My Money Story & Motivation

Hi, I’m Daynel! 👋🏽

I’ve always been a personal finance nerd! From the time I was a teenager and had my first job, I wanted to make the most of my money. I had a whole system in place…making sure that the money from each paycheck was divided up just right to go towards tithes, my personal spending, and my “new house” savings. (Yes, at 16, I already had a savings plan for buying my first home someday!)

I had a good handle on my money. But as life went on, it seemed like there were still some things about my finances that were holding me back.

After college and grad school at Tufts University, I had a student loan to pay off. I also had a typical car note. And making those payments each month bothered me. I hated working hard for my paycheck, only to see a good chunk of it disappear immediately because of money I owed to someone else. And I definitely hated the interest that kept stacking up against me. Every time I made a payment, all I could think was, “There are so many BETTER things I could be using this money for!” 

When I got married, my husband and I were determined to live out the biblical principles of:
1. owing no one anything but love (Romans 3:18)
2. being lenders, not borrowers (Deuteronomy 28:12)

We got focused and strategic with our money, and we were able to become completely debt-free!

We also “super-saved” enough to purchase our first condo and, later, our first home in cash!

We have a solid emergency fund (and all the peace of mind that comes with it).

We’ve got various savings plans for different purposes.

We’re investing in a number of ways for our future.

And we were able to accomplish all of this without either of us making anything close to six-figure salaries!

(I was a 5th grade teacher and my husband supervised a cleaning team.)

We’ll always have more money goals to achieve. But wow! It feels good to be financially free! It’s allowed us to do the things that matter most to us, from traveling the world together to both of us staying home when each of our babies was born.

Everyone’s money story is unique. But everyone can get in on financial freedom and success! I’m passionate about helping you do just that.

I’m here to support and encourage you through your financial journey. I’ll help you see the possibilities and recognize just how attainable your goals are. I’m all about helping you take full control of your finances, make the most of your money, and live your best life!