- Money was just confusing.
I didn't know really how to make ends meet
that I had created for myself.
I knew there had to be a better way.
I would go to work every day,
and I would get paid on every other Friday,
and it just wasn't enough.
And that was just the biggest thing for me.
I knew that there was some way that I could enjoy my life
better than just going to work every day.
And so, when I came across Financial Peace University,
it was the first time money had ever made sense to me.
My life started to open up.
But I definitely had to work hard to get to that place.
And just doing the steps, no matter how hard they were.
Finding an accountability partner—
he forced me to get a second job.
"You have to have another job, Tracy.
You're $10 away from disaster."
And it was true.
But I feel like, once you get it—
the budgeting piece of it—you find money.
This is the first time I knew what to do
with the finances, and everything has changed.
Everything is completely different now.
- Well, Tracy, thank you so much for coming on the show!
- Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.
- And sharing your story.
Because this whole episode is about how to get a raise.
And we say around here all the time that,
when you first start to budget,
it feels like you got a raise.
- Yes.
- So, I wanna know from you, because you're a budgeter now,
which we'll talk about in a second.
But what was life like before you started budgeting?
- I was just confused all the time.
I would work Monday through Friday,
every other Friday get a paycheck,
and it just would be gone by Friday afternoon.
And I just didn't know where it went.
Or I just didn't feel totally good about my life.
I just felt like there had to be something else.
There had to be a little bit more.
- Yes. Were you stressed a lot?
- Always.
Always trying to figure out—
There were so many days the choice was between,
Do I eat? Do I feed the dog?
Or do we pay the utility bill?
Or do we go put gas in the car?
We were always trying to choose one over the other.
- And that's, like, your basic needs there, right?
(crosstalk)
And so, I guess I could put you in that percentage
that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
- Absolutely.
- So, you are the tried and true living the paycheck.
Did you ever think when you were in that,
like, the thought of not being like that?
Did you think that was possible?
Or was it like, all those people can do it,
but there's no way that my situation could change
because it felt so—in the moment—so stressful?
- It definitely felt suffocating, for sure.
But because I worked in the medical field,
I knew there was a cure.
(laughter)
I just didn't know what the cure was.
I just knew there had to be a better way,
because I would see the people who were not living
paycheck to paycheck.
And that was my true inspiration.
- So, what was the moment that you're like, "Okay,
I gotta change"? And what got you on a different path?
- I started— I always say YouTube is the new
Encyclopedia Brittanica.
So, I just started researching and researching
and researching, and I had come across
the Dave Ramsey Show, and I found The Rachel Cruze Show
on YouTube, and I just started watching it.
And I moved to Nashville,
and the first year I moved here, I was so excited
when I realized I was actually in Nashville
and that the studio that I had been watching on YouTube
was in Brentwood.
So, a friend and I went on my birthday two years ago,
and we got to see the studio.
I got my picture taken with Dave Ramsey
and Anthony ONeal.
And I got a quick shot of you leaving out of the studio.
(laughter)
Out of the studio that day, and I just thought,
I'm going to change my life.
I had the visual now.
I had the vision board photo of standing next
to Dave Ramsey.
I'm like, "Oh, I can do this. I'm too close now."
And it took four paychecks—
And that's kind of where I always breakdown in my story,
because it took four paychecks for me to save the $100
to go to Financial Peace University.
And it was the best four paychecks I've ever had,
to spend on that.
And that's when my life began to change.
I went every Sunday morning.
I did not miss a session.
And all the pieces fell together then.
- Well, I think that's so powerful,
because I think a big part of doing my job is—I see people—
I'll be at a big speaking event with thousands of people,
and I'm like, "I just want to give everyone everything."
But I feel like what you just said, though—
the sacrifice you made to save up.
It took four paychecks.
And you remember it like it was yesterday.
You said four paychecks to save up the money
to change your life and do something different.
And when you have skin in the game,
- Yeah.
- things start to change a little bit.
- Absolutely.
- And I think that that's important
that you made the sacrifice to start the sacrifice,
if that makes sense.
- Absolutely.
- So, in Financial Peace University,
you started to learn to budget.
So, talk to me about, like, the first couple months.
You started budgeting.
Was it perfect?
Were there some mess-ups?
What did life look like then?
- So, at first, I had to find an accountability partner,
because I am single.
