I had a lot of great feedback on my last blog post talking about a young couple’s financial successes. I love talking about WINS in the areas of finances and savings as there are so many negative stories out there that focus on debt and financial struggle. If you have a financial success story you’d like to share, I encourage you to send it to me! I love hearing good news.
This week’s success story, like many of the situations I come in contact with, is on-going. When Jason realized he needed to make some changes, he was burdened with debt including student loans, credit cards, and a vehicle loan. He had no savings and was living paycheck-to-paycheck and sometimes using credit cards to fill in the gaps.
The first step for Jason was to honestly assess his situation and determine where he could change his expenditures. He made the commitment to live below his means so that he could use the extra funds to set up an emergency fund and pay off debt. As part of that commitment, he set up a spending plan that would work for him.
His first success was getting $1,000 in savings for his emergency fund. Shortly after, Jason’s car needed repairs. Rather than having to rely on credit cards to pay for the repair, Jason used his emergency fund. Of course, he then had to replenish his emergency fund over the next few months. However, that was much better than having to pay finance charges to the credit card company.
After more than four years on the plan, Jason’s vehicle loan is paid off and he has purchased a different vehicle with cash. As of this month, his student loans are paid as well. The credit cards will be paid off in the next few months and soon, he will be able to announce that he is debt-free.
Developing a spending plan that is below your means is always possible—just as Jason! By simply eliminating a few things he didn’t really need and were not vital to his well-being or happiness, he found a way to free up money and put it toward paying down debt. This investment in his future will have a long-lasting effect that is far more impactful than the few luxuries he had to give up to achieve them. You can see the happiness on his face as he poses with his new rescue dog!
If you have a success story or would like to work with me to create a spending plan, please reach out! I’d love to share your story or help you create a story of financial freedom!
Judith Ackland has more than 26 years of experience in accountancy and financial planning, including seventeen years as a CFO of a diverse business. She started Crystal Financial in 2010 to help a wide array of individuals, families, and business owners better understand their finances and how good financial management could help them achieve their goals. Judith has an MA in Professional Accountancy from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln as well as a Certified Public Accountant Certificate and a Certified Financial Planner designation.
