feeling!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And watching my progress in the app, it’s like, “Okay, okay, almost there. Almost there.” And then when I was there, I’m like, “YES. Finally.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What’s life like now that you’re debt-free?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n

    I’ve been saving up, and I recently took a trip to Alaska, so that was a good little treat for myself!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Honestly, just saving \u2014 just having all of that extra. I’m just like, “Oh, now I can save that and maybe buy a house.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It’s amazing. It’s so freeing. It’s like I’m not tied down or forced to pick up another job and just work, work, work. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve been budgeting, making spreadsheets, using your guides \u2014 I was just really following what you guys suggested.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I’m very thankful for you guys. I did learn a lot, so that’s very valuable.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Y’all basically took up that giant rock that I was trying to push up the hill and were just like, “All right, cool. Let’s just nuke that rock and make it a pebble and then just throw it away.” It was life-changing.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Matthew with friends on a recent trip to Las Vegas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Real client compensated for a real story. Individual results may vary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    After a pandemic layoff left Matthew T. covering the basics on credit cards, he turned to Beyond Finance. Today he has a savings account again, an emergency stash, and a trip to Alaska behind him \u2014 and he’s saving for a house.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":6927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-client-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\nGraduate Exclusive! Matthew T. 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