How Suzanne Cohen Is Paying Off Debt and Finding Peace After Loss

“If you’re having a bad month, it’s okay—just keep moving forward.”

Who Is Suzanne?

Suzanne Cohen is a dedicated grandmother, animal lover, and mobile veterinary worker based in the U.S. She works at Vetco, a mobile clinic that provides vaccinations for cats and dogs—a role that combines her compassion for animals with her background in service.

Suzanne is a proud grandmother to 14 grandchildren and helps care for two of them regularly. In her free time, she loves fishing with her family, a peaceful tradition that grounds her through life’s toughest moments.

She’s also recently widowed—her husband passed away in June 2024 after a terminal cancer diagnosis in the early days of the pandemic.

What Sparked the Shift?

After her husband’s diagnosis in April 2020, Suzanne and her husband began working together to repair their credit. That journey took on new urgency after his passing, as she began facing the emotional and financial weight of medical bills, loss, and the future on her own.

Her short-term goal was powerful and symbolic: pay off all remaining bills by June 2025, the one-year anniversary of his passing.

Now, she’s focused on eliminating credit card debt, reducing financial stress, and building an emergency fund—what she calls her “death account”—to prepare for future end-of-life expenses.

Suzanne’s Big Wins

Since joining Debbie in 2024, Suzanne has made remarkable progress. She’s tackling debt with intention, staying calm even when goals aren’t perfectly met, and building a strong financial foundation in the face of profound change.

Debbie’s non-judgmental tone and encouraging structure stood out to her immediately.

“I liked that I wouldn’t feel punished if I didn’t hit my goals one month,” she said. “That matters when you’re grieving—and still trying.”

She particularly values Debbie’s Pathway learning system, rewards, and the community that reminds her she’s not doing this alone.

How Did She Find Debbie?

Initially skeptical, Suzanne saw a Facebook ad for Debbie and clicked through to read reviews. What she found convinced her to try it—and now she’s one of its biggest advocates.

“It’s helped me feel less overwhelmed,” she said. “And I tell everyone: even if you only invest $50 in yourself, that’s a start.”

With an accounting degree and a history in banking and sales, Suzanne understands the technical side of money. But Debbie helped her bridge that knowledge with a mindset shift—one that makes space for grace, healing, and slow, steady progress.

Takeaways

Suzanne’s advice to others is simple but powerful: take your time, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to start over.

She emphasizes the need for early financial education, especially in high schools, and warns against payday loans and predatory credit offers.

For Suzanne, recovery isn’t just financial—it’s emotional. And every bill she pays off is a step toward peace, healing, and the legacy she wants to leave for her grandchildren.

‍