Finding My Freedom
- Megan Schmitke
- Nov 8, 2017
- 2 min read
What does Freedom mean to you? I know, it sounds like some type of writing prompt from your senior English class, but just bear with me for a moment. What does a life of total freedom look like to you?
I don't know about you, but when I hear the word freedom, I see myself running barefoot around on a beach somewhere, hands up in the air, and dancing to my own beat. Anyone else??
But I also imagine a life that's maybe a little simpler than that. A life where I can be at home with my future children, watching them grow up before my eyes. A life where we can travel every year, so we can explore and experience what the world has to offer. A life where we can give away what we've earned to help meet the needs of others.
I started thinking more about what I needed to DO to achieve this future that I wanted. That's when I discovered the #1 "problem" standing in my way:
Money.
How can I expect to stay home to raise my children, travel the world every chance we get, and STILL donate to the causes I support? It just isn't possible.
When I made that realization, we were $22,000 in debt. Sure, we both had good jobs, but all our money was going towards an overpriced apartment and paying off debt.
That's when I realized that it just isn't possible right NOW. With a little planning, I WILL make that dream my reality.
We started following the financial principals of Dave Ramsey - learning about his "Baby Steps" and implementing them as we went. Not even 2 years later, we had fully paid off our debts AND fully paid for 2 vacations (Hawaii and Mexico - believe me, I was dancing on the beaches!).
I'll be the first to tell you that being debt free feels AMAZING! And being able to go on vacation without having to worry about paying for it later? Even BETTER!
I don't say this in a boastful way, but to show you what is possible. We were tired of being a part of the 44 million Americans that have student loan debt, and a part of the 157 million with credit card debt. We were tired of being "normal."
We made the decision to change our financial situation, and we worked to make it happen. So why not you?
So let me ask you again, what does freedom mean to you? And what are you going to do to achieve it?
Debt Statistics were found here. Check it out. It's shocking.
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