Finance expert who paid off more than $78,000 worth of debt reveals simple 'money rules' that TRANSFORMED her bank account - and helped her to get back in the black

• Charlotte Darr, based in the US, is a money expert who shares tips online
• Most recently, she shared the five tips that helped her pay off $78,511 of debt
• She said that you should avoid credit cards and keep an emergency fund

A money expert has shared the five money rules you should live by to help you become wealthy – including avoiding credit cards and having an emergency fund – after she got rid of $78,511 worth of debt in just a few years.

US-based financial counselor Charlotte Darr focuses on helping others riddled with debt by teaching them how to make the most of their money on her TikTok account, where she boasts more than 45,000 followers.

Recently, Charlotte took to the video-sharing platform to detail the five rules you should never stray from – adding that they will transform your bank account and help you become financially free.

She captioned the viral clip, which has so far amassed more 145,000 views: ‘The top five money rules I live by.’

Charlotte Darr got rid of $78,511 of debt in just a few years by becoming financially literate

She has shared the five money rules you should live by to help you become wealthy – including avoiding credit cards and having an emergency fund

Save your money! The five financial rules you should follow  

• Have an emergency fund
• Budget
• Avoid high-interest credit cards
• Invest
• Have a side hustle to increase your income 

‘The five financial rules I live by as a financial counselor that absolutely changed my financial life when I started living by them, and I wish someone had taught me sooner,’ Charlotte said at the beginning of the clip.

The money expert first explained that you should always keep an emergency fund.

‘It’s not a matter of if a negative financial event is going to happen but it’s a matter of when,’ she explained.

‘It’s so important to make sure that you’re planning for those unexpected expenses, and those emergencies right now, before they happen, so that you pay for them in cash instead of having to put them on your credit card.’

Next, she emphasized the importance of budgeting.

‘Number two, always make a plan for your money (aka budget). I used to hate budgeting but one day I realized that making a budget was basically me telling my money where I wanted it to go and taking back control over what my money was doing,’ the expert said.

Charlotte adds that having a financial plan gives you ‘clarity and insight.’

For her third tip, the money expert touched on the dangers of relying on credit cards as she explained that the high interest debt will leave you struggling.

She added: ‘I was stuck in the credit card debt cycle for so freaking long and now I never want to get back into it because it really kept me tied back to my past financial decisions and really prevented me to work towards my financial future.’

Charlotte noted that to avoid being trapped by credit cards you should start investing as soon as possible.

‘Invest for your financial future. Seriously, start investing as early as possible so that compound interest has more time to work its magic and make your money work harder for you,’ she said.

Lastly, Charlotte said you should always be searching for ways to boost your income through side hustles.

‘A lot times, especially as women, we have just been told to focus on budgeting, couponing, and saving money, but we can only cut back on expenses up to a certain point,’ she said.

‘But there is no limit on how much you can increase your income. I used to be a music teacher and I didn’t make a lot of money, but my side hustles made it possible to make my financial goals a reality.’

Viewers flooded the comments section and praised Charlotte for her advice.

One person said: ‘Thank you for sharing.’

Someone else wrote: ‘Such great advice.’

‘Great info!’ another user added.

A fourth comment read: ‘This is fantastic! Thank you!’

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