🍋 Stories of personal finance trials and tribulations

Pursuing a post-secondary degree was my first large financial undertaking. I grew up in a family that did not believe in taking on debt. So when I incurred a large amount of debt through taking out student loans, I lacked the tools to understand how to manage debt alongside other financial goals. While I relied on the internet to teach me everything I know regarding personal finance, the stories of others overcoming debt and achieving financial freedom resonated more with me.

Net Worth Zero aims to showcase my personal journey from overwhelming debt to financial resilience and, ultimately, to financial success.

While my journey highlights my struggles with financial perseverance after higher education, it also exists within the larger socio-economic landscape of the national student debt crisis, where inequities thrive. Although I’ve aimed to take a “when life gives you lemons” approach to tackling and living with debt, I recognize that the pursuit of education and financial freedom has a sour underbelly. The reality is that turning adversity into something positive is not always possible for many struggling with student debt. Unfortunately systemic inequity influences every aspect of the higher education funnel, from prospective students through their educational journey and into their post-graduation opportunities.

By sharing my financial experiences, I hope to shed light on the potential for others in their own pursuit to financial success.