Yesterday, I read a Facebook post from my favorite magazine asking for inspiring stories that they could feature in their coming issue. I immediately brought out my laptop and began writing MY inspiring story. I have emailed them my entry, and now I am keeping my fingers crossed hoping that I will be chosen. But just in case I don't, I thought of sharing my entry with you.
FROM BROKE TO FINANCIALLY FREE
I am Joan Veronica Trojillo, 31
years old, married and mother of two kids. Let me share you my story.
I was a graduate of Tarlac State
University. Because I was the youngest and the only girl, my parents did not
allow me to study outside our province. Because of this, I felt like I had
limited opportunities compared to those who graduated from known universities.
But this eventually was not a hindrance at all because I was able to work
immediately after graduating. My first job was as a bank teller and then after
a year, I made a career shift and worked as a medical representative. That is
what I have been doing for the past nine years. I am blessed to be working for
a great company. I enjoyed the benefits as an employee, the perks of being a
field man which includes a company car with free gas, sales incentives, and
bonus up to 17.5 months.
But inspite of all these financial
blessings, I would always find myself stressed everytime the bills would arrive
in the mail – utility bills, credit card payments, loans, and other household expenses – and I
do not know where to get the money to pay for all these. I had zero savings, no
investments either and I was practically down with debt. I had a negative net
worth. If you would ask where I spent all my money, fellow Cosmo girls would
know the answer, and that is SHOPPING! Since my job does not include a time in
and a time out, I spend dead hours at the mall almost everyday, window shopping
at first and then actually shopping for things I do not really need. I used to
have more than enough pairs of shoes, tons of bags, a different
colored watch for every outfit, plus the latest gadgets. They were more than
enough that people would ask me why I still keep buying. As the old cliché
goes, shopping then was therapy for me. It de-stresses me.
Then the unavoidable happened. I had
no money to pay for bills which are necessities, and I had no one to borrow
money from. I ended up selling my things on Ebay, Facebook groups and I even
held a garage sale at home. Handing my precious bags, shoes, watches and
gadgets to their new owners was painful. Not only because I was losing them,
but because I was losing them at a way cheaper price. Eventually, I learned to
detach myself from these material things and I realized that they were not
really investments, even if the advertisements say so. With these, I was able
to pay the bills and then had my credit cards cut. Up to this writing, I still
do not own any credit card, and that is by choice.
After ten years of being employed,
with my monthly earning just coming and going, my financial breakthrough
started to occur last March 2013. I attended a financial seminar for the first time by
the Truly Rich Club. Through this, I
became aware of the many other sources of income, the ways of investing,
telling your money where to go instead of asking them where they went (my
favourite quote), and that the main purpose of wealth was to help others.
I applied everything I learned from
that seminar. Everytime money would come in, like my salary, incentives,
allowances and bonuses, I would divide them into five envelopes – 10% worship
(tithe), 20% wealth (investments), 10% want (shopping!), 10% wellness (long
term goals) and 50% wallet (expenses). With this strategy, I never felt
deprived nor broke. And yes, living way below your means is possible. Proof? I
survived!
Through that seminar, I also
learned about the beauty of online marketing. I enrolled in an online course,
which costs five digits by the way (I never thought I could afford that in the past), and I came to realize and develop my
passion for writing. I have started building my blog on personal finance
management. My blog is Financial
Planning for Pinoys. I feel blessed because I am able to inspire my readers
through their positive feedbacks thanking me how these practical tips have
helped them. I dream of writing my own book by this year. With
that, I also enrolled in another online course which teaches me how to write a
book and publishing it on Kindle Amazon. The goal is to help solve financial
issues of fellow employees, and also to earn income through royalties.
I have also learned how to invest
in stocks. The stock market is now my big piggy bank, preparing for my early
retirement. My goal is to stop working before I reach 40. I have also opened
accounts for my two kids. Since time is our greatest ally in building wealth, I
know they will become millionaires by the time they reach college.
I have also signed up for
membership sites and I earn commission through affiliate marketing. This is
another source of passive income for me.
Because I love to travel and still
love to shop, I have opened an online store selling clothes which I have
personally bought from other places. Not only was I providing quality clothing
at a very affordable price to customers, I was also helping other people earn
as my resellers. We made a great sale last December during the holidays. At the end of 2014, I am aiming to become a wholesaler.
God opened another door of opportunity for me through another business. And most recently, He brought me the right people as my team. We are now in the process of setting everything up and we will be opening this January. What a way to start the year!
From being broke, I now have a positive net worth and I am very happy about it. All these in a span of
only six months! I now have savings and growing investments, and I never feel
stressed because of being broke anymore. I am even able to support ministries
and sponsor children. Plus the increasing number of people that I am being able
to help through my blog and my business. Truly, I am very blessed!
Yes, you can turn your finances
around. If I was able to do it, so can anyone else. You just need to have a
dream of how you want to see yourself in the future and set a deadline for it,
the discipline to tell your money where to go, and the determination to act on
that dream. Recognize every opportunity and have the courage to take that
chance. You are more than the brand of your shoes and bags. If you would want
to splurge, choose self-growth. I attend seminars almost every month because
there is always something new to learn. I encourage that you do, too.
My prayer is that you reach your
goals in life. And when you have succeeded and achieved financial freedom, remember
to use wealth to love others.
