The Schrute Buck – Still Motivating

Why We Built Dealing With Debt (And How Schrute Bucks Became Part of the Story)

Dealing With Debt was born from one simple belief: we’re failing to teach our youth the life skills they need most—especially when it comes to managing money.

I started this company with a clear purpose: to help people. Financial education, once a cornerstone of preparing young adults for the real world, has all but disappeared from our schools. And without those basics, we’re sending people into adulthood unequipped to navigate one of life’s biggest stressors: money.

My vision is a society where financial stability is the norm, not the exception. But I knew that vision would take more than passion. It would take a village—a group of people aligned around one ideal: that financial education should be accessible, practical, and free of shame.

I also believed this couldn’t just be my company. It had to be ours. Everyone involved needed skin in the game. Ownership. Voice. Belonging.

And honestly? Some of the most impactful ideas came from the people closest to me.

The Name, The Vision, and a Really Smart Daughter

The name Dealing With Debt came from our founding secretary. But the platform’s heart—its social, interactive engine—came from my daughter.

She said, “If you want people to actually learn, you have to meet them where they already are—on social media. But you can’t just teach. You’ve got to give them a reason to stick around.”

So we built a system that rewards engagement with points for learning, participating, and sharing knowledge. At first, I called them “coins.”

Then one of our contributors took one look and asked:

“How many coins equal a Schrute Buck?”

Now, I’ll admit—I had to Google that. Turns out, it’s a reference to The Office, where the character Dwight Schrute hands out “Schrute Bucks” as motivational currency. That one moment sparked something: what if we actually leaned into it?

And just like that, our platform’s motivational rewards became Schrute Bucks—a playful, memorable way to reward users for learning and growth. And more importantly, it gave our contributor a lasting stamp on the company. A share of the culture.

And Then… the Universe Stepped In

Here’s the wild part: just a few days after that moment, I found out that Rainn Wilson—the actor who played Dwight Schrute—was speaking at an event near my home.

So last Thursday, I went.  I met Rainn Wilson in person.  I told him about the company, our mission, and how his fictional motivational currency is now fueling a real-world platform built to do good.

Even better? I got to share that moment with my daughter, who helped shape the vision from day one.

We snapped a photo together. We laughed. And I walked away feeling something I believe with my whole heart:

When your goals and intentions are pure, the universe will deliver wonderful gifts.

So thank you, Rainn Wilson—for the Schrute Bucks.
Thank you to our contributor—for your sense of humor and your spark.
And thank you to my daughter—for the idea that made this platform more than a company.

We’re building something that’s never existed before:
The largest social media platform for social good the world has ever seen.

Let’s go. 🙌

At Dealing With Debt, we reduce financial stress, build confidence, and create a more stable future—one budget, one conversation, and one Schrute Buck at a time.