Living with financial stress versus financial freedom is like night and day according to our guests, Chris and Ari Larson; a “normal” couple from Virginia who paid off over $209,123 of debt AND cash flowed their wedding!  

Their journey to being debt free started long before they even met each other.  Ari, a law school graduate, could no longer handle the financial stress that her $162,123.59 of student loan debt caused.  

When they met, she had already paid off $130,000 of this debt on her own!  Ari knew Chris had his own debt but she wasn’t going to let finances create friction in their relationship; so once they were engaged, she suggested that they enroll in Financial Peace University.  

What a gift this 9 week course turned out to be.  By aligning their financial goals and channeling their resources, they not only managed to pay off their debt but also built a robust financial foundation for their future. 

Through their commitment to each other and unyielding determination, newlyweds, Chris and Ari showcased that with unity and perseverance, any financial challenge can be conquered, leading to a life of stability and opportunity.

Listen to their inspiring story!

Get inspired and take action!

Inspiring Quote: 
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill

Action Steps:
Being that Chris and Ari started their debt free journey before they met, they identified the following steps to take if you are in a relationship and if you are single.

With a Partner:
Come together to create your vision, discover your why.  Then take miniature steps to set that vision into motion.  Start with budgeting even though it will be challenging at first.  Also, ask yourselves: “Are you willing to put in the hard work?”  Go into it knowing that working together takes communication and compromise.

If you are single:
Turn your goals into a vision board or use a spreadsheet to document your financial projections.  Also, find an accountability partner, someone you trust to guide and support you along the way.  Go into this for the right reasons; choose to change for yourself not because someone else is telling you to.

Whether you are single or in a relationship, Chris and Ari want you to know it gets easier with time and then it becomes a habit; and something you enjoy spending your time and energy on.
 
Book Recommendation:
The Martian by Andy Weir
https://andyweirauthor.com/#the-martian

Resource:
https://debtfreecharts.com/ 
https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/financial-peace

Beyond the podcast, we are Money Coaches who want to help you!:
If you are looking to create healthy money habits so you can achieve your dreams, contact either of us to learn how working with a coach can help you to thrive.

Connect and Follow Donald Raymond owner of Raymond House Financial Fitness:
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Connect and Follow Christine Spiak owner of Compass Financial Wellness:
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