Is Living “The Norm” Leaving You Broke?
It shocked me that the majority of Americans look at debt as “just a part of life.” Not so long ago, being in debt was a shameful thing! Men would do whatever it took to stay out of debt.
She was a single mother and had a horrible relationship with her daughter’s dad. Lori, tell us a bit about your story.
My life was a complete disaster. There was a lot of blame, abuse – verbal – on both sides. We couldn’t communicate, didn’t understand each other. There was a lot of pain and things built up.
So what changed?
I had to recognize my part in it. It was a two-way street and I had to forgive both myself and him. I had to apologize and also had to ask God for forgiveness! It was huge, after that our relationship took a whole 180-degree turn.
Was it hard to forgive him?
It took swallowing my pride, but once I made the phone call it was easy to say the words. But I truly felt it in my heart and I think that was the key. He was waiting for me to make the first move. It set me free to move on and close that chapter in my life.
What do you say to that single parent out there right now who just heard you say you had to make the first move?
As a parent, you have to put your child first. They look up to you, they didn’t ask to be put in this situations. Try to take yourself out of that situation and look at it objectively from your child’s perspective.Sometimes we need to get our own ego out of the way.
Whether they forgive your or not, it will set YOU free from the situation. It really is like someone takes the chains off your wrists and you’re free.
How is the rest of your life different?
I was in financial ruin, had zero dollars to take my child on vacation, and was clueless as to where my paychecks were being spent. Now I have saved over $10,000 in 6 months, traveled all over the US, taken my daughter on a week’s cruise paid in cash and managed to become debt free.
It shocked me that the majority of Americans look at debt as “just a part of life.” Not so long ago, being in debt was a shameful thing! Men would do whatever it took to stay out of debt.
If you are one of those people getting a check in the mail, what is your plan for it? Are you going to be that 1 out of 3 Americans who blow their check, like last year?
Imagine putting hundreds of dollars every month back into your budget. What could you do with that kind of extra money?