Quick story: I’ve been given more Christmas gifts over the years than I should have ever been blessed with, but I will never take it for granted. Many of those gifts, I can’t tell you what they were or what year I received them. But I do remember one year in my early 20s, my older sister gifted me Total Money Makeover. It sat on my bookshelf and collected dust for a couple of years. Little did I realize that Christmas Day I received the greatest gift I’ve ever received. And that’s no disrespect to all the others I received, but this one has gone on to teach me how to be financially responsible, how to not fall into the FICA scheme, how to invest, and how to change not only my family’s future, but to be a beacon of light for all those around me who value my advice.
I took a chance and surrendered myself to Dave’s written plan in 2016. In 2017, I paid off my student loans and my auto loan. I had two sets of student loans taken out in 2009 and 2014 that totaled nearly $30,000. An auto loan in 2011 was another nearly $25,000 mistake. All told, I now have 10 closed accounts. Five were student loans, one an auto loan, and the other four were store credit cards. There was a lot of stupid in there. I owned my mistakes and I paid them off. I didn’t want one penny from the government and I still don’t. All I want is for them to stay out of my life! Now I’m living debt free and have been for going on four years!
I’m saving up to pay for a home with cash because I refuse to ever pay another dime of interest to a bank and allow them to profit off of my blood, sweat, and tears. Everything they stand for is nearly every reason why almost 80 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. But you have the power to take control of your life. In order to do that, you need to take control of your money. Control your emotions and you can control your money. Learn how to budget and follow the seven baby steps. I wouldn’t endorse these things if they didn’t work. They work! I’m living proof, and you can be too!
Dream It! Believe It! Work For It! Live It!