Greetings, Money Saving Lords and Ladies, this week I’m delighted you get to hear from one of my first followers – Lady Katie. Over the past few years, Lady Katie has managed to go to nursing school debt free! And she’s started a rocking money saving site of her own Frugal Femina. Now she and her husband Sir Xon are embarking on a new journey. He’s decided to head to medical school and they’ll attempt to get through it without taking out massive loans.
Hey everybody. So glad you stopped by today. Freedom Friday is when I bi-weekly let you in on how we’re doing with our pursuit of paying off debt. It’s also when many of you have e-mailed me with your story (with either “Freedom in Progress” or “Freedom Achieved” in the subject line) so I can share your story to encourage others, too.
My Freedom Friday story is not an ending or even a middle, but a beginning. A new beginning.
Xon and I met in college in 1997. He was from Georgia. I was from Kentucky. Although we lived in Georgia for a few years and loved it, we knew we wanted to move back to Kentucky to be near my roots. The problem is, the jobs here are scarce. Really scarce. We lived with my parents for a while. Xon got his CDL in case a job came up with the railroad–even though he is totally the nerdy professor-type. I started couponing and began writing a little ol’ site called Frugal Femina. c-:
When I had the opportunity to go to nursing school for free, I jumped! I knew I would have several job options when I graduated, it was interesting, and I wanted to get through it while my toddler, Bradley, was still little and we didn’t have any more kiddos. I made it through by the grace of God, and my permanent license should arrive any day!
Meanwhile, Xon has been roaming. Trying to find a place where he feels at home and like he can really contribute with his talents. Feeling like he is hitting brick wall after brick wall. Frustrated that he wants to do so much and yet can’t seem to catch a break. If we are committed to staying in this area, the health-care industry is pretty much the way to go. So a few weeks ago, Xon told me he wants to go to medical school, and he’s starting his first classes in a couple of weeks. Apparently, he has been researching it for a while. c-:
So now begins a new journey. An eight-year journey that has the potential to rack up an immense amount of debt. I wasn’t very excited about the idea at first, because I’m at a point in my life where I just want to feel settled. How I love that word! But I know this will make Xon happy, and doors have certainly opened to make it a reality.
We are able to live for a while without a rent/mortgage payment. It’s a one-bedroom cabin, but it’s on acres and acres of land where Bradley is safe and able to run to his heart’s content. A local community college asked Xon to teach some online classes that should pay the tuition for his prerequisites. I should be able to work on weekends when Xon can watch Bradley. And I figure it’s an opportunity to take my mad couponing skills to a whole new level. Even now, we can choose to manage our money responsibly so we will feel less stress during the journey and be able to give more in the end.
So while this may be a different kind of Freedom Friday story and I have been sharing a few sighs with the Queen lately, I’m glad to be on the ride with you. Keep e-mailing your stories. They make my day!
Have any of you lived the med-school life and learned some money-saving tricks along the way? Be sure to share them in the comments so I don’t have to learn the hard way. c-:
Can you give Lady Katie a hand? Have you survived graduate/law/med school with little to no debt? PLEASE share your story.
Keep up your money saving ways, Lady Katie! You CAN do it. We know you can. Don’t forget to e-mail me your story because we’re better together, Money Saving Lords and Ladies.
www.queenoffree.net
