Makers & Movers Series: My Debt Epiphany
I recently started publishing the side hustle series again. It has been rebranded as the Makers & Movers series. It’s a series where I interview side hustlers, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. In today’s installment, I interviewed Choncè, the owner of My Debt Epiphany.
Choncé is a personal finance writer, blogger, and 30-something from the Midwest, who’s currently living in Nashville. Over the years, she’s blogged about her journey to pay down her debt and enjoy life to the fullest.
Her debt repayment journey started at the end of 2014. In two years, she paid off over $10,000 on a salary of less than $40,000 yearly. In 2016, Choncé quit her job to be a full-time freelance writer and blogger. She continues to work towards improving her finances and educating others on how to pay off debt, make more money, save more, and invest so they can have more flexible options in life.
What caused you to start My Debt Epiphany?
I wanted to share my story and document my journey to working my way out of debt. I was scared when I graduated from college because I had student loan debt, a car loan, and no job leads. I started reading personal finance blogs for comfort and got slightly obsessed. Being a writer, I decided to share my journey by starting a blog that would allow me to build a community of like-minded people and be accountable.
How long has your site been around?
I started my blog at the end of 2014.
What do you want the goal of My Debt Epiphany to be?
I want this to be a welcoming space where people can learn about money, feel encouraged to join the conversation, and take control of their finances without judgment. My main goal is to equip readers with the knowledge and tools to pay off debt, but I also understand that life doesn’t stop once your debt is gone. That’s why I focus on helping people manage their money in a way that aligns with their goals and values—so they can use money as a tool to build a life they truly enjoy.
I also love writing about side hustles and realistic ways to earn extra income. I’ve always had multiple income streams myself, and I encourage my readers to diversify their income to help them reach financial goals faster. I talk quite a bit about self-employment, freelancing, and how to start and grow a service-based business, because that’s where I’ve found the most success. These income streams played a big role in helping me pay off a significant amount of debt and create more flexibility to save.
I share a lot of personal stories and lessons learned because I’m still on this journey, too. I want readers to feel comfortable commenting, asking questions, and offering feedback—this is a community, and the more we talk openly about money, the more we all learn and grow together.
Do you have a full-time job?
I quit my full-time job in the web design industry in 2016. Since then, I’ve been self-employed, running my blog and providing full-time freelance writing and virtual assistant services to clients. In addition to working on my blog, I love offering content writing and digital marketing services to other entrepreneurs, bloggers, and small business owners as well.
Any advice for people thinking about starting a blog?
If you’re thinking about starting a blog, my biggest piece of advice is to treat it like a business from day one. Yes, it might start as a passion project, but if you approach it strategically—with clear goals, a content plan, and a commitment to consistency—it can become so much more.
Building and growing my blog took a lot of time upfront. There were countless late nights writing posts, learning SEO, figuring out email marketing, and testing different strategies. But honestly? It’s been so worth it. That blog became a platform that helped me pay off debt, share my story, and opened doors I never imagined.
I’ve had the opportunity to be featured on Good Morning America, do radio interviews, and write for major outlets like Good Housekeeping, Buzzfeed, and Citibank—all because of the work I put into building my blog. Even more unexpectedly, it’s become a launchpad for my service-based business. Clients have found me through my blog, and it’s helped me establish authority and trust in my niche without needing to cold pitch constantly.
If you’re serious about blogging, carve out weekly time to create content, engage with your audience, and market what you’ve built. Use social media, Pinterest, email lists—whatever channels align with your audience. And don’t be afraid to pivot. Your blog can evolve into a digital storefront, a place to sell products, offer coaching, or, like I did, showcase your freelance services.
In short, blogging is a long game, but with the right mindset and consistency can lead to amazing personal and professional growth.
How can people get in contact with you?
People can get in touch with me by visiting my site, My Debt Epiphany, or connecting with me on social media. I’m always happy to connect and answer questions when I can!
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If you’re looking to start or grow a service-based business like I have, I recently launched a new newsletter where I share real tips, proven strategies, helpful resources, and encouragement to help you stay motivated, take action to grow your skills, and make more money. It’s a great space for aspiring freelancers, coaches, and service pros who want to build something sustainable. Learn more about the newsletter here.
