How Jo Beevers Paid Off £9,000 Debt on a £9,000 Salary

Jo Beevers, a 46-year-old from Chester, has successfully eliminated over £9,000 in debt while earning just £9,000 a year. This remarkable achievement came after she confronted her issues with impulsive spending, which had long plagued her financial situation. Jo’s journey highlights a practical approach that anyone can adopt to regain control over their finances.

For years, Jo struggled with debt, frequently relying on 0% balance transfers to manage her financial obligations. Transitioning from a full-time role as a medical conditions and injury rehabilitation manager with a salary of £30,000 to a part-time registrar position earning £9,000 forced her to confront her financial reality. Reflecting on her past, Jo stated, “I had £9,099.82 of credit card and overdraft debt, and when I looked at where that money had been going, I felt ashamed.”

Jo’s spending habits had spiraled out of control, with a mindset that equated shopping to a leisure activity. In 2018, she made impulsive purchases, including a £9,000 Volkswagen Up! and a £300 shopping spree at Boots for unnecessary perfumes. “If I had to hand over £80 in cash for two bottles of champagne every month, I wouldn’t have done it,” she admitted, acknowledging how her credit card made spending feel less tangible.

Determined to change her financial habits, Jo decided to take action. She placed her credit cards in a drawer and cancelled all non-essential subscriptions. A significant shift came when she began withdrawing cash at the start of each month for her spending after accounting for bills and groceries. Initially, Jo created a tracker with multiple envelopes for different expenses but found herself overwhelmed and making mistakes.

“I made loads of mistakes in the first three months by thinking the money could go further than it did,” she explained. After a period of reflection, Jo simplified her approach by focusing on essential spending categories, including debt repayment and savings. “Holding the money changed how I thought about it; it made it feel real,” she noted.

Embracing her journey towards financial health, Jo transformed her efforts into a creative outlet. She gamified her savings and shared her progress on social media under the handle @Cashbudgetbee. Her innovative trackers gained popularity, leading Jo to sell them on Etsy, generating an additional £2,000 in the past year. “I never thought it possible to find a way of making some extra money from my own debt clearing journey,” she remarked.

To maintain momentum, Jo regularly created engaging videos to inspire her followers. As a reward for reaching milestones, she treated herself to a more affordable £22 bottle of champagne instead of reverting to previous habits. Nonetheless, Jo remains vigilant, acknowledging the temptation to slip back into old spending patterns. “It starts with one thing and then you’re going back into old habits,” she cautioned.

Eighteen months into her journey, Jo made her final credit card payment. As she entered Christmas 2024 with savings for the first time in years, she expressed her joy at being debt-free. “Being debt free is amazing; I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” she said, relishing the freedom to spend without reliance on credit.

Despite her success, Jo understands the ongoing challenge of maintaining her new financial habits. “It worries me that I’ll slip back, as I’ve got 30 years’ worth of spending habits to break,” she admitted. She recently faced the temptation of last-minute online shopping for Valentine’s Day but successfully recognized her impulsive behavior before making unnecessary purchases.

To further strengthen her resolve, Jo has introduced new challenges, including creating an e-book to document her experiences, which has already earned her £180. She also shared her top tips for managing money effectively:

1. Use cash for non-essential purchases to maintain awareness of spending limits.
2. Stop using debit and credit cards to avoid impulse buying.
3. Establish an emergency fund before addressing debt or savings.
4. Plan for significant expenses throughout the year, such as birthdays and holidays.
5. Create savings goals with tangible amounts to work towards.
6. Use online shopping baskets to evaluate purchases before finalizing them.
7. Avoid shopping as a leisure activity to stay on track.

Jo Beevers’ story serves as an inspiration for anyone looking to regain control over their finances. By adopting simple yet effective strategies, she has transformed her financial life and continues to motivate others on a similar path.