Q&A with Andrew J.
February 15, 2023
Welcome to Member Money Moments – a Q&A series sharing the wisdom, struggles, success, and goals of our Happy Money Members as they navigate their journey to financial freedom.
How does money and or debt affect your mental health?
😟 Negatively
What do you find is the most difficult challenge you face when it comes to money?
💰Saving Money
✍️ Creating A Budget
What do you wish you knew about money growing up?
When growing up, I wish I would have had a better understanding of interest and how it accrues over time. Swiping a card makes it easy to get out of control fast. If you can't afford to pay it off next month, then you really should not be swiping your card today.
What topics would you most like to learn about when it comes to money?
😊 Healthy budgeting techniques
🧘 Tools to assist with financial wellness & money
What is one piece of advice you would give to others on their personal finance journey?
Not all financial institutions are the same. Review the APR on your cards regularly and try to eliminate those with higher interest rates. If you are buried in debt like I was, it may be overwhelming but write everything down or build a spreadsheet with all of you finances. Focus on paying off loans/credit cards with the largest interest first. This will allow you to only accrue interest at the lower rates. As you pay off balances and increase your credit, look to consolidate debt with The Payoff Loan to lower your payments even further. If you pay the same amount as you did when your payments were higher, you'll pay off your full debt sooner!
What’s your first financial goal when you become debt free?
🏡 My dream has always been to purchase a home. I was just pre-approved today and will begin the process of not only purchasing, but building my first home!
In what way did Happy Money assist you in your personal finance journey?
The Payoff Loan took a chance on me when no other financial institution would. It allowed me to reduce my interest to a third of what credit cards were charging. This allowed me the ability to pay more toward principal and ultimately eliminate my debt. Now, I am debt free and working to buy my first home. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Happy Money gave me that opportunity!