It’s time to update my story!

After more than a decade of being debt-free, our focus has shifted to building wealth and securing a strong financial future. It wasn’t an easy road—we paid off $80,000 in debt in just three years, and as of 2024, the only debt we carry is our mortgage. Along the way, life has thrown its share of challenges: job changes, health scares, and the need to completely deplete our fully-funded emergency fund. Let me tell you, draining that fund to $0 and then building it back up again is no small feat—it takes grit, determination, and a lot of faith!

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of mentoring couples on their journey to becoming debt-free. We’ve also worked with premarital couples, teaching them the lessons we wish we’d known when we got married 30 years ago. After stepping away from this blog for nearly a decade, I’m back to share the next chapter of our story: Life After Debt.

At first, we felt a bit lost after paying off all our debt. What do you do when you no longer have that goal driving you? Now, as we approach retirement age, we’ve realized the importance of focusing on long-term financial health—not just for ourselves but for our children, too. Saving for retirement was never something we were taught, and we didn’t start seriously planning until we were in our 40s. That’s a mistake we’re determined our kids won’t make.

We’ve guided our adult children in setting up their 401(k)s and Roth IRAs, teaching them the value of starting early. Our hope is to inspire others to take control of their finances, no matter where they are on their journey. Life after debt isn’t just about financial freedom—it’s about building a legacy.