Addiction, Recovery, and Giving Back | Deanna Broaddus from Recovering Women Wealth | The Financial Independence Show Podcast

In today's episode, you'll hear the powerful story from Deanna who writes at Recovering Women Wealth.

Deanna would bounce around the world while sprinkling in college which she graduated from at age 28.

By that time she had already been married and divorced but found her passion in teaching.

Unfortunately, she then became addicted to drugs and alcohol and found her self six figures in debt.

Thankfully at age 36 she got sober and now at 46 is debt free and on solid financial ground.

Listen to one of the more powerful episodes we've ever had and let us know what you think.
Episode Summary

Her parents were good with money and she was rebellious
She knew money was necessary to be able to get out on her own
Deanna did some learn some money lessons but they didn't sink in until much later
She admits that they wanted for nothing and were middle class
Deanna's parents also saved up for her college
Her dad was a successful salesman and her mom stayed at home
She would end up bouncing around while sporadically going to college
Deanna would end up in Europe, Colorado, and Ohio
At 25 she was married and 27 she was divorced
Deanna would also have to file for bankruptcy because so much debt was in her name
At 28 she would finish her undergraduate degree and find her passion in teaching
While it took her 10 years to get her undergrad, she got her graduate in just one year
To pay for her lifestyle during all this she would rely on being a waitress
She started out on a promising career in education as a mathematics teacher
Then someone from her past came back to her life and got her hooked back on drugs
She stopped teaching and got offered a job at a country club she used to work at
Unfortunately, it was a job surrounded by alcohol
Deanna would continue to spiral and found herself six figures in debt

The Turning Point

She recalls seeing three paths including insanity, death, and a glimmer of hope
At 36 she realized she was done and quit cold turkey
She was able to do this without entering a treatment facility
Instead, she just utilized anonymous groups
Her money journey started to turn around too
A church friend introduced her to the Dave Ramsey techniques
Now four years she was making a lot of progress but still had struggles
She would end up losing her house due to foreclosure
Now with little debt remaining, she was extremely motivated
At age 43 she made the decision to move in with her parents to accelerate things
She became debt-free in December 2017
Today she works in the insurance industry and loves her job
She started that career-making $40k and is now up to $70k
Deanna is actually looking to take a year and volunteer at an orphanage in Uganda
We can't wait to see where life takes her and her powerful story

Key Takeaways

Financial freedom > Retiring Early: Deanna is 46 and not near the end of her FI journey but she feels so free without the burden of debt
Use these powers for good: I love how this community takes there freedom and uses it help others the way Deanna does
It doesn't have to be a sprint: Deanna has made huge strides but many would not feel comfortable taking a year off but that's what she wants to do so she can volunteer at an orphanage in Africa... and that's pretty awesome!

Call to Action

If you know someone facing addiction, send them Deanna's story. Even if you don't, we all have bad habits. Face one unhealthy habit this month and eliminate it!

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