In August 2016 I made the final payment on nearly 6-figures of student loan debt and this blog is all about documenting life after debt and my journey to financial independence. The plan is to become the first millionaire in my family.
I’m Nicole, by the way.
You can learn more about me here
For several years my financial focus has been getting rid of debt. So after paying it off, I find myself in the surprisingly uncomfortable position of answering the question, ” What now?”
Up until this point, I’ve been documenting my journey over on Youtube, but I think the blog will allow me to be more open and honest along my journey.
And, unlike Youtube, I can blog in my PJs and with no makeup.
This blog will be my safe place.
Like an online diary of sorts.
I’m frugal by nature and I see frugality as a tool to help accelerate my financial goals.
Frugality is often viewed negatively and I’d like to change that narrative.
I want to show the world (or at least my teeny, tiny corner of the internet, that frugality can be life-changing.
There is freedom in frugality.
That’s why this blog is called Frugal Chic Life.
Living a Frugal Chic Life means living a fabulously ‘rich’ life.
Not necessarily rich in the traditional sense of the word.
But I wouldn’t be mad at that!
But also rich in spirit, time, and peace.
And frugality is the vehicle that will get me there.
Frugality doesn’t mean living cheaply or depriving yourself of the things you desire most in life.
Frugality is about spending in the areas that are important, and scaling back on the crap you don’t care about.
I used to care about purses and shoes (a lot).
But, now that I’ve reset my spending habits, I’m aligning my spending with my priorities.
This is the true essence of frugality.
Recommended Post: 31 Frugal Living Hacks That Will Save You Thousands
Currently, my priorities are:
#1 Spending time with my family.
I’m married with 3 kids, including an infant who was born very premature-my little guy only weighed 1 lb. 8.3 oz at birth. After some really scary pregnancy complications and a 100-day NICU journey with Caleb, I realized, more than ever, the fragility of life. There’s NOTHING more important than spending time with those I love.
#2 Working less.
Although I love a good side hustle, I’m fully aware that NO ONE gets to the end of their life and says, “I wish I had worked more”.
And it’s not that I hate my job. I don’t. But I have zero desire to spend all of my ‘good years’ stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on overcrowded highways. Working less will also help me do more of #1 and #3.
#3 Traveling more.
I want to travel extensively while I’m young enough and healthy enough to truly enjoy it.
And although I’m able to take time off from work to travel periodically, I hate cramming my travel into a week. Only to return home exhausted (from cramming said travel into a week). And then there’s the horrible feeling of counting down the days until the next vacation rolls around (in another 12 months).
I can’t wait for the day when I’m financially secure enough to indulge in slow travel!
And as I see it, frugality will help me accomplish this faster.
I’ll share one of my favorite quotes to drive the point home…
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants”. -Epictetus.
The more crap I can cut from my budget, the more money I can free up to spend on my few wants.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, then follow me on the journey.
Also, come holla at me on Instagram @frugalchiclife
Until next time, live well and be blessed!