Hi! Welcome to Fimigrant! I am so glad you came to visit!
I created this blog to keep our family accountable on our own journey to financial independence (FI) and to share my own experiences and perspectives along the way.
I am an immigrant to the US, which has been my home for half of my life.
About two decades ago, I arrived to this country with a suitcase, big dreams and a very broken English.
The plan was to be here for a year, but circumstances changed drastically back home which led me to stay and carve a life in a foreign country away from my family.
The sudden change of events helped me look at the present and future as a blank canvas – which gives the freedom to create something out of nothing.
Along with the freedom came many mistakes including financial ones. As many in the FI community, experience was my teacher as no one really taught me how to manage money growing up.
Around my mid 20s I got tired of feeling completely clueless when it came to money – my then fiance had received a windfall and we both missed an opportunity to make the most of it due to our ignorance.
The funds weren’t terribly wasted in seconds, but the experience showed us that money without a plan disappears rather quickly. That was my trigger to dig the books, learn all I could about personal finance, and start tracking our expenses
One of my friends introduced me to Dave Ramsey and we began the baby steps.
Little did I know that taking your power back – financially and beyond– is not something everyone around you celebrates. The financial steps where simple (not easy), however, the most difficult (and rewarding!) part is the mindset transformation that inevitably happens along the process.
Following the baby steps eventually led us to the ChooseFI community in April 2019 and I started learning about the FI/RE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement.
Since we made the decision to change our ways, our financial progress has gone way beyond our money. It has been filled with opportunities for personal growth.
I believe freedom and fulfillment can be part of our lives TODAY not when an FI number is reached and target date arrives.
Today I am not as broke as I use to be. I am also a wife, a mom, and I make a good income with a role that fits my lifestyle and provides me the flexibility I craved. I pursue some interests in the side and I consider myself life’s full-time student.
Taking care of our finances has allowed us to have options that were important for our family such as be very present as we raise our son, be home owners without drowning in debt, and being able to help family and give consistently.
I will certainly be sharing more about myself as I continue blogging so stay tuned. The categories will be developing as I go; I am just excited to get started.
I hope my thoughts and stories inspire others as many members of the FI community have empowered us. Taking control of our lives is not only possible and necessary but it is fun when we do it together as a community.
Thank you for being part of it and give me a piece of your valuable time – I hope to make it worth it 🙂
J – The Fimigrant
