I'm 41 and plan to retire at 65. My first step was paying off over $55,000 in credit card debt — here's how I did it.

Michelle Gudiño Prestamo. Courtesy of Michelle Gudiño Prestamo Michelle Gudiño Prestamo, an HR manager, paid off her debt with the help of a company resource. She aims to retire at 65 and pursue her dream of starting a coffee shop, and this was the first step. After clearing her debt and upping her 401(k) contributions, she's now focused on saving money. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michelle Gudiño Prestamo, a 41-year-old human resources manager at a major footwear company in Mississippi. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I'm the distribution center human resources manager at a major footwear company. I started at the company in 2019. Before this job, I worked at a staffing and recruiting firm where I supported footwear and retail brands. I don't want to work until I'm 80 years old.