Tinsley Crisp Tinsley has spent the last decade as a stylist, writer, and tastemaker. Together with her husband Ben, she had an enormous obstacle to surmount—$200,000 in student loan debt. Ben’s big picture plan was totally doable in $30,000. When he made the jump to return to school and train to become a physician assistant, expenses nearly doubled. To make the dream trip a reality, the couple understood they needed a firm plan to get back in control of their finances.
Under the advice of a financial planner, Tinsley and Ben created a five-year plan to pay off their debt. The entire time on this adventure, they did their best to stay within budget. They chose to forgo certain things that helped them move toward financial freedom. After five years of hard work, they rejoiced at their last payment—it was a proud moment in their lives.
The Path to Financial Freedom
At first, though, Tinsley was consumed by the weight of student debt. The pressure was clearly stressing her out, and she felt hopeless about their financial future.
“It felt like I would never accomplish this goal,” – Tinsley Crisp
Realizing that something had to change, the young couple created line-by-line a simple but specific written monthly budget and debt-payoff schedule. They tracked each expenditure even to the most mundane items such as shampoo and conditioner.
“We really wanted to account for everything,” – Tinsley Crisp
Such foresighted planning made certain they were ready to tackle future costs, no matter how small they might appear in the moment. Their plan took a lot of discipline and dedication, since they frequently had to miss social functions and family celebrations.
“Whenever we chose to miss friends’ weddings, family vacations, maybe even extra trips to visit family just for the holidays, it was tough,” – Tinsley Crisp
Celebrating Success
As the years went by, the couple stayed committed to their initial plan. They started to make real headway. Once Tinsley and Ben made their final payment, they celebrated their new financial freedom. As a final treat, they were going to take their first extended vacation ever, a life-long dream of going to Greece that was suddenly attainable.
“To get to that moment and to enjoy that vacation really felt like our dream becoming a reality,” – Tinsley Crisp
Asking for your understanding, Tinsley shared, looking back on their journey, you won’t regret the sacrifices made along the way. Those decisions and difficult turns they took at one time started to be the path to a long-term economic recovery.
“And now looking back, I don’t regret it at all, because now we’re able to do so much more,” – Tinsley Crisp
A Broader Context
The current student loan crisis in America has reached catastrophic levels. According to the latest figures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, student loan debt has more than doubled to $1.63 trillion as of the first quarter of 2025. Today, Tinsley and Ben’s story continues to inspire those reaching across the aisle through their own challenges.
Their success story might well serve as a model case for how strategic planning and disciplined budgeting can help transit agencies prevail over fiscal challenges. They are seeking a debt-free future on their own terms. Their story is an inspiring reminder that with dedication and determination, anyone can succeed on the path to financial freedom.
