I have been following Jacent and her road to financial freedom for many years via Instagram.  More often than not, I did not pay her journey much attention aside from the occasional congratulatory message.  In my mind, I did not have nearly as much debt, so I did not need to participate in her program.  However, I quickly learned that I was very wrong.  

Last summer, I had an epiphany.  I make decent money and I have no dependents.  Yet, I felt like I never saw any of it after bills.  It wasn’t until I sat down and calculated my own debt (which was more than I thought) that I realized I too needed to get with the program. 

I started off my debt snowball by paying off orthodontia, then the remaining balance on my car followed by $15,000 in credit card debt.  In one year I made roughly $25,000 in debt payments.  I am officially at my halfway mark, the remainder of which is in student loans.  Whenever I paid something off I would talk to Jacent about it.  She would question my feelings surrounding my latest accomplishment, and help me establish my next milestone.  Jacent kept me goal oriented, and encouraged.

I am not completely financially free yet, but even at this point I have so much more peace of mind.  In these uncertain economic times it is nice to know that I have more flexibility.  My monthly expenses have decreased greatly, and I have not had to sacrifice my life as I knew it to get here.  I have realized that this journey is not about punishing yourself, it is about planning and preparing.  Instead of purchasing on a whim, I know how to create and utilize a budget. I also make less impulsive financial decisions because I know what it takes to dig myself out of them.  

The decrease in debt has made me feel less stressed, and more disciplined.  Additionally, it has been such a help having an accountability partner.  I can truly see how some buckling down for a few years in my twenties can have lifelong rewards.  Now that I know what I am capable of, I am working to apply this same level of discipline to my physical health and wellness. 

Thank you Jacent for being the spark I needed to get started, and being my mentor along the way. 

Author Camille Wesson