Jillian Johnsrud grew up at the poverty line. Her mother had two children by age 19, and Jillian was raised in a town of 700 people, living in a home that struggled to afford the basics.
She married her husband when she herself was 19 years old. During their first year of marriage, they lived in a camper and earned a combined income of $12,000.
Her husband joined the military after graduating from college. They relocated to Washington D.C., where they earned a combined $60,000 per year. They saved half of their income and used their savings to wipe out $55,000 of debt.
At 22 years old, Jillian and her husband adopted a son. Two years later, at age 24, the couple had accumulated their first $100,000. The following year, they gave birth to a second child.
Jillian and her husband continued saving half of their income. Eventually, they bought a house in cash, invested in two rental properties, and built a portfolio of index funds.
By age 32, Jillian and her husband achieved financial independence. And they built this on a modest five-figure income.
How did Jillian and her husband live on $12,000 per year? How did they save their first $100,000 by age 24? What sacrifices did they make? And how did reaching financial independence change their relationship with money? Find out in this raw, emotional interview.
You’ll enjoy this episode if:
- You earn less than six-figures and question your ability to reach financial independence
- You can’t bring yourself to spend your savings because you feel guilty
- You want a raw, realistic take on the journey to financial independence
Resources Mentioned:
- Jillian’s podcast, Everyday Courage
- @JillianJohnsrud on Instagram
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