money makeover: intro

from financial funk to fun after a year and a half

If my newsletters have ever sparked inspiration, left an impact, or made you feel less alone, your engagement would mean the world to me. Whether it's by sharing my work and tagging me, offering a financial contribution via PayPal or Venmo, or becoming a paid subscriber, every gesture of reciprocity helps me continue this journey with more ease. As I transition more of my work behind a paywall, I rely on community to spread the word and support me in cultivating a larger, yet still deeply intentional and sacred audience.

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Before You Read

5 min read

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Money Makeover: From Financial Funk to Fun After a Year and a Half

I wrote about my financial struggles in this post a year and a half ago.

In October of 2022, I was going into heavy credit card debt, cutting out essential expenses, and relying on my Mom for money, all in order to stay afloat while trying to build a coaching business, after ditching my barista role in the 2020 pandemic.

In the above mentioned post, I talk about how I had accepted a part-time job offer that month to be a server at a restaurant, but since the acceptance of that job, I quit and started two more shortly after.

In the span of six months, I rotated through three different job positions, struggling to find stability in each role due to the challenges that stemmed from my anxiety, depression, and OCD.

It wasn't until May of 2023 that I secured a stable job that I would begin in June, and I have remained employed ever since.

It took a lot of inner work for me to finally step back from the business I was building to recognize that it was operating from a shaky foundation, and that this was not sustainable.

When I made the conscious decision to shift from entrepreneurship to a full-time hourly job with benefits, I committed to finally getting my money right.

Since this commitment, learning about money has been my main obsession.

From July 2023 through now, I’ve done the following:

💸 Built a $6,300+ emergency fund in a high yield savings account.

💸 Slashed $3,500 off my debt.

💸 Upped my credit score from 676 to 722.

💸 Learned how to use a credit card strategically.

💸 Created detailed spreadsheets for spending tracking and paying off debt.

💸 Crafted my own budgeting system.

💸 Dipped my toes into investing, and slowly but surely, I'm determined to learn more.

On top of all that, being employed by the State of California comes with some pretty sweet perks: retirement plans, healthcare coverage, help with student loans, and even free therapy.

I know I’ve come a long way since that post from October 2022, but I won’t lie, it has felt like an uphill battle more often than not.

A consistent income has certainly facilitated this financial transformation, yet factors like community support, a spiritual practice, and resources like therapy have played pivotal roles in sustaining my determination and progress.

I still have a long road ahead of me, but now that I’m out of survival mode, I’m looking forward to dropping some nuggets I’ve learned over the course of my debt free journey. I received great feedback from IG land about the money stories I was posting, so I’m here to keep that energy alive.

I'll be sharing insights on topics such as:

💰 Navigating the emotional path of pausing entrepreneurship and how the heck to deal with all that grief.

💰 Balancing financial responsibility with maintaining joy, even while working to get out of debt.

💰 Sharing real numbers straight from my spreadsheets, along with clear breakdowns of monthly expenses and what's left to pay off.

💰 And of course, we’re going to talk about how healing financial wounds is absolutely connected to intergenerational healing.

This is just to name a few.

The first few posts will be for everyone and will be sent out every Friday.

A majority of the subsequent content — think spreadsheets, money playlists, and the extra vulnerable stuff — will be behind a paywall, accessible exclusively to paid subscribers, (which is $5.55/month or if you choose the yearly subscription $55/year, totaling $4.58/mo).

One of my ✨ big visions ✨ this year is to grow my paid following.

I used to cling onto the belief that if I was truly passionate about something, I should offer it for free. But let’s be real, this mindset stemmed from a place of scarcity.

As I've come to understand the importance of financial growth, I've not only increased the value of my earnings but also enhanced my self-worth and the value of my work.

Writing has always felt like a true calling, and while I know I'll continue to write passionately for the rest of my life regardless of how much money I make from it, my dream is to one day sustain myself by doing what I love most, especially because sharing my heart the way I do on my platforms takes a lot of soul work.

If you’re on your own healing path, which I’m sure most of you are if you follow me, then you know that this transformational work ain’t easy.

This is exactly why together is a great way to grow.

Big love,

Val

P.S. I'll be sharing some financial nuggets that might not always match your current situation – feel free to skip over them if you feel you're already on track. However, I’ve personally learned over time that taking a fresh look at old ideas can often bring about new “aha” moments.

P.P.S. If you have any feedback at all around anything I share, please don’t hesitate to hit reply and let me know. Pitch your ideas about what topics you’d love to see me expand on, let me know how something resonated with you, say hello, etc.! l love hearing from you.