Follow Along on our Debt-Free Journey

This is not a story about a husband and wife who went on a debt-free journey, paid off a bunch of debt quickly, and became rich. This is a story about God and His amazing grace and how He taught two very imperfect people how to honor Him with money and surrender our full trust in Him to provide.

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When Our Financial Journey Began

Five years ago, I made my first budget on Excel and started learning about Dave Ramsey. At the time, I had a six-month-old baby, I was pregnant with my second baby, and I was DONE with being in debt and feeling like I had no handle on money. I had goals to get out of debt and make better money decisions than I saw other people in my life make, but I didn’t really know how to do it.

My husband and I went through Financial Peace University during Covid quarantines in early 2020, and we were both on board with following the Baby Steps.

Fast forward to today, nearly five years later…we are in more debt than ever before. I could go over the past five years in more detail to explain how this happened, but the reality is that I never truly reached my I’VE HAD IT moment (as Dave says)…until this month.

My I’ve Had It Moment

Earlier this month, I looked at my credit card statement (for the card I’ve been trying to pay off without actually cutting it up and closing the account), and it was nearly MAXED OUT. The balance I am too ashamed to admit, but it has hit an all new high…

My stomach dropped. How did this happen? Why? I feel like I say no to a lot of things, and we still can’t live within our means. Why is this happening, God?

After nearly five years of being committed to getting out of debt, praying to God to help us get out of debt, and having the desire to make wise financial decisions…I have nothing to show for it. We are up to our eyeballs in debt (another Dave saying). The past month I have been sick with this realization, and my husband and I had a MAJOR budget meeting to discuss what to do.

What I’ve Learned

I have learned so much the past five years. I am great at creating budgets. However, I am not so great at self-control and discipline.

I’ve also been on a faith journey. I’ve prayed more over our financial journey the past year than ever before. Instead of God swooping in and magically handing us a check to wipe out all our debt like I wish He would, He has slowly and faithfully taught me to trust in Him more than ever before.

I feel like I’ve explored every which way to cut back on expenses and increase our income. I’ve been upset and pleaded with God with many tear-drenched prayers, and I would not change our journey because I know I would not be the same person I am today if God had let it be easy. He is steadily showing me that His Plans are beyond greater than anything I could ever imagine.

Debt-Free Journey Starting January 1, 2025

Even though we are nowhere near where I expected or desired to be financially at this time in our lives, I am grateful for the journey and the lessons I’ve learned, and I am more ready than ever before to tackle our debt and honor God with the money He gives us. So January 1, 2025, we are starting our debt-free journey for the millionth time, but this time we are doing it God’s way.

I invite you to follow along on this journey as I share more closely than ever before on my blog with monthly updates, including detailed stats, such as how much debt we paid each month and more.

Also, read my blog posts as I write more and more articles on personal finance and frugal living, so you can learn and grow with me!

I pray that one day I have a testimony that glorifies God and encourages others in their financial and spiritual walk with God.

Many blessings,

Avery

Read our first update — January 2025!

FIND ALL THE UPDATES HERE!