$91K credit card debt racked up by shopaholic Zee Gustafson; minamalist rv trip changed her view of money
Spending became a problem
Gustafson, 37, works as a freelance celebrity hair and makeup stylist and creates social media content. She and her husband earn around $400,000 a year, but at her highest spending point she says she spent an average of $14,000 monthly on items she did not need.
After moving to Bend during the pandemic, the couple missed their support system and work connections. Gustafson says she was also dealing with postpartum sadness and turned to shopping rather than seeking help. She accumulated about 85 designer bags, including a $12,000 Hermès bag, along with clothes and other purchases.
A move and an RV trip
In December 2024, Gustafson told her husband they needed to leave Bend. They returned to Chicago in April 2025, and that summer took a monthlong RV trip that included Bend, Sun Valley, Idaho, and the drive to Chicago.
The RV’s limited space meant packing clothes for different climates and activities, planning meals around a small refrigerator, and tracking costs for gas, lodging, and activities. Gustafson says budgeting closely showed her she could handle money when she stopped treating it as frightening or shameful. She enjoyed living with far less than she owned.
Decluttering changed her habits
Back home, Gustafson began clearing out the closet she had built in her sunroom. She worked in small sections and considered why she had bought each item, letting go of things she did not use or had purchased to impress others.
Selling belongings sometimes brought in about $1,000 at a time. Gustafson says the more important change was seeing her closet shrink without feeling upset, while knowing the items had gone to new owners who valued them.
Paying down debt and saving
As of August 2026, the couple had about $91,000 in credit card debt, despite their income. Gustafson began using a spreadsheet to track repayment and is targeting cards with the highest interest rates first.
She set a six-month emergency-fund goal of about $118,000 and is using a high-yield savings account. She had roughly $10,000 saved when she started and hopes to fully fund it in about 18 months. She now distinguishes enjoying a purchase from treating it as an investment, and is building security for expenses in the next three to five years.
Key points
- Gustafson says she once spent an average of $14,000 a month on material goods.
- The couple moved from Bend back to Chicago in April 2025.
- A monthlong RV trip prompted Gustafson to budget closely and live with fewer belongings.
- She is paying down high-interest credit cards and aims to save about $118,000 for emergencies.