how I am trying to stay debt free

@maryinprimary

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Why it worked

The video provides practical, relatable advice on managing credit cards and finances, resonating with viewers who are also on a debt-free journey. The creator's personal anecdotes and transparent approach build trust and offer actionable tips.

Summary

The creator shares their strategies for staying debt-free after paying off their car and credit card debt. They discuss using credit cards for recurring bills and large purchases they can afford to pay off immediately, highlighting recent purchases like a new iPhone and car repair, and emphasizing the importance of an emergency fund.

Structure

1Introduction to staying debt-free
2Strategies for using credit cards responsibly
3Examples of recent large purchases (phone, car repair)
4Importance of an emergency fund
5Advice on avoiding debt cycles

Product placement

GEICO: acts - provides car insurance and rewards points. Removing it would change the context of the rewards points shown. Apple Store: acts - displays a purchase of a phone and rewards points. Removing it would change the context of the purchase shown. YOU MOBILE: acts - displays payment transactions. Removing it would change the context of the payment transactions shown. iPhone 17 Pro: acts - is the product purchased by the creator. Removing it would change the narrative of the video.

Original caption

I have been debt free for about two months now, and am trying to make sure I keep it that way! Here are some things I’ve been doing to still make sure I keep up my credit usage, still earn points from my cc, and of course making financially responsible choices that will not put me back in a debt cycle. 🔄 #financiallyresponsible #debtfree #debtfreecommunity #financialliteracy #financetok

More from @maryinprimary

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Transcript

I am 100% debt free. I'm done paying off my car. I have no more credit card debt and my goal is for it to stay that way. Right now what I'm doing is I at least have a recurring bill on my credit card so I can continue earning some points. I decided to do my car insurance. That's about $200 a month. Also making sure I am paying that credit card in full at the end of the month. Not quite there with using my credit card as a debit card, cause I know everybody says to do that, but I think I'm just not used to it. I think it's more of like a mental thing where I just get nervous about using my credit card. So at least having it on that recurring bill is helpful. And making sure that I am putting large purchases on the credit card and of course ones that I can afford and again pay off in full. So for example, I did buy a new phone recently. I got the iPhone 17 Pro and I love it. I think it was completely worth it for me to upgrade, especially as somebody who does content. So I put the purchase for the phone on a credit card, but again I paid it off in full. And I know this is a really common issue that people have is that they just put everything on a credit card and then the APR builds and you are just owing more and more money. So I think what I'm doing is probably the most financially responsible way that you could be using a credit card if you're somebody who is on a debt free journey. I definitely would not touch that credit card. Cause when I was on my debt payoff journey, I did not put any more purchases on my credit card. And even recently, some of you might have seen that I had to get my car, one of my car doors replaced, and it cost about $3,000. And I will be putting that purchase on a credit card. But I do have an emergency fund that would help cover it. I don't have a fully funded emergency fund, unfortunately, but I'm just thankful that I have money to help with something like this. And also I'm very lucky to have made money from social media, so that's obviously going to help a lot too. I literally bought this phone like maybe like three weeks ago. And then that thing happened to my car about a week ago. And I was so upset cause I was like, oh my god, I can't believe I just bought a new phone. And obviously the good news is that I have the money to pay for both of those things. So I feel very lucky either I've been able to make money from social media, but obviously it's making those financially responsible choices and building that emergency fund and not continuing to put myself in a cycle of debt. That is really the best part so. As I've mentioned before, if you don't have an emergency fund, you need to start one. And again, stop putting purchases on your credit card that you cannot afford to pay off.