Any time someone chooses to seek debt freedom and succeeds in it is amazing to me. Dave Ramsey’s “debt-free scream” is always a heart-warming celebration to see online and speaking to people who have paid off debt always inspires me. Brian Meiggs’ story is yet another inspiration. He took the time to participate in a quick Q&A to share how he paid off $30,000 in student loan debt.
How He Paid Off $30,000 in Student Loan Debt
When it comes down to it, Brian was able to pay off his student loan debt by pure determination. When he graduated, that was his sole focus. He did not want that debt to have a hold over him for 10+ years, as it does with so many other graduates. Here is how Brian Meiggs got started on his journey and led him to debt freedom.
Q: Tell me a little about yourself. What inspired you to seek financial freedom?
A: My name is Brian Meiggs and I’m an entrepreneur who spends most of my time building finance-niched websites from the ground up and making them profitable. Some of my recent projects include My Millennial Guide, Saving Junkie, and SavingExpert.
I’ve always been a hustler. In college, I bought used iPhones and flipped them for a profit. I had a few corporate finance jobs after college, but I found myself bored and without a purpose. I knew I didn’t want to work a 9-5 until I retired so I looked for a way out. I started a blog and eventually, it took off, and now I do it full-time. I enjoy every moment of it and the freedom it brings.
Q: How much debt have you paid off?
A: I graduated from college with around $30,000 in student loan debt. Being a 23-year-old, that is a lot of money. I spent so much time building a rock-solid budget and maximizing my income in order to tackle this debt. I paid off all of my student loans within one year of graduating college. It was so liberating.
Q: How long had it taken to get to where you are financially?
A: It definitely took me a while to start making my desired income. I thought back and reflected, “man, I’m really doing it!” What helped me reach my income goals was looking at other bloggers who were making anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 per month. I figured if they could do it, why can’t I?
It wasn’t until my 3rd year of blogging that I felt comfortable with quitting my day job. I was working as a Credit Risk Manager making around $85,000 per year. Once the income from my blog was making me more money per month than my job, I felt comfortable quitting.
I have a funny quitting story, but that’s for another time. Now, I’m making more than six figures per year with all my websites. I simply enjoy the financial independence and not the money itself.
Q: What was the key to your success?
A: My success came from looking at other bloggers who were successful and trying to make my website better. I’m at a tipping point where if I really want to grow, I’m going to have to hire a full-team to help with management. I really enjoy running everything myself but if I want to continue to grow, this needs to happen.
Q: What is the most important part of your finances?
A: The most important part of my finances is continuing to maintain the lifestyle I am currently living. I’m not opposed to splurging on things that I want or saving every penny. I recently purchased my dream exotic car (BMW i8) and I have no regrets about it.
Q: How do you stay debt-free now?
A: Staying debt-free is done successfully by spending less, finding additional sources of revenue and scaling that up, and having a budget that I actually follow.
Q: What is something you wish you could tell your younger self about money?
A: Money is passive. It comes and goes and while it can make you temporarily happy, creating memories and experiences whether solo or with friends and family, that’s more valuable.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “The root of joy is gratefulness” – Brother David Stiendl-Rast
Q: Is there anything you would like to leave readers with?
A: I just wanted to thank you for reading my story and learning a bit about me. I would say the best way to invest is in yourself. Never stop learning or teaching yourself new skills. Every day you should be better than the day before. What do you want in life? Go out and get it. Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.
Closing Thoughts
Looking at the success in Brian’s story and how he paid off $30,000 in student loan debt, I thought to myself, “Man, I wish I had done that!” Could you imagine starting out your adult life with absolutely no debt? Hopefully, sharing his story inspires other young people to consider doing the same or taking similar approaches to pay off debt and focus on financial freedom.
Readers, what do you think about Brian’s story? How would paying your student debt off immediately impacted your finances? Was it ever a possibility?
