Soul Peak

Five years ago, we popped the champagne bottle and screamed, “We’re debt-free!”

That moment on July 28, 2020, marked a huge turning point— and here is a tiny snippet on what life looks like five years after paying off debt.

Our First Apartment & New City

At the time, My husband and I were renting a room with friends and had been married for almost a year. A couple months later, we moved into our own studio apartment near LA and lived there for 3 years. It was such a sweet time where we were officially “on our own”, made new friends, explored new places, and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of living in the city.

Career Changes & God’s Provision

I also got a new job– or just a job in general😅 (I was unemployed for a year!). Since 2020, I’ve had two different jobs– and 3, if you count the part time school aide job I had for a couple of months. It was rough trying to find a good-paying school job during those early pandemic years, but God ALWAYS provided, and my cup overflowed. It still does. I now have a job that I absolutely love everything about. Thanks be to God! That season taught me that my identity does not come from “what I do” but “who I am”– specifically who God says I am. This season also allowed God to show up in ways I couldn’t have even imagined and taught me how to trust & rest in Him.

Still working the Baby Steps

My husband and I are still working through the Baby Steps. I’ll admit, we lost a bit of momentum along the way, but we’re picking things back up. We’re giving, investing and saving a good chunk of our income– and it feels so good to pay cash for things and experience real financial peace.

Travel

Since becoming debt-free, we’ve also traveled a lot. We’ve been to Cancun, Hawaii, Paris, Amsterdam, Brooklyn, Cabo, and Mazatlán. We even took a train all the way from LA to San Francisco, making stops along the way.

Generosity Goals

And we’ve had fun giving. We gifted a few hundred dollars and a used car to my brother when he graduated high school, paid for my father- in- law’s plane ticket to Hawaii and we were able to support our family financially when there was a job loss. It’s a blessing to be in a position to do these things. These are the days I dreamed about when we were working our way out of debt. They were a huge motivator.

Back to the I.E

In 2024, we moved back to the Inland Empire– we had outgrown our apartment and found a home to rent that was in our price range and had all of the things we wanted. We love it here and appreciate being closer to family, though we do miss living in LA sometimes.

Looking Ahead

I’m so grateful for the last five years and everything God has done. And now, I’m excited and expectant for what’s to come in the next five. To be honest, I’m not completely sure where I want to be in the next 5 years but I do know that I would like to start a family, a business, and possibly go back to school for my masters degree. I want to continue giving, saving, investing and one thing’s certain, to never be a slave to debt again. 

If you’re in the middle of your own debt-free journey know that freedom is possible. Keep your “Why” at the forefront of your mind. Keep going. These are the days you’re working toward—and they’re worth every sacrifice. 

If you are interested in working with a financial coach to help you reach your money goals, I would love to offer you a complimentary consultation. We will dive into your goals, identify challenges, and explore how coaching can help you build a stronger money plan. Just click on the coaching tab to get started!😃 Take a step of action that your future self will thank you for.✨

Again,

Thanks so much for reading fam🤍