Ignorance is bliss and what you don’t know can’t hurt you are two phrases that I have learned are completely false! Basic financial principles that I did not learn before graduating high school definitely hurt me as a young adult.
How It All Started
You see, I grew up in a small rural town in Georgia and my family struggled financially. Both of my parents were extremely hard workers and taught my siblings and me to value the same. My father was a carpenter and my mother worked in a textile factory. They were survivalists.
In addition to the strong work ethic, my mom encouraged the five of us to attend college so that we would have better opportunities than she. She said, “Unless you want to work beside me in the mill, you’d better get your education!” To which I replied, “The only way I will ever step into that mill is that I own it.” (The mill closed its doors in 2006).
In spite of all of the hard work, my family was still poor. I had no idea how little money my parents made until I went to college and had to complete the financial aid application for the first time. My parents’ income was low enough that our family would have qualified for government assistance! Who knew!? Imagine arriving on the campus of a fancy private university in this classic 1971 Chevy truck and parking behind the brand new 1988 Mercedes Benz 560SEL belonging to a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl MVP. Yes, that really happened! That first day of college made me realize that I was in a completely foreign land, did not speak the language, and did not understand the culture.
The Shift
What was missing from the equation was not a college degree, but a financial education. Hard work and a bachelor’s degree were not enough to move me past my survivalist upbringing. After making a few horrible financial decisions in college (the dreaded credit cards), I vowed that I would never allow myself to be in a position in which I was afraid to answer my phone because of collection calls.
Now, fast forward 20 years and I am the parent of a college student. I have shared my mistakes and successes with my own children. Many times I have lamented, “if only I’d known!” Well, I didn’t know, and that uncomfortable ignorance compels me to share personal financial literacy with everyone who is willing to listen. My passion is sharing information with others so that they can change not only their lives but also leave a legacy for those yet to come.
The Joy
As a child, my family never went on a single vacation together. I remember taking trips with my Girl Scouts troop and elementary school chorus, but never with my family. Those trips were magical! I was bitten by the travel bug and have no intentions of seeking a cure. After we were married, one of the promises my husband and I made to each other is that we would always go on vacation. Once we had children, we continued to travel with kids in tow.
Travelling and legacy-building are two of the joys that keep me excited. The beach photos on my website were taken on family vacations to Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. (Clearly there is a beach theme). These are my whys. I would love to work with you and develop financial strategies so that you are free to pursue your whys.
LET’S DO THIS!
