My Story

Over the past 12 years I have experienced both financial hardships and triumphs eg. un-employment, underemployment, credit card debt, accounts sent to collections, defaulting on student loans, court judgments etc, being forced to take out pay day loans to pay living costs.  You name it I have experienced it...

Since the age of 14 I have worked at least a part-time job at some point during the year (mainly summers until turning 16). Doing this allowed me to recognize what it means to earn money however my parents believed earnings should be saved so unfortunately I did not learn how to budget or spend wisely.  Upon turning 18, I had a free-for-all with my savings account.  I literally closed the account and spent all of the money on jewelry, clothes, make-up and accessories.  I must say I was one of the best dressed freshmans on my college campus :)

After blowing through my savings account, I decided to apply for credit cards. Who could pass up the opportunity to purchasing things and not have to immediately pay for them? Especially when I needed an outfit which I could not afford?  Not, me so I though credit cards were a gift from God until I got to the point in which I could not pay the bill in full. This was the beginning of my downward spiral.

As a sophmore in college my Wells Fargo account was sent to collections with a $2000.00 balance.  I began to wake up in the middle of the night because of terrible nightmares.  I became so sick that I even begun seeing a psychologist for my condition.  At the instruction of my therapist, I told my parents about my financial predicament.  As most parents, who love their children, they paid off the debt.  I was very grateful to them for assisting me however looking at it hindsight I realized they just enabled my out of control spending.

In December of 2009 however I decided to take control of my financial situation.