Alexis Hammett has spent thousands of dollars on tattoos. Now she’s focusing on what’s more than skin deep: Her financial future.
Alexis Hammett doesn’t know exactly how many tattoos she has. “Probably like 30,” she says. Each one cost at least $300, all the way up to $1,000.
They didn’t drive her into debt, but they sped her down the path. That’s because the 26-year-old Missouri resident admits, “I just really loved shopping.”
In her early 20s, “I just enjoyed going out, and I was just swiping to swipe. I wasn’t thinking. Nails, tattoos, lashes, it all adds up.”
That addition led to a common math problem: She started making the minimum payments on her credit cards, which meant her balances barely dropped and interest kept accruing.
“Every payment I was making, they were just adding it back and adding it back,” Alexis says. She knew she couldn’t fix this on her own, but she was nervous calling Consolidated Credit.
Alexis Hammett, Consolidated Credit client
Making the Consolidated call
Even as Alexis dialed the phone, she was skeptical. When she was connected to a certified credit counselor, she was doubtful.
“I didn’t even think you guys were going to be able to help me – until I actually just listened to what the man said,” Alexis recalls. Here’s how she describes it in her own words…
From the very beginning, they treated me with dignity and compassion. I wasn’t judged or made to feel ashamed for the mistakes I’d made. Instead, they focused on finding a solution. After a free consultation, a specialist worked with me to consolidate my unsecured debts into one manageable monthly payment. This immediately lowered my interest rates—some even down to 0%—which made it possible for me to start chipping away at the principal.
Alexis Hammett, Consolidated Credit client
From there, she learned that Consolidated Credit has other hassle-free benefits.
“Another huge emotional relief was not having to deal with creditor calls,” she says. “Once I enrolled in the program, Consolidated Credit worked directly with my creditors. Those constant, stressful calls and letters stopped, and I could breathe again. It gave me space to focus on my life and my future without the constant reminder of financial failure looming over me.”
What comes next
In a few months, Alexis will pay off all her debts. But she’s already started contributing to an emergency fund. While small right now, it gives her peace of mind to know that she’s putting money away while still shedding her debts.
“I’ve also seen my credit score improve,” she says. “For the first time, I’m not just surviving. I’m planning. I’m saving for a home. I’m dreaming about starting my own business. I’m building a life that’s not limited by debt.”
But she already has one immediate goal when she gets out of debt: Get a new tattoo.
Alexis rewrote her financial future. Are you ready to begin your debt-free journey? Call Consolidated Credit today.
