Milwaukee couple Mariza and Geffrey Gordon joined CNN's Savings Challenge while living paycheck to paycheck and carrying nearly $40,000 in credit card debt, much of it accumulated for their wedding last year. Financial educator Tiffany Aliche advised them to focus on reducing the pressure of their debt while also building wealth through budgeting, long-term planning and possible debt consolidation. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling outlined a five-year repayment plan requiring $900 monthly payments, compared with the couple's current minimum payments of about $1,400, but the plan would bar them from using revolving credit. The couple said they preferred to preserve access to credit and are working to improve their scores so they can qualify for a balance transfer card or lower-rate loan.