I’m Jackie Beck, a re-married mother of one who lives in Arizona. I’m not a professional financial, health, tax, or legal person, but I do love writing and (apparently) sharing my opinions. I post here on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. My hobbies include photography, oil painting, and poking around places I’ve never been.

My Story

Want to know a little bit about my financial story?

Well, you know how the government used to send out a Social Security Statement every year?

I actually like looking at mine, because it reminds me of where I’ve been.

Basically, I spent four years unemployed and making very little money — way below the poverty line for most of those years. (At the lowest point, my taxed earnings were $2,375, not including unemployment compensation.)

I was also in debt, struggling to build a small business, and I had a negative net worth.

Today, life’s different.

Getting a temporary “one or two day” contract position that eventually turned into a full time job certainly helped matters, but I’d made good money before with no lasting impact.

The real turn around came from something else: I started paying attention to my finances, and taking action.

I read Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin’s Your Money or Your Life, and literally started tracking my spending before I’d even finished the book. I got out of debt (except for our house, which we’re working on now.) I built an emergency fund, and began contributing to retirement with a vengeance.

I’m still paying attention, and my money situation is still improving.

If I can do it, you can do it.