I'm 41 and plan to retire at 65. My first step was paying off over $55,000 in credit card debt — here's how I did it.

I'm 41 and plan to retire at 65. My first step was paying off over $55,000 in credit card debt — here's how I did it. Michelle Gudiño Prestamo. Courtesy of Michelle Gudiño Prestamo This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michelle Gudiño Prestamo, a 41-year-old human resources manager at a major footwear company in Mississippi. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I'm the distribution center human resources manager at a major footwear company. I started at the company in 2019. Before this job, I worked at a staffing and recruiting firm where I supported footwear and retail brands.I don't want to work until I'm 80 years old. I'd like to retire around 65 and open a coffee shop because I have such a passion for it. Here's my plan to make that happen.I was born in VenezuelaI came to the United States in 2009 on a cultural exchange program as an au pair. I lived with an American family in Germantown, Tennessee, for almost two years. I worked full-time as an au pair and studied English and human resources management.I met my husband in 2010, and we got married in 2013. I became a US citizen in 2019. The US is a place where you have a lot of opportunities, avenues, and ways to access a home and a car. There's a lot of financial temptation.Some people have a problem with alcohol, some with gaming. I had a problem with spending. My way of demonstrating love was by spending on gifts for family members and on souvenirs while on vacation.At its highest, I had over $55,000 in credit card debtAt one point, I had 10 credit cards. I tried to pay off my debt on my own, but I realized I needed some help. Through my company's employee assistance program, I learned about resources available to me. Money Management International was one of the options.Before I got help, my debt was not coming down; it was increasing because of credit card interest. With some help, I was able to redefine my budget and get out of the paycheck to paycheck cycle.My monthly payment during the three-year program was $1,077. Some months, I paid more than the monthly payments with bonuses I received at work. This April, I finally finished paying off my credit card debt.My husband and I also have a mortgageMy husband owns a restaurant. He makes the mortgage payments with his restaurant income. My credit card debt was fully mine, as we don't share finances. My parents also live with us, and we have a son who will be 6 in December.After renting for a while, I told my husband we should buy a place to live. We applied for a mortgage, were approved, and moved to Olive Branch, Mississippi, a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, in 2018. The house is a few minutes from work. We're now building equity in our home.I have a retirement account that my company matches up to 6% of my salaryUntil April, I had been saving 2% of my salary in the company 401(k) plan, but I increased it to the maximum matched amount of 6% after I paid off my credit card debt. I may increase it more in the months ahead. I establish goals for myself all the time.My next goal is to keep one month's salary in a separate "buffer" checking account and not use it. Ideally, I will have two months' salary in the account. I plan to use future bonuses to create this emergency fund. Because of my debt, I haven't been able to establish an emergency fund yet.I eventually want to save six months' salary in my account with a local credit union. I need to start slow. I also set up a separate account for my son with the credit union.You have to have a goalI use vision boards for personal goals and professional goals. You have to be consistent and have a clear goal of what you want. I learn from my failures and my mistakes.Right now, my goal is to build and maintain good money habits. I use an app to keep track of everything I spend, I have fewer credit cards, and I pay off the balance each month. Sometimes I'm scared. That fear pushes me to work harder toward my goals and to adjust them as needed.I've been working at this company for seven years. I don't want to get back into debt again. I'm not getting any younger. I like my job, with its responsibilities, salary, and benefits, but I'm looking forward to retirement. Read next as told to