SLC Jason Butler is Taking on Student Loans & Credit Card Debt

Happy Friday friends! Today I’m excited for another installment of Student Loan Conquerors. Student Loan Conquerors is an interview series where I talk with some awesome people tackling their student loan debt head on. Finding out how they are doing it and what inspired them to start in the first place. If you are interested in participating please contact me and share a little information about your student loan situation.

Today, I’m excited to have Jason Butler of The Butler Journal a freelance writer and blogger. He is based out of Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently in the process of paying off $72,000 worth of loans and credit card debt.

1. When did you graduate and with what degree?

I graduated from Savannah State University with a degree in Marketing.

2. What was the maximum amount you owed and where do you stand now?

The maximum amount that I owed was $69,800.03. I currently owe $65,563.43

3.When did you start to focus on your student loans and what motivated you to do so?

I started focusing on my student loans at the beginning of 2015. I was motivated to pay off my student loans and other debt so that I can eventually become debt free.

4. What is the best piece of financial advice you’ve received?

The best piece of financial advice that I received was to start saving money. Even though I am in a lot of debt, I still need to have something in savings.

Editor Note: If you are struggling to save consider using Chime. I use Chime to save without thinking. Chime works by starting a spending account (takes 5 minutes) and opting into the automatic savings plan. Every time I use the Chime Debit Card it rounds up my purchase to the nearest dollar and puts in in savings. Right now they also offer a 10% bonus on those savings. All those withdrawals add up over time. Chime is free to use, with no monthly fees. With Chime, you end up saving money without having to think about it.

5. What is one piece of advice you would give to others paying down student loans?

I would tell people to get focused and start paying on their student loans. Every little bit helps. I went a couple of years of not paying because I didn’t have the correct mindset. Thinking multiple forbearances and deferments would save me until the time was right. The time will never be “right”. I would start making payments as soon as possible.

6. If you could do it all over again, would you? Why or why not?

I would change a couple of things. In GA, high school students who graduate with a 3.0 or higher GPA are awarded the Hope scholarship. As long as the student maintains a 3.0 GPA during college a student can receive it. That scholarship pays 80% of the tuition & fees. I made the mistake of losing the Hope scholarship after my freshman year of college. I had to start taking out loans. If I could go back, I would make sure that I would have never lost the Hope scholarship. The second thing that I would change is that I took some classes from Fall 2012 – Spring 2013 because I thought I wanted another degree. Halfway through the Spring 2013 term, I realized that I didn’t want to go back to school. Doing that added another $12,500 to my student loan balance. I should not have done that.

7. Are you actually utilizing your degree?

I’m not using my degree at the moment.

8. Anything you’d like to share with LDMW readers?

Follow my debt payoff journey at TheButlerJournal.com. I share with you different side hustles and ways that I am paying off my debt.

The End.

Thank you, Jason! I appreciate you being a part of Student Loan Conqueror Series. I’m excited for you and your progress.