A little more about me

I want you to know a little more about me so I'm more real to you.

I'm a pretty relatable person. My closest friends will tell you I care a lot about people. It's why I went into psychology and social services at the beginning of my working career. Unfortunately, I got burnt out and had to learn how to care in other ways. I entered the corporate world and started caring about people the same way I did in social services, only this time, I could have a direct impact on their money.

I've learned a few things in my 38 years. Though few of those things were actually taught to me from someone else or in school. I had to experience things to helped me learn. Here are several vulnerable yet relatable facts...here we go.

• I was accepted into a free college and could have had a 4-year degree without a lick of debt.

• But instead, I transferred to a private Christian university in a different state and went into MASSIVE student loan debt all under the assumption I'd graduate, get a great job and pay off my loans in no time. (And by massive debt I mean I graduated with $140,000 for an undergraduate degree!!!)

• I got married young in college which actually helped me get more pell grants, but we went into deeper debt taking out more student loans to live off of.

• I couldn't find a job after college that paid more than minimum wage.

• My husband and I bought a HUD home during the market crash in 2008-2009. We received $8,000 as first-time home buyers and I have no idea where that money went.

• We sold our home in 2013 in Denver, Colorado to move to Lincoln, Nebraska.

• We cashed out my husband's 401k at the same time.

• We used the proceeds from our home and his 401k to pay off debt. If my numbers are correct, it was close to $25,000 in debt alone. That's one car, 3 or 4 credit cards, personal loans, and moving expenses. I think in total we had about $40-$45k to play with.

• I paid off two credit cards in one day totaling $9,500. I still have the pieces of the cards I cut up when I closed the accounts.

• I went back to school in 2016 to get a master's degree. The company I was working for paid more than two thirds of the cost. No more debt was accumulated for this degree.

• Then I got fired because my ultra-religious company said, "God told them it was time to move me on." I think God forgot to tell me....

• I got a job in the corporate world, where I'm still at, and am getting paid more than twice what I was paid in social services and had two degrees for!

• My husband and I adopted two kids.

• I got a divorce.

• I figured out a budget to live off of on my own.

• I bought a house.

• I eventually bought a car under my name.

• I increased my credit by 250 points.

• I am managing my student loan debt (remember, managing debt is a part of this journey!)

• I'm paying off the final $13,000 of my car loan in one year.

• I was approved for a HELOC loan because my house had so much equity in two years.

• I was approved to buy a rental property (still looking!) to start my rental journey.

• I live below my means, continue to receive a consistent salary, earn bonuses and most of all, REALLY enjoy my job.

• I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I believe he gives each of us talents that we are supposed to use to help others...mine happens to be this.