Secret Story

Squeezing myself into a pair of blue denim jeans, I was thrilled when they fit me like a glove.

‘They look amazing on you,’ the shop assistant smiled.

I knew she’d probably say the same if I’d tried on a potato sack, but I didn’t care. I did look good!

At $200 they were expensive, but they’d been marked down from $350.

Making my way to the register, I could already feel the rush that spending money gave me.

I was the first to admit I had a shopping addiction, but I believed life was too short to wear boring clothes.

After handing over my credit card though, the shop assistant whispered something that stopped me in my tracks.

‘It was declined,’ she said. That can’t be right,

I thought, mortified.

I had a limit of $3000 on my card and there was no way I’d spent that much on clothes.

Had I?

Fumbling around in my bag for my purse, I could feel my cheeks going red.

Thankfully, I had just enough cash to cover them, which I reluctantly paid to the cashier before rushing out of the store.

Back in my car, my head began to swim.

I had no savings to pay back the debt and no-one to help me.

Heading back home, I stopped at a set of traffic lights when I noticed a window washer up ahead.

I’d always found them a bit inconvenient, but now washing windscreens didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

There was no way I could pay back my debt on my office job salary.

Though I knew car washing wasn’t glamorous work, I figured I’d only have to do it for a few weeks to make up the shortfall.

So, the following day, armed with a bucket, sponge and squeegee – and a large hat to hide my face, I headed to a busy city intersection.

I was working harder and faster than I ever had before, but I soon realised that working in a wealthier suburb meant the people driving through gave huge tips.

One man in a BMW even gave me 20 bucks.

Incredibly, in just one week of part-time work I’d earned a whopping $340.

I’ll have that card paid off in a few months, I beamed.

Then, the following week, I’d just finished wiping the suds off a Mercedes Benz when I noticed the driver of the car behind staring at me.

Shocked, I realised it was my best friend, Suzie!

She’d always lived a comfortable life and she’d be mortified if she knew what I was doing.

Thankfully, just seconds later, the light turned green and she took off. I hoped she hadn’t recognised me.

That night, she called to tell me all about my long-lost twin she had seen cleaning cars just hours earlier.

‘Can you imagine?’ I scoffed.

Incredibly, within two months I’d managed to tuck away just enough to pay off my debt, before cancelling the card altogether.

Now, three years on, I’m proud to say I’ve never touched a credit card again.

Though I’ve never told another soul about my stint as a car washer, I always make sure to tip them generously whenever I pass one working hard.

Better still, now when I buy a new outfit, I treasure it even more knowing just how hard I’ve worked to earn it. I never thought I’d be able to spend with a clean conscience.

Bree, 24, found a clever way to wash her hands of her growing debt

I had no savings to pay back the debt and no-one to help me