8 Steps We Took to Become Financially Independent After a Major Life Setback

 Introduction

Life rarely gives us time to prepare for its hardest moments. One of the most difficult experiences in my life was losing my father unexpectedly. In a blink, everything changed — emotionally, mentally, and financially. My mother and I found ourselves in a situation we weren’t ready for. No backup plan. No financial security. No idea where to begin.

But today, we stand strong, independent, and financially stable.

It’s not just our story — it’s a step-by-step guide to help you achieve financial independence too. If we could move from complete loss to complete financial control, so can you. Here’s how we did it, step-by-step.

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1. Accepting the Situation Without Losing Hope

Our journey didn’t begin with money — it began with healing. Losing a loved one shakes everything inside you. But instead of falling apart, we made a promise to each other: we won’t give up.

That inner strength pushed us forward — helping us grow, adapt, and eventually thrive. If you want to achieve financial freedom, you need a strong mindset before anything else.

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2. Tracking Every Dollar — No Exceptions

When we first started, our income was very limited. So we tracked every single dollar — where it came from, and where it went.

We used:

Free budgeting apps

Google Sheets

Envelope method for cash

The goal? Our mission was to cut unnecessary expenses and find smart ways to grow our savings.

It wasn’t easy, but small changes added up. That was our first taste of money control.

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3. Building Financial Literacy From Scratch

We knew nothing about money. No one taught us about:

Emergency funds

Credit scores

Investments

Passive income

So we learned.

We read blogs, watched YouTube videos, listened to finance podcasts, and followed personal finance experts on social media.

Financial knowledge = Financial power.

The more we learned, the less scared we felt. And slowly, fear turned into confidence.

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4. Starting Small, Earning Online

We both started exploring income options we could do from home:

I began writing content online (freelancing)

My mom offered virtual assistance and part-time admin tasks

The internet gave us access to global clients — without leaving our home.

Soon, side hustles turned into steady income streams.

No job is too small when you’re building independence. What matters is consistency and progress.

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5. Saving Consistently, Even If It Was Just $5

As soon as we started earning, we set up automatic savings — even if it was just $5 each week.

We used:

High-interest savings accounts

Auto-deposit features

Emergency fund goals

Watching our savings grow gave us a sense of control and peace. And trust me — even small savings can be life-changing in emergencies.

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6. Investing Early — Even Without Much Money

Many people think you need thousands to start investing. You don’t.

We began with small investments:

ETFs

Index funds

Micro-investing apps like Acorns or Robinhood

We diversified slowly and educated ourselves along the way.

Investing turned our savings into assets.

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7. Prioritizing Health and Mental Clarity

Being financially independent is not just about money — it’s about energy, focus, and peace of mind.

We:

Took walks every morning

Practiced gratitude journaling

Avoided toxic media

Our health and clarity gave us the emotional strength to stick to our financial plan and not burn out.

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8. Creating a Financially Stable Life We’re Proud Of

Today, we’re not rich — but we are secure.

We pay our bills on time.

We save every month.

We invest smartly.

And most importantly — we are not dependent on anyone.

That is true financial independence.

And it feels better than anything money can buy.

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Conclusion: You’re Stronger Than You Think

If you’ve hit rock bottom — emotionally or financially — let this be a sign: You can rise.

You can rebuild your life.

You can take control of your finances.

It starts with one small step.

And once you begin, you won’t stop — because freedom tastes better than fear.

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