Hey everyone, welcome back to Seattle by the Mile. Signing up to drive for Uber and uber Eats is about more than just navigating Seattle’s streets. It’s part of a mission. A very personal, very challenging mission driven by a rather daunting number: $80,000.
Staring Down the Mountain: The Weight of Student Debt
Eighty. Thousand. Dollars. That’s the amount of student loan debt I’m currently carrying, living here in Seattle in 2025. It’s a figure that honestly feels overwhelming most days. It’s not just a number on a screen; it’s a constant background hum of anxiety. There’s the fear of defaulting, the worry about the IRS eventually getting involved, and the simple, heavy feeling of not wanting to carry this burden for the rest of my life.
As many of you know, I work full-time as a Funeral Director. It’s demanding, meaningful work, but it also means my time is valuable. Taking on more work wasn’t a decision I made lightly. It came from a place of needing to take drastic action against this debt.
Finding a Battle Plan: Enter Dave Ramsey (Sort Of)
So, how do you even begin to tackle a number that big? Like countless others wanting to escape debt, I found myself looking into the strategies of Dave Ramsey. Now, let me be clear: my feelings about Dave Ramsey the personality are… complicated. It’s kind of like how I feel about JK Rowling – I absolutely love Harry Potter, but I have major disagreements with the creator. Similarly, while I don’t always align with Dave personally, I have to admit, his plan for getting out of debt has a solid track record.
So, I’m adopting parts of his playbook:
- “Gazelle Intensity”: This is the core idea. It means working with intense focus, like a gazelle sprinting from a cheetah. For me, that translates to driving for Uber and Uber Eats during evenings and weekends – basically, any time I’m not at my day job. We’re talking potentially pushing towards those 80+ hour work weeks combined.
- The Baby Steps: Specifically, I’m starting with Baby Step 1: Save a $1,000 starter emergency fund. Every penny from Uber is going straight there until it’s full.
- The Debt Snowball: Immediately after hitting Baby Step 1, all that extra income from driving will be thrown relentlessly at my smallest student loan, then the next smallest, and so on. This is Baby Step 2.
Ramsey famously talks about living on “beans and rice, rice and beans” while doing this. Is that actually feasible, especially in a city like Seattle? Honestly, I have my doubts, but the principle is about radical sacrifice and focusing all available resources on the debt.
The Real Cost: More Than Just Time and Money
Working potentially 80+ hours a week sounds exhausting, and it will be. But the hardest sacrifice, the one that genuinely makes my heart ache, isn’t the lost sleep or the skipped luxuries. It’s the lost time with my friends.
Back in the thick of the pandemic in 2020, I found an incredible group of friends playing Destiny 2, which Bungie is in Seattle!, initially on Google Stadia (RIP!). When Google pulled the plug, we all migrated over to Xbox specifically so we could keep that connection alive. That online space, battling digital aliens together, became my primary social outlet, my stress relief, my community. Fitting in dozens of extra driving hours means drastically cutting back on that. That camaraderie, that shared history forged during a weird time in the world – that’s the biggest sacrifice this debt-free journey demands.
The Journey Ahead on Seattle by the Mile
So, why am I sharing all this? Because this journey is now part of the Seattlebythemile story. Alongside exploring the hidden gems and known landmarks of this city, I’ll be documenting the reality of this debt-crushing mission. Expect updates on:
- The real experience of driving for Uber and Uber Eats in Seattle.
- How the “Gazelle Intensity” feels day-to-day.
- Progress on the Baby Steps and the debt snowball (the wins!).
- The challenges and struggles along the way (keeping it real!).
- Like Uber’s Customer Support!
Join the Conversation
I know I’m not alone in facing down large debts or using side hustles to make ends meet. Are you on a similar path? Maybe you’re driving gig work here in Seattle too? Perhaps you’ve tried the Dave Ramsey method or have your own debt-attack strategies?
Please share your thoughts, experiences, and any tips you have in the comments below. Knowing others are out there makes this mountain feel a little less insurmountable.
Keep your coffee hot and your rides smooth! See you next mile!
