Drum roll, please.
We…did not pay off our mortgage.
But you already knew that for two reasons. My Twitter feed hasn’t been nonstop GIFs and this blog post is coherent (at least somewhat). I solemnly swear that the day we pay off our mortgage there will be so much celebrating in real life and online that you will know without having to read a post. Promise.
But I did win with money in another way this past week.
I’ve been pruning back on my side hustling in general. For the past few years, I’ve really worked on being super picky with my tutoring clients. I even ditched my highest paying gig because I finally realized what a mega-jerk the parent was. I’ve also started to be more selective with my online work.
Which is probably the opposite of what my instinct should be as a freelancer.
But I’ve tried really hard to scale back so that the only clients I have are the ones I truly enjoy writing for. (And they pay on time.) It truly is monetizing a hobby at this point!
Because I haven’t been doing much anything to put myself out there, I was thrilled when an editing gig came my way via social media. It’s a short-term thing, I think, but it’s honestly so much fun. There’s nothing better than helping other content creators when you are obsessed with their content and their brand.
To keep the momentum going, there are three more money wins that we need to celebrate this Monday morning. Take it away, Rachel, Cashflow Cop, and Kris!
Rachel
What is your money win?
I just finished paying off all $11,422 of my student loan debt!
Why are you pumped?
I originally planned on being done in September 2019, but then I got serious 🙂
What can others learn from it?
That you can almost always do more/better than you think you can. You just have to lean in & go for it.
[Penny’s note: Reading about Rachel’s win and how she was able to super-charge her debt payoff was super inspiring. Just when I thought I had solved my mortgage dilemma! Check out her blog for more inspo!]
Cashflow Cop
What is your money win?
My second hand car (Audi) has lasted me ten years and almost 200k miles so far.
Why are you pumped?
I hate driving but need to do it. So if I must drive, I’m happy that the thing has lasted me this long with no major repairs. Over the years, that has saved me a lot of money compared to getting a car loan.
What can others learn from it?
It’s cooler to get the looks from others when I’m driving an old car knowing that I’ve I’m not in debt for it than drive a nice car with monthly payments. It’s also more frugal to buy a used quality car and pay a little more for it to last years than having to keep replacing bangers every year.
[Penny’s note: I’m going down swinging with my decision to buy a new car…eight years ago. But I, too, drove a car (a Camaro!) that had 200k+ miles on it prior to my new Camry. Make sure you visit Cashflow Cop for more impressive money moves.]
Kris
What is your money win?
Getting my wife a free pair of sandals from DSW from all the shoe donations we did.
Why are you pumped?
Able to help out others in need of good pairs of shoes which added up to pair of free sandals.
What can others learn from it?
Everyone can get rewarded helping others. It doesn’t have to be getting something back. It’s knowing that you have a great heart by giving to people in need.
[Penny’s note: This makes me so happy because I love DSW’s shoe recycling program! Make sure you check out Kris’s blog at Chronicles of a Father with Cents. He’s also one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter and Instagram!]
Final Thoughts on Money Wins
These three bloggers are doing fantastic things. I think what I love the most about what they shared is how it really shows that there’s no one single way to money.
Maybe a turbo-charged debt payout off works for you. Maybe you want to chip away at it slow and steady. Perhaps you’re Team New Car or Team Used Car. Then there’s those shoes you don’t need anymore. Maybe you sell them, maybe you donate them.
As long as the decision works for you and your values and your money game plan, it’s a financial win for sure.
Happy Monday, pals!
If you’d like to join the money win party, fill out this survey. Whether you are a blogger or a reader or both, you are welcome to party here!
Also, don’t miss any of our past money wins:
Volume 1 – Kate, Revanche, Melody
Volume 2 – Jody, Aitza, Little Miss Fire
Volume 3 – Sarah, Kathy, Tara
Volume 4 – Zero, Kat, Mystery Money Man
Volume 5 – Anna, Debra, Claudia
Volume 6 – Kate, Are We Adults Yet, Money Saved is Money Earned
Volume 7 – Leigh, $76K Project, Josh
Volume 8 – Jill, Verokina, Mr. Green
Volume 9 – Budget Epicurean, Felicity, Erin
Volume 10 – Kris, Revanche, Aaron
Volume 11 – My Plutus Nod & Jo-Anne
Volume 12 – Amanda, Kudy, Laura
Volume 13 – Kate, Rich, Emily
Volume 14 – Cait, Margot, Mr. Flexcents
Volume 15 – Kate, Salty Old Lady, Dave
Volume 16 – Saving4XtraRice, Perpetual Money Machine, Zandile
So Tell Me…How are you winning with money lately?