$28,000 in Debt Paid Off in 13 Months: Kim & Bob's Story

If you are looking for stories of people getting out of debt, Kim and Bob's shows what can happen when a family finally gets the right support. For them, it started with a single phone call.

At a glance
Family Family of six from Queensland
Financial situation Living on one income
Challenge Bob diagnosed with cancer
Debt $28,000 across 12 debts — credit cards, tax debt and household bills
Crisis Facing eviction and power disconnection
Before MyBudget Declined for debt consolidation loans elsewhere
Achievements Paid off $28,000 in 13 months, travelled to Vanuatu and New Zealand, bought family cars, now saving for their first home
Still clients More than 16 years later

Where they started

By the time Kim picked up the phone in 2010, the family was drowning. Debt collectors were calling, credit cards were maxed out, bills were piling up, and they had already been turned away elsewhere.

"We'd tried to get consolidating loans. No one would touch us." — Kim

How they fell into debt

Neither Kim nor Bob had grown up learning to manage money. Bob was the eldest of ten children, in a household where money was spent when it was available and budgeting was not discussed. Kim's experience was similar.

"When we got paid, we spent it. We'd wait until the bills had to be paid, then we'd get charged late fees. We were always going backwards." — Kim

When they started their own family those habits followed. Kim became a stay-at-home mum while Bob worked to support them. Four young children, everyday living costs and credit cards filling the gaps created a cycle that got harder to escape.

They were not living beyond their means. They simply did not have the financial systems to stay ahead — a situation many Australian families face. Then a major life event turned an already stretched budget into a crisis: Bob was diagnosed with cancer.

What changed

MyBudget built them a personalised budget and provided ongoing debt support. Within 13 months the $28,000 was paid off.

What came after

Becoming debt free did not just improve their finances — it gave them choices. For the first time in years they could look beyond the next payday.

In 2013 they took their children to Vanuatu to visit Bob's family. Between 2017 and 2019 they saved enough to buy their son his first car. They have since travelled to New Zealand, and are now saving to buy their first home.

Perhaps the biggest change was not in Kim and Bob at all. Their children grew up watching their parents move from financial stress to stability — seeing what was possible when a family had a plan.

"When we help one family reduce financial stress, the positive impact reaches everyone around them, especially their children." — Tammy Barton, MyBudget Founder & Director

More than sixteen years later, they are still clients.

A note on results

This is one family's experience, shared with permission. Results depend on your income, your debts and your circumstances, and Kim and Bob's outcome is not a prediction of what any other household will achieve. A budget cannot create money that is not there — what it does is put the money you have to work in the right order, consistently.

Important information

This article is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. MyBudget is a budgeting and money management service and is not a licensed financial adviser.

Free, independent and confidential financial counselling is available from the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

Start your own story

Call 1300 300 922 for a free, confidential, no-obligation appointment.

How much debt did Kim and Bob pay off, and in how long?

Kim and Bob paid off $28,000 in debt in 13 months with MyBudget's help.

How many separate debts did Kim and Bob have when they first contacted MyBudget?

Kim and Bob had $28,000 in debt spread across 12 different debts, including credit cards, tax debt, household bills, and accounts referred to debt collectors.

What financial and personal crises were Kim and Bob facing before contacting MyBudget?

Kim and Bob were living on a single income while raising four young children, Bob was diagnosed with cancer and had to stop working during treatment, they faced potential eviction, power disconnection warnings, utility bills exceeding $4,500, and they had already been declined for debt consolidation loans from mainstream lenders.

What prompted Kim to first contact MyBudget?

After another sleepless night, Kim saw a MyBudget television commercial and thought, 'This is our last lifeline,' which led to a single phone call that marked the turning point in their family's financial journey.

What three things did MyBudget do to help Kim and Bob?

MyBudget created a personalized budget that accounted for all of Kim and Bob's bills and expenses, took over management of their bills and repayments to reduce stress and ensure on-time payments, and provided ongoing money coaching and support to help them develop healthy money habits.

How long has Kim and Bob's relationship with MyBudget lasted?

Kim and Bob's journey with MyBudget's assistance spans over 16 years, starting when they first contacted MyBudget in 2010.

What was the outcome for Kim and Bob after working with MyBudget?

Kim and Bob went from financial stress to planning confidently for their future with personalised budgeting support, having paid off $28,000 in debt in 13 months.

Who is the author of Kim and Bob's MyBudget success story?

The article was authored by Cheryl Hayford.

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