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We just paid for a new-to-me car in cash and have plans to start investing in real estate.

Her message to you

I suggest getting an internship in your field as soon as possible and trying to find a company that provides education reimbursement.

The budget is the key to getting out of debt because if you're not budgeting, then you're just sitting there swiping your card, blindly spending all your money. When you set a budget, you have the freedom to decide what you want to do with your money.

Also, you need to have an emergency fund. That way you're not reliant on credit cards and, when something comes up, it's not a catastrophe. You're relaxed, you've got the money and you can take care of it.

View this post on Instagram

A recent poll on my stories showed that 1,717 of my followers would last one month on $3,000. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ 983 people 👉2 months⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ 286 people 👉3 months⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ 168 people 👉4 months⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ $2,000-$3,000 has been my go-to suggestion for a starter emergency fund. In normal circumstances, I think it's a good amount to have in savings while working on getting out of debt. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Now that we're in unchartered territory, it has me thinking \"is $3,000 is really enough?\"⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ How long would $3,000 last you right now? 💰👇Has your income been impacted? ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ We're with the majority above. If $3,000 was all we had saved and our jobs were impacted, we'd last less than a month.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ If you've lost hours or your job, my heart goes out to you. 💙I've listed several companies that are hiring right now to help you get through the storm. Also, check out my COVID-19 highlights for free resources. ⁠⠀ Job source: Yahoo News

A post shared by Amanda Williams (@debtfreeinsunnyca) on Mar 23, 2020 at 5:56pm PDT

My debt free journey has taught me delayed gratification. If there’s something I want to buy, I save up and pay cash for it.

I want to emphasize that I started with a low income. Through my education and getting an internship early, I was able to get my foot in the door and work my way up to the salary I make now. A lot of people focus on the ending salary and think that they can't do it. I want to give hope to people that if they put in the hard work, they will get there, too.

If, along the way, your finances have been affected by COVID-19, reach out to your providers and ask what assistance they can offer. Waived late fees and deferred payment plans are common options. Also, cut any unnecessary expenses to help stretch your budget.

You can follow Amanda’s continuing journey and get more tips on living a debt-free life by following her on Instagram at Debt Free in Sunny CA.

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