In 2024, I review my finances and investments and was a little bit shocked. I mean, I was shocked all the time, basically, I was in the middle of a burn out and everything was too much and a burden and impossible to manage. But there was that moment when I did a summary. And I had reached my goal.
Being able to provide for Lily and survive myself (meaning, no beer nor other luxury, just bare minimum) from passive income, stemming from diverse funds that did not include my business nor any support from my community and family.
It was a turning point for me. "Financial security" was one of my hidden trauma, one that I only realized I had once I reached that goal - and thought that I needed more. Because, what if...?
I lived very frugal for many years. I spent more money on little gimmicks for the business than luxuries for myself (besides eating out once a week, 8$ for a dish of Tofu that lasts for 2 meals).
I drank the cheapest "beer", only $1 for 660ml back then (by now it's $1,50 I think). I never bought new clothes, and if I had to, the cheap ones.
I had them fixed until my fixer guy asked me to show mercy on him and the shredded cloth, and finally put it to rest.
I made it a habit to get up at 6am on a Sunday to go to the Hampi Maskari market to get the best deals on all the veggies that I could get for 15% more anytime of the week at the regular market. And 2$ worth of "Papas con berro", Potato with watercress, which is a huge amount that feeds me almost a whole day.
I bought more and more bulk to save pennies on the dollar on ingredients for the bakery, re-investing everything that was left-over.
I pulled 16-18h shifts regularly to boost the business, until I had enough income to afford a worker, then two, then three, then four, then five... With each one working harder to get more clients and make it worth it.
I rarely took vacation, and if so, generally in cheap hostels or at friends' places. I didn't need much, I still don't. Vacation is getting out for the normal.
That's just a few things. I was raised to save energy, water, gas, whatever there is. So I'm still doing that. Once it's a habit, it doesn't cost energy anymore. Working on those good habits makes my life so much easier now, as I still have a savers-mentality, but finally allow myself some luxury. Going out more often, buying a coffee grinder, a cajón for the jam sessions, a new coat from NuevoSol that looks awesome on me and makes me feel good.
I've made it. And I was able to resist the "I need to continue to get more!" that runs in my family. It's not greed, it's fear. Fear of what could happen, because so many things had happened to us. So many health issues, swallowing up huge chunks of savings.
But I can't live like that. And I made one thing very clear for me:
[...]stemming from diverse funds that did not include my business nor any support from my community and family.
Whatever may happen, I can count on so many people to help me out. They already did, after the pandemic, when I was down on the ground, all savings gone, and facing having to travel across Ecuador once every 5 weeks to be with my daughter for 10 days. I got so much support from my community.
Not to mention my family. Whatever happens, they will be there. Nothing more to say, always was the case, always will be.
And my business is running, and my team is awesome. That passive income? It's compounding. And that's enough.
I'm no big spender. But I enjoy spending money on myself now, not only on Lily who's the main focus with all her lessons and whatever there is to cover. I'm still in the habit of saving, and I always will be. I think I found a balance. After years of grinding, I made it. I have financial security.
Until everything goes to down the drain and money ain't worth the paper anymore.
What are your thoughts about this topic? Please feel free to engage in any original way, including dropping links to your posts on similar topics. I'm happy to read (and curate) any quality content that is not created by LLM/AI.
Post written for the #weekend-engagement by 
This is my response to:
1/ What have you had to work hard for and eventually achieved? Explain what it was and how you did it.
Thank you for reading!