Hey there! I’m excited to share a guest post from Taynia, a CPA and founder of The Fiscal Flamingo, a lively website aimed at helping women transition from debt to financial freedom. When she’s not transforming big spenders into savvy savers, Taynia is either documenting her career journey at Skinny Seahorse or designing blogs at The Skinny Mermaid Design Studio.
In December 2010, I decided to leave my career as a corporate CPA. Ten months later, I found myself going back to it. The beauty of being financially independent lies in the freedom of choice. I was fortunate enough to take a 10-month break, and now that I’ve experienced it, I want to make it a permanent part of my life.
Initially, I planned to take a 12-month break and wasn’t sure if I would return to my job at all. I had saved enough money to enjoy a year of unemployment and thought I would figure things out along the way. Maybe even win the Powerball—though that didn’t happen.
Interestingly, while I wasn’t formally employed during those 10 months, I wasn’t exactly idle either. I started a personal blog to share why I left my career and to use my free time productively. As my readership grew, I received numerous emails about my series “Skinny Wallet Phat Life,” where I detailed my journey from being a big spender to becoming a smart saver. People appreciated my honesty and humor and wanted to know more about how I got out of debt. This response was unexpected.
One blog led to another because blogging can be quite addictive. I created The Fiscal Flamingo to teach others the principles of moving from debt to financial stability in a fun and straightforward manner—no complicated financial jargon, just enjoyable and practical worksheets. Alongside this, I also learned how to design websites and started the Skinny Mermaid Design Studio.
Even though I was technically “working,” it was in a much more enjoyable and fulfilling way. I loved it so much that I wanted this new form of work to continue. Entrepreneurship appealed to me, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
For me, financial independence means owning a home outright, without any landlords or banks involved. Since my husband is a stay-at-home dad, I am the primary financial provider for our family. By returning to my traditional job for five years, I aim to pay off our mortgage and save up another year’s worth of living expenses.
You might wonder why I don’t just stick with my entrepreneurial efforts. While that sounds reasonable, I need to ensure I can definitely pay off my mortgage within five years. Self-employment might help me achieve this, but it also carries risks. I don’t want to take that chance; my dream will become a reality without any risks.
While working, I’ll continue to grow my readership for The Fiscal Flamingo and enhance my skills at the Skinny Mermaid Design Studio. These ventures are significant in my journey to financial independence because they can be managed from anywhere.
Once the mortgage is paid off, my family and I will have the freedom to travel wherever we want, knowing we have a home base to return to if needed. By combining location-independent income with living in a lower-cost country, I’ll be able to work only around 20 hours a week.
It’s possible that after five years, I might decide to stay put. Living on an island isn’t a bad deal, after all. But the key is, I’ll have the freedom to make that choice.
Here’s to achieving financial independence and embracing the freedom it brings!
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. What’s your story? What drives your quest for financial independence?