This is 44!
Today is my 44th birthday! And I wanted to share 44 things I did in my financial journey that makes me feel financially confident.
On my 5th birthday when my Grandpa gave me $5, I bought a Rainbow Brite stamp for $2.34 and then put the rest in my savings account at the bank (and received a sucker and sticker book from the bank).
Started my first job at 14 at the pool.
Successfully earned an $800 loan from my parents (because of my awesome powerpoint presentation) to buy my first car.
Saved up for a study abroad summer during college.
Chose to share a bedroom (for lower rent) in a big house with friends in college.
At a summer internship before my senior year of college, I built a FileMakerPro database to track KPIs for a marketing project and my boss didn't want to learn it, so instead they gave me a job! So I worked that job remotely from college while finishing my last year of college.
Negotiated for extra financial aid my senior year in college when the federal aid dropped significantly due to two of my siblings graduating college.
Bought a couch with 90 days 0% finance (which was just shy of 3 months) and was going to have to pay LOADS of interest but I called and negotiated and didn't pay any of the interest.
Attended all the 401(k) meetings at work to make sure I knew how to get the max company match.
Received a table of compound interest from a financial advisor at my first job that heavily influenced prioritizing retirement contributions.
Cashed in the savings bonds my grandma gave me as a kid.
Bought my first condo in 2004 (a year out of college) and rented out the second bedroom to cover half my mortgage.
Called my banker to remove PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) from my mortgage when I reached 80% loan to value ratio.
Bought a condo as a short sale in 2012 for $160k and sold it in 2015 for $216,5k. (those photos are my photos from my sale!)
Took a sabbatical in Peru for 6 months (and grew my net worth in that time)!
Grateful I had enough money to bring cash to closing when I sold a townhouse for a lose in 2009 (dang housing crash).
Advocated and earned multiple promotions and raises at the company I had the longest tenure at (you don't always have to change companies to get a salary bump).
Moved from Chicago to Denver for better work-life balance.
Bought my first single family home (and still have it as a rental property).
Turn my full-time employer to my first freelancing client!
Bought an Airstream and a truck and traveled the country!
Married my husband, who became my business partner.
Bought an existing business (a restaurant).
Moved into a studio apartment (to rent our primary residence out and save money).
Had regular State of Our Union money meetings with my husband.
Bought a condo in a self-directed IRA, inherited a tenant, and he pays below market rate by design! As an investor, I give to offer favorable terms and receive favorable (not exploitative) returns.
Spent two winters living full-time in our RV in Golden.
Created The Pledgettes...my first business from scratch!
Bought my first investment property and did light remodeling.
Moved from a big 4 bank to a community bank and online bank.
Create my Living Trust with an Estate Planning Attorney.
Successfully applied and received aid during the pandemic (which was new for self-employed people...well a global pandemic was new for all world citizens).
Sold over $2k of clothes on Poshmark.
Bought another investing property and did my first two bathroom remodels.
Sold an existing business (the restaurant) with seller financing.
Earned our first brand deal with The Pledgettes and Capital One Café.
Opened an HSA.
Bought an individual stock.
Participated in the Women's Foundation Impact Investing Giving Circle.
Launched The Pledgettes Healthy Wealthy Talks Conversation Deck (after 4 years of prototypes).
Bought a home in my dream neighborhood next door to my friend!
Became a Certified Financial Education Instructor.
Have never carried a credit card balance with interest (I have used some 0% balances).
LOVE having so many Financial Friends!! Thank you for bringing joy and insights into my financial journey!
