FitBUX Stories is a collection of articles written by Members and Non-Members of FitBUX. The purpose is to provide positive encouragement to others who have found themselves owing a lot in student loans. Some stories also detail “Student Loan Horror Stories” so we can learn from each other.
If you’d like to contribute your story be sure to shoot us an email at info@fitbux.com.
by Rachel Medenwaldt, traveling PT
Background
I went into PT because I loved the idea of having a career that was centered on helping people. It is such an awesome field to be in, but then when I started school and the loans came into the picture I started panicking. I decided I love this career, but I did not want to be in debt to it for the majority of my career so I explored my options.
$100k in student debt, $40,000 paid off in a year already!
Personally, I made the decision that traveling PT would be the best option to pursue. This would give me financial freedom from student loans, allow me to explore the country, and try different settings. I am currently on track to pay off about $100,00 in two years.
I started viewing it as a game and strategy, with small goals (my “baby steps”) made for every 3-6 months to keep the end goal in sight. I think one of the worst things you can do is look at the total amount without making small goals for it. I have been paying them off now for about 7 months and have made over $40,000 in payments.
My Tips
Probably one of the best tips I can provide is doing a budget. this way you know exactly how much money can be delegated to the loans and using that extra leftover money to throw at them (even if it is only $100 because those small habits make a big difference later).
My boyfriend and I are both PT’s in the same boat, and we definitely motivate each other and almost compete on how much we can pay that month; again seeing it as a game. (Side note: The FitBUX Finance Group on Facebook is a great place to get motivation!)
Definitely being open about the situation and asking questions helps a lot so you don’t feel so alone in the process. For me, this included talking to Joe multiple times at FitBUX.
PT is such a great career path with so many options to take, but there shouldn’t be a reason to live in debt to the profession for the rest of your life.
Have a plan for your finances so you can have the freedom to make choices in your career path that we’ve worked so hard to get.
If you’d like to read more articles about money, be sure to check out the FitBUX blog.
