Meet Jennifer Allan, a realtor and content creator who fought to get her finances in order. She has used ChatGPT to address and eliminate her overwhelming credit card debt. Allan was confronted with $23,000 in debt. To get through that challenge, she completed a 30-day straight challenge, documenting her process in a TikTok video series that received more than 2 million views.
Allan’s emotional and financial burden moved her to pursue creative solutions to pay off her debt. In her TikTok posts, she explained how she engaged with ChatGPT to request one task each day aimed at generating income. This approach provided her with creative concepts to generate revenue. Beyond pure economics, it developed a sense of discipline as she worked toward her financial goals.
In just one month’s time, Allan successfully claimed more than $11,000 in refunds and paid down a total of $12,078.93 debt. ChatGPT proposed a number of the normal tasks, but she found a few offbeat gems. One especially wild suggestion urged her to sell off “debt art” on eBay.
“It told me to put my total debt number, to the $23,000, on a watermelon in Sharpie… and auction it off on eBay as ‘debt art’,” said Allan.
Throughout her challenge, she unearthed something unexpected. Then it turned out, she discovered, that she had this $10,200 just sitting in a brokerage account, one which she’d almost totally forgotten about.
“There’s $10,200 sitting in this account that is available. Like I could literally cry right now,” Allan shared.
This newfound awareness was a result of her unexpected daily practice of being more involved with her fiscal responsibilities.
“I went from not looking at [my debt] at all to, you know, being in it every day,” she stated.
Allan’s journey has already struck a chord with millions of people online, showcasing just how powerful AI can be at helping us better manage our money. She made the point that ChatGPT had some great ideas, but should not replace expert knowledge and critical thought.
Carter, a self-professed personal finance nerd, knew that AI has the power to inspire big ideas. He cautioned against relying solely on technology for helping consumers make informed financial choices.
“AI can be a powerful assistant to come up with ideas, but, you know, certainly not a substitute for human expertise or critical thinking,” Carter noted.
Other financial experts, including MoneyRates.com’s Ted Rossman, recommended a long-term approach to pay down debt.
“Take the long view. It might make more sense to drive your existing car for a bit longer or live with the old kitchen cabinets another year or two,” Rossman advised.
Under her husband’s guidance and his continual reassurance during this journey, Allan has made a complete 360 in her mentality about her debt. As a wife and mother, she wants to share her experience to encourage others who are going through the same struggles.
