I was a Navy veteran working in debt collections—helping others manage their debt while secretly drowning in my own. My wife and I were living in a termite-infested house with high utility bills and endless stress. It sucked because I felt trapped, ashamed of my finances, and frustrated that I was supposed to know better. Every paycheck disappeared before it hit the bank. I was tired of surviving instead of living. But then I realized the real problem wasn't how much I made—it was how I managed what I had. Once I built a plan and followed the Debt Snowball System, everything began to shift. This led me to become debt-free, live in a brand-new home, and now teach others as the Credit Avenger, the same system that saved me. Want to know more? Comment YES, and I'll send you the details.

I wasn’t always the Credit Avenger. In fact, my whole philosophy was born the day I realized I wasn’t working for myself anymore—I was working as a slave for a credit card company. Back in my days in the US Navy, one of my first credit cards was a MasterCard. I used it for everything and thought I was being “responsible” because I kept my spending under $1,000 a month and paid it off. Every time I did that, the company rewarded me with a higher credit limit. $2K… $5K… $7,500… eventually $10,000. I was 25. I wasn’t taught about money. I trusted the system. And like most people do, I fell into the trap. Slowly, little by little, I maxed out that $10,000 limit. And for the first time ever, I stopped and looked at the finance charges. $600. In one month. Just in interest. That’s when the truth hit me like a lightning bolt: I wasn’t paying off debt. I wasn’t building anything. I was working for them. My paycheck wasn’t mine anymore—it belonged to MasterCard. That Day I Realized I Was a Slave to the Credit Companies. That was the moment everything changed. That’s the moment The Credit Avenger was born. Because the game is rigged. Because nobody is teaching us this stuff. Because if you don’t control your money, someone else will—and they will happily keep you on the hamster wheel for decades. I share this because so many of you are living this exact story right now. And I’m here to help you break the chains faster than I did. If any part of this hit home, drop a comment. Tell me where you are in your journey. We’re going to get out of this together. Credit Avenger Out.

G'morning, Avengers! John asked me if I'd share my getting out of debt story, and I figured sharing my Notebook LM video (7.5 min) share would do far more justice than writing it. The video was created from my free eBook which is titled The 3 Shifts Every 9-to-5er Needs - To Work by Choice, Not Obligation. Will you let everyone know what resonated most with you? https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/d2cd9163-748e-4f7a-a2fe-d6005b8d4fef?artifactId=9c4919de-0184-477e-bd89-e99ece9533bb 🫶 Natalie P.S. I wish I had done this years before letting it get to this point, but we live, learn, and course correct :)

John M. Pogue | U.S. Navy Veteran | Credit Avenger Founder When John married his wife, he moved into her older home — one that hadn’t been properly maintained for years. It wasn’t long before the problems became clear: high utility bills, termite infestations, and even a snake in the kitchen. At the time, John was facing his own financial challenges. “Even debt collectors have debt,” he admits. But instead of staying stuck, he took his own advice — working with a debt settlement company, rebuilding his credit, and preparing for something better. Once his finances were back in shape, John used his VA loan benefits — no money down, no mortgage insurance — to buy a brand-new home. “My wife had never had anything new in her life. Seeing her walk into that new home for the first time was one of the proudest moments of my life.” What started as a struggle became a symbol of hope — proof that anyone can rebuild, recover, and rise again.

Veteran | Texas | Credit Avenger Success Story When my neighbor — a fellow veteran — was given just three months to move out after leaving the military, he felt stuck. Between supporting his girlfriend, caring for their little dog Toto, and juggling three car loans for vehicles he planned to restore, his credit and cash flow were completely tied up. After a one-on-one strategy session, I showed him how to simplify his finances, shared an online auction site to sell his cars, and provided my Debt Reduction Worksheet to build his new financial plan. Now, he’s taking control — paying off debt, rebuilding his credit, and preparing for his next chapter with confidence. “John helped me see what I couldn’t: that letting go of what was holding me back was the key to moving forward.”