When we bought our house in 2020, I told my husband one thing: we needed to get serious about becoming debt free. I wanted breathing room. I wanted to save for retirement. I wanted a future where money wasn’t a constant worry hanging over our heads.

The problem? We’ve always been spenders. The kind who thought we had to keep up with the “Jones’s.” Newer, bigger, shinier — we chased it. But somewhere in the process of downsizing our house, I realized something big: happiness doesn’t live in stuff. In fact, all that “stuff” only brought stress, anxiety, and chaos.

I didn’t want that anymore. I wanted calm. I wanted peace.

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Life Happens

Of course, life has a way of testing even the best intentions.

In 2021, everything spun out of control. I lost my uncle and my granddad within 30 days of each other. I was driving back and forth eight hours at a time to help my mom, homeschooling two kids, and juggling my husband’s military schedule.

Through all of that, I kept chipping away at our debt. I thought we were on the right track. I thought we were making real progress.

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The Mailbox Moment

Then came the summer of 2023. I walked to the mailbox and pulled out a bill from a credit card that was supposed to be paid off.

Cue the gut drop.

One phone call later, everything I thought I knew about our finances — and honestly, our marriage — felt like it had come crashing down. My husband had made a mistake. A big one. He hadn’t wanted to add to my stress back in 2021, so he kept it hidden, hoping he would fix it himself. Instead, it grew into something impossible to ignore.

My dreams of being debt free within a year? Shattered. My trust? Rocked to the core. My vision for our future? Scattered in a million little pieces.

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Choosing Forgiveness

That season tested everything — our marriage, our foundation, our faith.

And here’s the truth: it wasn’t easy. It took a lot of thinking, a lot of hard conversations, and a whole lot of prayer. But my faith reminded me of something important: God forgives our mistakes. If He can forgive us, who am I to withhold forgiveness from my husband?

So, we chose to fight for each other. We chose to get honest, get on the same page, and rebuild — together.

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Stronger Than Before

Some marriages would have crumbled under the weight of it all. Ours didn’t.

Instead, we dug our heels in. We had the tough conversations. We faced the numbers head-on. And believe it or not, that season of brokenness made us stronger. We learned that we can weather any storm life throws our way — as long as we’re standing side by side.

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Where We Are Now

Today, we’re both on the same page. The road hasn’t looked like what I pictured back in 2020, but we are moving toward debt freedom — together this time.

The numbers don’t scare me anymore. Because behind them, I see something bigger: courage, hope, forgiveness, and a family ready to build a future filled with freedom and memories instead of chaos and clutter.

One step, one payment, one day at a time… we’re facing the numbers without fear.

3 Lessons From Facing the Numbers Without Fear

Forgiveness > Resentment

Holding onto anger doesn’t fix the numbers. Forgiveness opens the door to healing and progress.

Teamwork > Blame

Debt is easier to face when you’re pulling in the same direction. Get on the same page and move forward together.

Hope > Fear

The numbers may feel overwhelming, but they don’t define your future. Hope, faith, and persistence will carry you through.