And I sat down and had a budget meeting with him.
- So good.
- So, I was really doing the things that you have to do.
The first budget meeting, he was almost like a principal.
He was like, "Tracy, what is this?"
(laughter)
You are $10 away from losing everything.
And I was like, "I know, Travis. I know."
And he was like, "You have to get another job."
I was like, "No, I can't get another job,
because I'm single and then I can't walk my dog at night,"
and all these—oh, my goodness— every excuse in the book.
And finally, he put his foot down, and I was like, "Okay."
And I went out, and I found a part-time job.
I had to increase my income.
It just would not work for me in what I had,
because it was such a mess.
It was such a mess.
- Yes.
- I had to do something else.
- Thank God for Travis, right?
We all need a Travis in our lives.
Seriously. And that's huge to say,
because we did talk about— It takes a village to help.
- Absolutely.
- And getting people that isn't your shopping buddy
or your girlfriend that you lunch with,
but legitimately, someone that is willing
to say to you, "What is this?"
Loving you really well— maybe a little harsh—
but worth it, and that's it.
And so, you had to get that second job,
which was probably a big sacrifice.
- It was huge.
- You're still in that second job, right?
- I am.
- And so, that's because you are on Baby Step 2?
- I am on Baby Step 2.
- So, you're paying off the debt.
- I am.
- I have done amazing. I think I've done amazing
this past year, because I only have two debts left.
So, I will—Friday—be able to pay off my car early.
- Yes, you did, Tracy.
Seriously? Oh, three months early.
You won't have a car payment.
- I will not have that car payment anymore.
- So, you'll only have one debt left.
- I'll have one debt that's extremely sizable,
but the great thing about it is—
in Financial Peace University—
because that debt is so big,
I have the tools of—really— how to get that done
in one year.
So, my goal is this time next calendar year,
I'm debt-free.
- Yes!
I have people on the show all the time
that are just where you are, and I always tell them,
"Come back on the show."
- Okay.
- And tell us what it felt like after your debt-free scream.
And so, you're going to be able to get a big raise
once you have no payments.
- Absolutely.
- Because that income will come in, and that'll be yours.
But do you feel like now that you've been budgeting
and that you're intentional where every dollar is going—
Obviously, you've made incredible progress in so many ways.
Do you feel like you got a raise?
- Absolutely.
Purchasing things without guilt,
to me, was a huge raise in itself too.
It's just been truly mind-blowing and amazing.
- Wow.
- Just not even having late fees.
(crosstalk)
- I mean, yes.
- Is a raise in itself.
- For sure.
So, what category is in your budget?
I know you just named a couple.
Were you able to adjust?
- Absolutely.
I am vegan.
I am able to do $50 a week, and that's the sweet spot.
I feel really good doing that.
- And I love that, because we talk all the time
that you can eat healthy while on a budget.
But that is a priority for you.
That's the other thing about budgeting that I love
is it's your budget. It's your life.
And you get to shape it around
not only being wise with money,
but around what your lifestyle needs and requires.
And one of those for you is being vegan, right?
And so, you were able to up your grocery category more,
because other categories were in control,
and you could lower.
Well, you're such a testament, Tracy,
of how to do it well.
So, what would you tell even yourself or someone watching
out there who thinks, I'm living paycheck to paycheck?
Like, there's no way I can turn my situation around.
- I would definitely say,
"Make the decision to go to Financial Peace University."
It is very uncomfortable.
And I can say I do feel like a gazelle—
that I've run a true marathon.
But if you just actually do the steps
the way they are designed, you will see success.
- It works.
So, from the marathon, has it been worth the run?
- Goodness, yes.
(laughter)
I feel like I'm still running,
but maybe just a 5k now.
- Yeah, that's right!
You can see the finish line, and it's worth it. Awesome.
You guys, if you want this progress,
tried and true, like, here's an example that you can do it.
But you know what? First, you have to decide,
"I'm going to do it."
And she took four paychecks—that sacrifice—
and so intentional—to completely change her life.
So, if you want to go through Financial Peace University,
click the link below.
Not only is it the proven plan to guide you
and help you guys gain control of your money,
but it also opens up so many other ways
to have conversations with friends and family members
and to get you and your family on the right track.
So, Tracy, Girl, I'm so glad you could come on the show.
Seriously.
- Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
- Thanks for sharing your story.