Welcome back to “Our Journey to Freedom”! In Part 1, I shared the heavy weight of the debt that had been holding us back – a stark realization of years of financial irresponsibility. But recognizing the problem was just the first step. The real work came in figuring out how to dig ourselves out of that hole. Today, I want to share the practical strategies we implemented and the sacrifices we made on our journey to financial freedom.
Our first significant move was enrolling in the Financial Peace University (FPU) class at our church. This 8-week, in-person course was a game-changer for us. It provided a solid foundation of biblical principles for handling money and gave us the practical tools we desperately needed. The community aspect of the class was also incredibly encouraging, connecting with others on similar journeys.
One of the very first things FPU drilled into us was the importance of a detailed budget. Honestly, before this, “budget” was a word we vaguely understood but never actually implemented. We sat down, listed every single income source and every single expense. We tracked where our money was actually going, and it was eye-opening (and a little terrifying!). Creating a budget wasn’t a one-time thing; it became (and still is!) a daily practice. We track our spending meticulously to ensure we’re staying on course. This gave us a clear picture of where we could cut back and where our money needed to go. We realized that true freedom wasn’t found in accumulating more, but in taking responsibility for what we already had and making intentional choices about every dollar. This aligns so well with the biblical principle of stewardship – recognizing that everything we possess is a gift from God, and we are simply managers of His resources. As 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” We wanted to be trustworthy with every penny.
To accelerate our debt payoff, I took on extra shifts at the hospital. As a registered nurse, I had the opportunity to work overtime, and every extra dollar I earned went directly towards chipping away at our debt. It meant more long days and less free time, especially while pregnant, but the end goal of being a stay-at-home mom fueled my determination.
A huge turning point for us was the difficult decision to sell my brand new car. It was a beautiful Bronco, the one I had impulsively purchased. While I loved it, the reality was that the loan payment was a significant drain on our finances. We swallowed our pride, sold it, and purchased an older, but reliable, vehicle with cash. It wasn’t as flashy, but it served its purpose and freed up a substantial amount of money each month.
When it came to food, we became incredibly intentional. Weekly meal planning became our new normal. We started making larger meals to ensure we had leftovers for lunches at work and school, eliminating the need to buy expensive lunches out. Before every grocery trip, we would “shop in our pantry and fridge,” using up what we already had to avoid overspending or buying duplicates of items we didn’t need. This simple habit saved us a surprising amount of money. And when I say intentional, I mean strict. I literally take a calculator to the grocery store. I add up items as I put them in the cart, and if the total starts to creep over our allocated budget for groceries, things go back on the shelf. It’s humbling, but incredibly effective!
This new level of financial awareness also extended to our shopping habits. We completely stopped impulse purchases. Instead of buying new clothes, I embraced thrifting clothes and used goods. It’s amazing what treasures you can find at a fraction of the cost, and it’s a great way to reduce waste too! For larger items or things we absolutely needed, Facebook Marketplace became my best friend. Finding “like new” items significantly cut down on expenses without sacrificing quality. This intentional living really helped us align with the idea of contentment, rather than constantly striving for the next new thing, echoing Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Perhaps one of the hardest parts was learning to say “no” – a lot. We had to decline invitations to fun outings with family and friends because it wasn’t financially responsible at that time. Vacations were put on hold, and even smaller spontaneous purchases were carefully considered. It wasn’t always easy, and we definitely felt like we were missing out sometimes, but we knew these sacrifices were temporary and necessary to reach our bigger goal. When we did take two family vacations during this time, we created detailed budgets for those as well, ensuring we didn’t derail our progress.
The results of our focused efforts were truly motivating. We started this intense debt payoff journey in January 2024, and by July 2024, just six short months later, we had paid off over $80,000 worth of debt! This incredible progress gave me the confidence to finally quit my nursing job in October 2024, after ten years in the profession. It was a dream come true!
With the debt shrinking and eventually gone, we started to see our savings accumulate. We made the intentional decision to open a high-yield savings account to allow those newly acquired funds to start working for us, building a financial cushion for the future. As Proverbs 21:20 wisely states, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” We were finally building our “dwelling” wisely.
