Debt free stories on the net
Do you remember Karyn Bosnak????
Karyn was the young lady who back in 2002 setup a website Save Karyn to help her pay off her debt, and she did!
Originally a television producer, raised in the U.S. state of Illinois, who has lived much of her adult life in the greater New York City area. Up until 2000, she had a relatively high-paying job, and wasn’t really concerned about going into debt to feed her affection for buying designer-label products. However, when she was laid-off, her credit card debt of over $20,000 started looming larger every month she was unable to find steady employment.
While musing over different people’s relative financial wealth, it occurred to her that if a small number of rich people gave her thousands of dollars each, or even if thousands of average people gave her just a single dollar apiece, she could pay off her debts. In either case, the amount given would be relatively insignificant to the donor, but the aggregate would be quite significant to her. So, in the summer of 2002, mostly out of desperation, she registered the Internet domain name savekaryn.com, and launched a site blatantly asking for donations.
An early version of the site began with the plea “WANTED: $20,000. CREDIT CARDS ARE BAD. Hello! My name is Karyn, I’m really nice and I’m asking for your help! You see, I have this huge credit card debt and I need $20,000 to pay it off. So if you have an extra buck or two, please send it my way… Together we can banish credit card debt from my life.” It was an early example of the candid, matter-of-fact way she would continue to write on the site (and the book). It also echoed the initial plea she had made using craigslist.org.
Bosnak was not the first individual to openly solicit voluntary donations via the Internet–documented examples go back at least as far as 1998. However, she was one of the first to have a clearly defined goal (not just “I want money”, but “I want x dollars to pay off my credit card bills”). She was also one of the first to add value to her site, by sharing regular updates as to the progress towards her goal, as well as frequently adding related content.
Bosnak added a number of features to the site, including both ways she was saving money, as well as suggestions of other ways people could save money.
Throughout the summer and latter half of 2002, as word of the site spread, it received ever-growing press coverage, including mentions on CNN, a spot on The Today Show, and articles in various domestic and international newspapers and magazines. The site also attracted numerous Internet detractors and critics, most notably a parody site entitled Don’t Save Karyn.
Many people agree with her contention that her efforts could be more closely compared to a street performer than a panhandler, as her regular candid, and often humorous, writings on her site (continued in her book) provided an entertainment value that was unmatched by other solicitation sites.
Karyn has now written a book about her experience and has also written other books not relating to debt. I did email her to comment, asking if she was back in debt??? But no commento!
I have Googled other sites and there are thousands of eople now with blogs regarding debt, debt is a grwoing issue in most countries and out of all the blogs this one cuaght my eye My Debt Free Goal. Strated by Amy Bass (see above) - a stay at home mother of 3 kids, with baby number 4 due July 7th. She is trying to earn money online and through side jobs to pay off $72,900 worth of debt by April 2009.
Current debt:
Early days yet but i shall follow this blog over the years. Unfortunately, these won’t work like Karyn’s website as it has already been done, it would be the same as me creating a pixel site like Alex Tew has done.
I think people should be more innovative if they are looking to get their debts paid off on the internet, look at something that hasn’t been done before ….