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before you get started…
Hey, I’m Jess! Let me introduce myself and tell you a little bit about how I became a personal finance educator. Prior to 2018 I had little to no experience with how to manage personal finances properly. In January 2018 my husband, Ryan, and I were staring at over $30K in debt, no retirement plan, living paycheck to paycheck, with only a small hunk of savings, and a mountain of financial stress.
Can you relate?
At that point in time we realized we were living behind a facade, even to ourselves. We knew something had to change. We began walking through Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps and I continued to soak up more and more knowledge about personal finances stewardship. A little over a year into our debt pay off journey, we had paid off over half our debt, and we were called to lead a Financial Peace University Class at our church. Through coordinating the class I discovered my passion for helping others to dig themselves out of the financial trenches and experience freedom.
I knew I couldn’t just stop there so I started this blog as a way to share all the knowledge and personal experience I’ve gained through our financial journey.
I know what you’re thinking…I’m glad you’ve got this under control now, but where do I even start???
Don’t worry friend, I’ve got your back.
Create a Budget
Before you can start paying off debt or chucking away savings, you have to know you’re going to be able to pay all the bills and still have money to meet your financial goals. You have to start living on a budget. It’s not meant to constrain you, but to give you freedom to spend and save money in the way you have chosen. The key is making these decisions ahead of time so you have a plan for your money before it even comes in. This means creating a new budget every month.
To begin, read my blog post How to Create a Budget in 7 Easy Steps. And while you’re at it, make sure you have a general understanding of The Zero Based Budget Method.
Begin the Baby Steps
If you want to take the same financial journey that has worked for me and my family, read Why We Follow Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. And to get started walking through the Baby Steps, I highly recommend reading Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover (Affiliate Link, please read disclaimer)
Start Paying Off Debt
The step you’ve been waiting for….how to get rid of all that debt. This will by far be the hardest part of your journey to financial freedom. But, finishing this step will be so worth it. To start attacking your debt with focus, sign up to receive my FREE guide, 8 Simple Steps to Pay Off Debt.
Read These Popular Posts
As you begin to take control of your finances and move towards financial freedom, it’s highly important to soak up as much knowledge and motivation as you can. During our debt pay off season I stayed focused by learning as much as I could and now I’m here to share everything with you. Here are some popular blog posts you might be interested in: