Journey To Launch

If you didn't have to work again for money, what would you really do with your time? We often hear about retiring early in the context of someone quitting their corporate job to work on their own business. But what if you truly didn't have to work and could really live your life on your own terms?

On this episode of the Journey To Launch Podcast, we have a returning guest, Purple who shares her life after early retirement.

Purple retired from corporate America with a portfolio of $500k+ at the young age of 30 right before the 2020 pandemic. She explains what she does with her time now that she is no longer working, how she strives to live an intentional, purpose driven life, and how the pandemic was a catalyst for exiting the work-force.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How fear during the pandemic pushed Purple to retire early
• Realistically living off of $20,000 + what that lifestyle looks like
• The nomad lifestyle + how it saves Purple money
• Strategies for withdrawing money, what a Roth Conversion ladder is, + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• journeytolaunch.com/episode126
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Purple:

• Website
• Instagram: @APurpleLife
• Twitter: @APurpleLifeBlog

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

We chat about how her roots shaped her money narrative, why the strong women in her life are cornerstones to her success, and how she has kept her financial goals in the forefront of her life.

In this episode we discuss:

• Negotiating rent, being strategic with student loan debt, + living below your means
• The importance of exploring educational and career-based programs and resources
• How Haitain culture and her immigration experience shaped her money narrative
• How she went from a Columbia University Anthropology BA to University of Pennsylvania Law School
• Buying her mother's first home in Florida during the pandemic
• How Norly networked her way to a six-figure career as a lawyer + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Check out Fortress, a revolutionary AI tool designed to guide you out of debt swiftly and effectively by going to journeytolaunch.com/fortress
• https://www.prepforprep.org
• https://www.abetterchance.org
• https://oliverscholars.org
• https://www.prepforprep.org/admissions/prep-9-7th-grade/the-boarding-school-experience
• https://www.teachforamerica.org
• https://www.instagram.com/personalfinanceclub/
• Check out my new personal website here.
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Leilani Reed-Logan, Journeyer and financial independence (FI) enthusiast, joins the podcast to discuss how Journey To Launch changed her life and why she is choosing happiness above all else, thanks to her newfound financial freedom at age 45.

We talk about why Leilani decided to set out on the path to FI, despite being "older," the lessons she learned from listening to this podcast, and how COVID became the catalyst for her to walk away from corporate America forever.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why Leilani stepped away from a $200,000 per year salary job
• Choosing what sparks joy in your life over everything else
• The ways financial independence changed Leilani's life
• Steps Leilani took to pay off her mortgage early
• How you can increase your career income + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• https://www.journeytolaunch.com/episode141
• https://www.journeytolaunch.com/episode40
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Leilani:

• Instagram:@Twist.Mix.Sip
• Facebook:@LeilaniReed-Logan

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this rewind episode, LeDo and Shameka McDowell talk about their relationship and how they paid off $32,000 in debt and built $100,000 in net worth. Once they got on the same financial page, they were unstoppable.

LeDo and Shameka are creators of the podcast The Marital Mission, a podcast about married life for young couples. They share with us an honest conversation about how to get your partner on board with your financial goals, the struggles that come with becoming debt-free, how to have the money talk with your partner, and more.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Practical ways to get on the same financial page with your partner
• How to cut your expenses and reach your financial goals
• The importance of putting communication first
• The difference between the avalanche and the debt snowball debt payoff methods and more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• If you liked this episode you might also like A Money Chat With My Husband + The Budget Boot Camp. In this episode, my husband and I talk about my crazy money goals and his relationship with money.
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with LeDo & Shameka:

• Website: TheMaritalMission.com
• Instagram: @TheMaritalMission
• Twitter: @MaritalMission
• Facebook: @TheMaritalMission

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE

Once blogger Tracy Levesque released her article titled, "What I learned from binge-listening to the entire Journey to Launch podcast," I knew that I had to have her on as a guest. She joins us after paying off $170k worth of debt and jumping on the financial independence, retire early movement.

We chat about the growth mindset her mom passed down to her, her entrepreneurship journey, how true wealth is providing education, curiosity, and the understanding of the value of experiences over material possessions, and why we need to have more LGBTQIA+ voices in the FIRE community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What sparked Tracy's curiosity about the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early)
• Building a business without a roadmap, hustling as an entrepreneur in the computer world + getting into real estate
• The steps Tracy and her wife took to pay off $170,000 of debt in 10 years using the debt avalanche method + zero-balance transfers
• Blind spots in the FIRE movement, using privilege for good + the call for more queer voices in the personal finance space
• How Tracy's mom taught herself about the stock market and became a successful investor + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Read Tracy's Blog Post: "What I learned from Binge Listening to the Entire Journey to Launch Podcast
• Suze Orman's 9 Steps to Financial Freedom
• Do You Love it or Just Want It- How to Stop Stress Spending
• Get Good with Money by Tiffany Aliche
• Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant on the Frugal Living Podcast
• How Tracy and her wife paid off $170000 of debt in 10-years
• Your Money Or Your Life: Transform Your Relationship With Money & Achieve Financial Independence W/ Vicki Robin
• Retiring At 30yrs Old & Living A Full Life On $20k A Year W/ Purple
• All About The Health Savings Account (HSA) -The Ultimate Retirement And Investment Account W/ Jackie Koski
• Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin
• Independence Business Alliance
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Tracy:

• Website: TheTracyL.com
• Instagram:@LilJimmi
• Twitter:@LilJimmi
• Facebook:@LilJimmi

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE

This week we are rewinding to Ariana Rodriguez's episode, who joined the Journey To Launch podcast to talk about her experience on the Netflix documentary, "Get Smart With Money" and how she was able to turn her finances around.

We chat about how she used her skills to begin a side hustle, that eventually allowed her to quit her job, the power of forgiving yourself of past money mistakes, automating your money and more.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The internal struggle and mindset that plays a role in the cycle of debt and debt repayment
• How Ariana pivoted from an education career to tech project management in order to increase her income
• Leveraging skills for side hustles to speed up the debt payment process
• What the "should lifestyle" is and why it keeps people stuck in the debt system
• Why financial freedom is possible and attainable at any level + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• From Side Hustle To Million Dollar Virtual Assistant Business With Tasha Booth
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Ariana:

• Website: ArianaRodriguez.co
• Instagram:@ArianaRodriguez.co

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE

This week, we are rewinding to Journeyer, Josie Espinoza's episode who shares her debt free story. She was the first in her family to go to college, but then found herself in $50K of debt which included student loans, credit cards, and auto loan debt. She discovered a passion for financial freedom and independence; and through listening to podcasts, she was able to learn what was needed to become debt free. Once debt free, Josie and her husband became focused on financial planning, saving, and securing their family's future.

In this episode, Josie shares:

• Her story coming from Mexico at the age 8, helping her parents on the farm and being the youngest of 9 and the first one to get a college degree

• How the money mindset, "Money is made to be spent" led her to accumulate $50K of debt and how 3 weeks without money was her rock bottom

• How she was able to resign from her job that was affecting her mental health

• Why she feels that anyone can change their finances with a little effort & more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Josie:

Instagram: @minimalisatodo

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE

This week we are rewinding to a conversation I had with Veronique Graves, a fellow Journeyer and former member of my past community the Money Launch Club. Veronique is a self employed sign language interpreter who is on her way to financial freedom. After becoming a member of the Money Launch Club, she went from living paycheck to paycheck to paying off debt, saving, and investing.

Veronique advises those on their financial journey to be patient, set specific goals, and surround themselves with financially savvy individuals. Her motivation for financial independence stems from her desire for life flexibility and the ability to help others, inspired by how her family supported her financially in the past.

In this episode, Veronique shares:

• How working as a freelance contractor requires careful financial planning due to the irregular nature of her income​​.
• How she successfully managed to save enough to avoid living paycheck to paycheck and how she is paying off her credit card debt
• The significance of celebrating small wins and staying motivated by recognizing progress over time​​ + much more.

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Check out the book that helped Veronique on her journey, Get Money by Kristin Wong.
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I am sharing a conversation I had on IG Live with Lauryn Williams from Student Loan Planner. Lauryn provides crucial information for student loan borrowers about the Biden administration's Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) waiver for federal student loans, which can significantly impact loan forgiveness eligibility. The steps to take include: understand your loan type, consider consolidation, and take timely action before June 30, 2024 which is the deadline to maximize benefits.

In this episode, Lauryn shares:

• What is the IDR Waiver and how it can help student loan borrowers get closer to forgiveness
• Why borrowers with Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) loans or those with multiple loan types should consider consolidation to benefit from the IDR waiver.
• Where to go to see your loans and determine your next steps
• How to stay informed about your loans and any future opportunities for forgiveness or adjustment if you miss the deadline + more.

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• How to Qualify for the IDR Waiver
• Student Loan Planner
• www.StudentAid.gov
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Lauren:

• Website
• Instagram: @LauryncWilliams

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm featuring the second part of my discussion with Amanda Bauch, my book coach In this episode, Amanda interviews me about the experience of writing "Your Journey to Financial Freedom" — from its initial conception and the creative process to how it feels six months after its release. We also delve into the book's reception, its impact on readers, and explore the possibility of a second book and what I would do differently.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The timeline and steps involved in creating the book, from the initial proposal to the eventual publication.
• The struggles with doubts about the book's structure and organization & the challenges of writing while also running a business and raising 3 small kids
• What I learned during the process and how I would approach it differently in the future.
• The importance of investing in professional help & having a support system including family, friends, and professionals in the publishing industry + much more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE
• Check out my personal website here.
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Amanda:

• Website: https://www.AmandaBauch.com

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide
• Get The Budget Bootcamp for FREE