A member came to Co-op Credit Union for financial coaching and a strategy to pay off $36,000 of credit card debt. The member had approached another financial in the area but was told the only option was opening a HELOC. Not convinced it was the right approach and feeling desperate, they discussed their situation with a CCU coach, and began a strict budgeting and tracking plan. CCU’s coach regularly checked in and celebrated each time they paid off a different card. In the end, the family paid off the $36,000 in just two-and-a-half years! This gave them a sense of financial freedom, emotional relief, and allowed them to make other “fun purchases” in their lives.