I was drowning in student-loan debt, so I bought a house and flipped it. I used the profit to pay off my loans.

• When I graduated from college, I became a teacher with $20,000 in student-loan debt. 
• Since I couldn't pay down my debt, I bought a house, flipped it, and then sold it.
• I used the money I made to pay off all of my student loans, and now I feel free.

Growing up in a family of 11, we had to watch our pennies. Being raised in these circumstances always made me appreciate the value of a dollar.

When I had to decide which college to attend to earn my bachelor's degree in education, I looked at everything based on dollars and cents. So, I did the sensible thing and attended a community college for my associate's degree first.