I paid off almost $94k of student loan debt.
Not with inherited money, lottery winnings, or a trust fund.
Just good old-fashioned hard work, budgeting and discipline.
As part of my journey, I didn’t spend money on restaurants or going out.
For almost two years, I cooked all my meals at home, with my wife. (and this was BEFORE covid…)
“Dining In with Student Loans” is an Instagram series where I shared the ingredients and cost of every meal.
It is my low-fi, low-dollar digital cookbook.
After paying off the loan, my wife and I went out to eat at a Michelin star restaurant.
I was able to direct 48% of my income toward the student loan, while spending only 5% of my income on food.
By the time I closed the loan, I paid almost double the initial principal amount.
This taught me a lesson I’ll never forget: debt is expensive.
I paid off the loan in August of 2019, eight years after graduating from college.