Debt Free Interview #3: Mike Polinsky - debt free

This week's debt free interview features Mike Polinsky - Mike is a debt expert and does online writing for various sites.

1. How did you get into debt?
The biggest reason why I got into debt was because of a job loss I experienced a few years back.
2. How deeply in debt were you at the worst point? What did it feel like?
At the worst point, I was about $15,000 in debt. It felt awful – it nagged at me almost every day.
3. When did you decide to get out of debt and why?
When that nagging feeling and the associated stress got to be too much, I finally decided to do something about it. I had finally had enough.
4. How long did it take you to get completely debt free?
It took me about two years to become debt-free.
5. What advice would you give to someone trying to become debt free?
My first piece of advice for someone trying to become debt-free is that you have to commit to doing something about it. If you approach it half-heartedly, you'll never succeed. If you're out of work, take any job you can find to start bringing in some money. Then, get yourself on a budget. Look at each and every monthly bill and use the Internet to find ways to save. Start using coupons to save on groceries. Stop all personal purchases (or as many as you can) and devote all your extra cash to your debts. Once you're debt-free, you'll have plenty of extra money to resume your old spending habits. Although if that was the cause of your debt, you might want to continue to monitor your spending.

Thanks Mike for your help!