Finally, a cornerstone of our journey was our decision to begin tithing at our church. As we reconnected with our faith, we embraced the concept our pastor often speaks about: “The Upside Down Economics of God.” It sounds counterintuitive, but we’ve experienced the truth of it – that by giving away what you want more of (time, energy, money), you often receive it back in unexpected ways. This decision was rooted in verses like Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” It was a powerful step of faith, trusting God as our ultimate provider, even when things were tight.
Our journey, however, did not come without its fair share of struggles. January 2024 threw us a significant curveball right at the beginning. We were undergoing IVF treatments, which came with a hefty upfront cost of thousands of dollars. I understand that discussing the financial burden of IVF might seem contradictory in a post about gaining financial freedom. Please know that this decision was made after much prayerful consideration and with strategic financial planning that we will delve into in a future post. Emotionally, it was a demanding time, and physically, I often felt terrible, leading to days I had to call off of work and miss out on desperately needed income. It felt like we were taking one step forward and two steps back before we even really began.
Then, just when we were trying to find our footing, our beloved dog received a cancer diagnosis and needed immediate surgery. The unexpected vet bills were another significant blow to our already tight budget. It was heartbreaking to see our furry family member suffering, and the financial strain added another layer of stress. As if those weren’t enough, our truck, a necessity for our family, decided to act up and required a couple of hundred dollars worth of repairs. While not as substantial as the IVF or the dog’s surgery, it felt like another little jab, another reminder that life doesn’t always align with our carefully laid plans.
There were other moments too, smaller setbacks that individually weren’t massive but collectively felt disheartening. A higher-than-expected utility bill, a necessary home repair we hadn’t budgeted for, the list went on. These challenges often left us feeling discouraged and questioning whether this whole endeavor was even worth it. We would sit down and openly debate if we were just destined to keep getting knocked down every time we tried to get ahead. It forced us to dig deep, to revisit our “why,” and to remind ourselves of the freedom we were striving for. These struggles, though difficult, ultimately strengthened our resolve and forced us to be even more intentional with our finances. They also reminded us of Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Even in the midst of unexpected expenses, we held onto this promise.
Takeaways from Our Journey:
- Our son witnessed our sacrifices firsthand. He saw us making choices that weren’t always the most fun in the moment, but he understood that it was to achieve a larger goal. This taught him valuable lessons in perseverance and even prompted him to start finding ways to earn money around the house to save for his own goals. This is a testament to Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
- We were incredibly motivated to pay off our debt quickly while I was pregnant with our daughter. The desire to be home with her from the beginning was a powerful driving force.
- Our faith became stronger. Learning to be good stewards of what God has entrusted us with shifted our perspective entirely. We truly believe that what we have isn’t ultimately ours; it belongs to God, and we are responsible for managing it wisely for Him. This aligns with Luke 16:10: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
- Tithing has opened doors for us to serve. With the extra time afforded by me being a stay-at-home mom, we are now able to volunteer more freely at our church and participate more actively in our son’s school events.
Our journey wasn’t easy. It required discipline, sacrifice, and a fundamental shift in our mindset. But the freedom we now feel, both financially and in terms of our time and priorities, is immeasurable. It’s a testament to the power of intentionality and the incredible peace that comes from being good stewards of what we’ve been given.
Let’s Talk Faith & Finances!
I’d love to hear how your faith influences your financial journey. Share your thoughts in the comments below!
- What does “stewardship” mean to you in your daily life and financial decisions?
- Have you ever taken a “leap of faith” with your finances, perhaps by committing to tithe or giving when it felt challenging? What was the outcome?
- What are some practical ways you’ve found to cut down on spending and be more intentional with your resources (like thrifting or strict budgeting)?
- How do you reconcile the desire for financial security with trusting God for provision, especially during unexpected challenges?
- What’s one spiritual lesson you’ve learned through a financial challenge or success?
Looking forward to connecting with you all!
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