Florida Physician Assistant Paid Off $150,000 Student Debt in 16 Months

Arden Missal, a physician assistant in Florida, finished PA school in 2022 with more than $150,000 in student loans. After taxes, the amount equaled roughly two years of her take-home pay. Missal rejected the common advice to make minimum payments and invest the rest.

She calculated that following that path would leave her with a negative net worth for five years despite a six-figure income. She began a repayment plan in September 2022 and finished paying the full balance in December 2023.

Missal stopped paying for haircuts, switched from daily contact lenses to glasses, and eliminated vacations for 18 months. She limited discretionary spending to 3 percent of her take-home pay. Each reduction shortened her projected payoff date and encouraged further cuts.

At peak intensity, Missal held three clinical positions and one teaching role. Her base schedule was about 60 hours per week, with additional shifts bringing the total to 80-90 hours. She combined hospital work, virtual ketamine-clinic shifts, and outpatient telehealth appointments, sometimes pet-sitting during remote sessions.

Managerial changes at one job and reductions in overtime and bonuses pushed the timeline back several times. Missal said the visible decline in the loan balance kept her motivated. She sent the final payment in December 2023. After clearing the debt, she took a year off work, started the blog She's Financially Free, and later had a child while remaining debt-free.