Good financial decisions
D’oh! We’ve all had those Homer moments with money. We sure did while buried in $51,000 of credit card debt. But once we became money-conscious, everything changed. We made smarter financial decisions and took control of our money—and you can, too.
Mostly fate and good Luck and some smarts
Like so many others, we caught the “American Dream” bug in 2006 and decided to stop renting and buy our own place. Who didn’t want to be a homeowner back then, right? We all know what happened just two years later.
Just like any sensible couple, we did our homework, learned the ins and outs of the home-buying process, and scoped out the real estate market in Denver. We were set on staying within the metro area—close to work, family, and friends, and not commuting from some far-off suburb that might as well have been in another state.
We attended every “open house” within our budget (and, let’s be honest, a few were way outside of it). One house in Denver’s Capitol Hill stood out. It was listed at just over $950,000, and even before walking through the door, we knew it was wildly out of reach. But hey, why not take a peek at how the other half lives? The place was stunning—remodeled kitchen, spacious dining room, a yard that screamed “summer BBQs,” and all the bells and whistles you’d expect in a nearly million-dollar home. We drooled over it briefly but knew it wasn’t happening, so we headed for the exit.
On our way out, we bumped into the selling agent, lounging in a recliner like she was auditioning for a gum commercial—blonde, our age, and radiating an effortless “I don’t need this sale” vibe. She popped her gum, looked us over, and, without skipping a beat, asked, “You wanna make an offer?” We must’ve looked like deer caught in headlights because she followed up with, “Just get a no-interest ARM!”—in the most casual Valley Girl accent you could imagine.
She was the epitome of why the 2008 housing crash happened.
We almost burst out laughing. I mean, come on! Even as rookies in real estate, we weren’t that clueless. With our backgrounds in financial services, we knew enough to steer clear of a no-interest adjustable-rate mortgage, especially with no idea where rates would land in five years. Heck, not even Bill Gross could predict that. The thought of relying on a financial rollercoaster to buy a home? Yeah, no thanks. We smiled, thanked her, and noped right out of there, proud of ourselves for avoiding a potential financial disaster disguised as a “dream home.”
The most important question
After a solid dose of self-education and a lot of soul-searching, we asked ourselves the big question: “What really matters to us?” We came up with three main objectives (and they’ve stuck with us to this day): we wanted to travel, save for retirement, and, most importantly, not be house-poor. We’re not exactly the ‘stay-at-home’ type, but when we do have to stay in, we want to kick back in comfort and not be stressed about bills.
What we realized in time was that we wanted the Four Freedoms:
- Financial freedom
- Relationship freedom
- Time freedom
- Location freedom
In 2006, based on our income, we crunched the numbers and figured we could swing a $130,000 home without giving up on our other goals. That price would allow us to make reasonable monthly payments, still save, travel, and, you know, enjoy life. The dream wasn’t to own the biggest house on the block—it was to make intelligent financial decisions that let us live the life we actually wanted.
But Denver real estate wasn’t having it and finding anything decent for $130,000 felt like trying to spot a unicorn at a coffee shop. Plus, it didn’t help that neither of us is handy—we can paint like pros but beyond that? Let’s say we’re better at watching home improvement shows than starring in them. Our real estate agent, bless her heart, kept pushing us to stretch the budget, but we held our ground. We knew our financial limits and weren’t about to sacrifice our future for a bigger mortgage.
That decision to stay firm? One of the smartest financial moves we’ve ever made.
After viewing more homes than we care to remember, we finally found a condo that ticked the boxes. But, because life likes to keep things interesting, the negotiations fell through. Frustrated, we stepped away from the market for a few months to regroup. When we finally re-entered the search, nothing quite fit, and all we could think about was the one that got away. So, we decided to wait for another condo in the same building.
And guess what? Patience paid off. A condo popped up in the same building, four floors higher, with a killer west-facing view of the city and mountains. It was even better than the first. We made an offer, haggled a bit, and closed on April 20, 2007. Another smart financial move—check.
We credit this one decision as the key catalyst that set us on the path to becoming millionaires, achieving the Four Freedoms, and reaching True Wealth—where our multiple streams of investment income now cover all our living expenses. The best part? This simple formula isn’t just a short-term win; it’s our ticket to a financially secure and fulfilling retirement.
The Rewards of our Good Financial Choices
Since buying our condo, we’ve managed to rack up some serious travel miles—and memories to match. We’ve sipped tea in London, partied in Ibiza, spent three glorious months soaking up the sun in Sitges, Spain, and even hopped around Australia from Sydney to Cairns. New Zealand? Yep, we’ve been there too—exploring Auckland, Waiheke, and the breathtaking Kaikoura. And let’s not forget our multiple escapes to Puerta Vallarta and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, countless visits to Paris, and quick getaways to San Francisco, Philly, and even the sweetest place on Earth—Hershey, PA.
After all this globetrotting, we’ve still managed to save for retirement and feel totally on track. We’re living our dream and hitting our financial goals. Not too shabby, right?
To this day, we still laugh (sometimes nervously) about that real estate agent in Capitol Hill. The one who, with a gum snap and a Valley Girl accent, tried to sell us on a no-interest ARM. Looking back now, knowing how the housing market imploded in 2008, we shudder to think where we’d be if we’d taken her advice. Let’s just say, that was one house we were glad to pass on.
The real point here? It’s all about making decisions that fit your life, not someone else’s vision of it. We learned that if you’re not rich, trade-offs are inevitable. The key is knowing what’s important to you and sticking to it. For us, it’s travel, saving for retirement, and not being house-poor. Sure, patience is a virtue, but so is tuning out lousy advice and staying focused on what you truly want. Whether your dream is a house full of kids (earplugs highly recommended!) or a big, fancy place with no kids, remember—every choice has trade-offs. And whatever your dream is, don’t let anyone else’s goals cloud yours.
Wrapping it up: The key to smart money moves
Ultimately, our journey showed us that financial freedom isn’t about following someone else’s blueprint—it’s about building a life that works for you. Whether it’s globe-trotting, prepping for retirement, or just having a cozy place to kick back, the secret is figuring out what lights your fire and making intelligent trade-offs to get there. We stayed patient, ignored the bad advice (no thanks, gum-snapping realtor!), and kept our eyes on what we truly wanted. Now, we’re living the life we love—traveling, saving, and enjoying a fabulous future without the weight of debt.
And guess what? You can, too! The dream life is yours to create—on your own terms, with a little patience and a lot of fun along the way.
More tools for smart money moves:
Read the full article here
