I’m a single mum and I’m begging strangers to pay off my £13k debt – I just want a better life for my son
A WOMAN has revealed that she is asking strangers to help pay off her debt.
Elyse, who describes herself as the ‘Queen of No Spend Challenge’, explained that she is in almost £14,000 of debt, and is on a mission to pay it off.
The mother claimed that she “hates” the “sob story” of being a single mum asking for help, but is using her social media platform in an attempt to earn cash.
The content creator, who is from the US and has a jaw-dropping 155,200 followers on TikTok, explained that she is part of the Creator Fund, which is a method in which she is earning money to pay off her debts.
Posting online, Elyse, who is a self-proclaimed ‘money mentor’, opened up about the Creator Fund, and how TikTok users can help her to make money online.
She explained that many influencers, including herself, are using the TikTok Creator Fund, to pay off debts.
To be part of the TikTok Creator Fund, creators must have at least 10,000 followers.
Videos must be at least one minute long, and must have at least 100,000 views to be eligible to join the Creator Fund, which essentially rewards creators for posting content.
Participants are paid on a sliding scale based on how well their videos perform.
The funds that each creator can earn are worked out by a combination of factors; including the number of views and the authenticity of those views, the level of engagement on the content, and the money is distributed after content is published.
As a result, Elyse is essentially creating lengthy videos on social media, in the hope that they will go viral, and she will be paid for her content.
She revealed that she currently has $17,751 [£13,884] in debt and her goal is to pay it all off.
She shared: “I use all my digital sales from this page, I use my TikTok Creator fund, I also use other money from any other side hustles to pay off my debt.
“I hate the sob story of being a single mum trying to do all this, but I am, I’m trying to create such a better life for my son right now and I know that money isn’t the answer to every problem, but being debt free eliminates so many problems.”
How to cut the cost of your debt
IF you're in large amounts of debt it can be really worrying. Here are some tips from Citizens Advice on how you can take action.
Check your bank balance on a regular basis – knowing your spending patterns is the first step to managing your money
Work out your budget – by writing down your income and taking away your essential bills such as food and transport
If you have money left over, plan in advance what else you’ll spend or save. If you don’t, look at ways to cut your costs
Pay off more than the minimum – If you’ve got credit card debts aim to pay off more than the minimum amount on your credit card each month to bring down your bill quicker
Pay your most expensive credit card sooner – If you have more than one credit card and can’t pay them off in full each month, prioritise the most expensive card (the one with the highest interest rate)
Prioritise your debts – If you’ve got several debts and you can’t afford to pay them all it’s important to prioritise them
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay
Get advice – If you’re struggling to pay your debts month after month it’s important you get advice as soon as possible, before they build up even further
Groups like Citizens Advice and National Debtline can help you prioritise and negotiate with your creditors to offer you more affordable repayment plans
She then added: “So if you’ve been around for a while and you like and comment and share my TikToks in order to support me, I am just so appreciative of you.
“And if you’re new here, welcome – I am working on paying off debt, I am a single mum, I live in Nebraska, I share my budget, I share all sorts of things here.
“I will do what it takes to get out of debt and I just wanted to say thank you for being on the journey with me.”
How to shift your credit card debt quickly
By James Flanders, Consumer Reporter
UK Finance reports that we spend a whopping £2 billion a month using our credit cards.
While that little strip of plastic makes everyday spending easy peasy, it comes at a huge cost.
According to The Money Charity, the average credit card debt sits at £2,485 per household or £1,312 per adult.
And if you’re stuck on a credit card with a high APR and only making the minimum repayments, you could be forking out hundreds of pounds extra in interest charges.
For example, if you owe £1,312 on your credit card and are charged 24.8% APR.
If you don’t make any more transactions and pay £100 a month in repayments, you will pay off the card by September 2025 but at £207 in interest.
However, by hunting around for a better deal elsewhere and switching to a balance transfer credit card with a lengthy interest-free period, you can save yourself £162.
If the same person was accepted for a 28-month-long zero-interest credit card with a 3.4% balance transfer fee and made the same £100 repayments each month.
They would pay off the debt sooner, in July 2025, and only fork out £45 towards the 3.4% balance transfer fee.
Before taking out a new credit card or increasing the amount you borrow, it’s vital to consider the consequences.
You should only borrow money if you can afford to pay it back.
It’s always vital to ask yourself if you need to borrow before committing to a new credit card, personal loan or overdraft.
If you use a credit card, I’d recommend that you always pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period.
Lenders have a responsibility to help customers who are in debt.
If you’re in a debt crisis, your first point of call should be your lender.
They might help you out by offering you a reduced interest rate or a temporary payment holiday – so check in with your lender if you’re struggling.
SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @thesavvysagittarius, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 486,200 views.
Social media users admitted to feeling inspired by Elyse’s video and many commented on her clip, in the hope that it would ‘boost’ her earnings.
Boosting so you can hopefully be debt free soon
TikTok user
One person said: “This is what I’m trying to do!”
Another added: “This is such a good trend! I’m definitely participating. So nice to help each other.”
A third commented: “I love this trend! I wish I had enough followers to do this. You got this girl! I’m pressing all the buttons.”
Someone else penned: “Commenting to boost. Such an awesome trend.”
Whilst another shared: “Boosting so you can hopefully be debt free soon, one single mum trying hard to another.”
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