Friends That Invest How to Get Out of Debt & Start Investing | Soph (The Curve)
Apr 6, 2026
A candid money story about climbing out of massive debt and building investments. Practical first steps for tackling high-interest loans and creating emergency cash. Honest talk on overcoming shame, taking imperfect action, and using small wins to change habits. A mix of steady ETFs and occasional single-stock excitement to keep investing engaging.
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Childhood Theft Shaped Desire For More
- Soph's earliest money memory was stealing a snow globe at age five and being forced to return it and apologise.
- That incident and later small thefts reflected a childhood desire for things she couldn't afford and set an early emotional pattern around wanting more.
How A 20k Card Became A $50k Problem
- Soph went into roughly $50,000 of debt across credit cards, personal loans and student loan after moving, the Christchurch earthquake, and lifestyle spending.
- She spent a £20,000-limit card nearly in ten days at 18–19, illustrating how easy access plus limited financial literacy accelerated her debts.
Five Years To Turn Debt Into Assets
- Progress can be slow; Soph took about five years to move from heavy debt to being debt-free with investments and property.
- Incremental wins (emergency fund, stock market balance, two properties) compound into long-term financial turnaround.
