Digging their way out

They're a year older, mostly wiser and slightly less poor.

By Kara McGuire, Star Tribune

Last update: September 8, 2007 - 8:37 PM

It's been almost a year since three Twin Cities families in debt opened their homes and balance sheets to Star Tribune readers.

Holly Lesmeister, despite $64,000 in credit card and student loan debt, was spending her free time enjoying food and wine at the city's hottest restaurants and scouring store racks for her favorite designers.

Single mom Malinda Erickson was struggling with her tendency to blow her budget when she's down, leaving discount stores with a cart full of goods when she only needed a few groceries.

And Graham and Tracy Benson, with their seventh child on the way, could barely pay their $32,000 in credit card bills on top of medical bills, a home equity loan, and feeding their family.

All knew a change was in order.

The Star Tribune fixed up each family with a financial adviser. Today, they're all tackling their debt head on. They've managed to pay down some debt and increase incomes. But, as Tracy Benson puts it: "It was much more fun -- and faster -- getting in debt that getting out."

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