Financial Coaching Client Stories

Stories from clients who have transformed their money mindset through financial coaching.

At Fiscal Fitness, we help individuals, couples and business owners feel empowered to take control of their finances. We have seen hundreds of clients over the years go from feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and even ashamed of their financial situation to feeling hopeful and excited about what the future holds. Here are a few of their stories.

Kristen and Dan went from $40,000 in credit card debt to paying for seven family vacations, fully in cash.

Read their story.

Ally went from a took a head-in-the-sand approach to her finances to having a plan that included spending money guilt-free on luxuries she enjoys.

Read her story.

Nicole and Jason were overspending by $1,000-$2,000 every month before they decided to book a Eureka session.

Read their story.

Nicole had no savings and was working on paying off business taxes. A year later, she had $15,000 in savings and $0 in taxes owed.

Read her story.

Kristen & Dan

“We had gone through a rough time financially and thought we would bounce back quickly.”

  • Live in Annapolis, MD

  • Married 7 years

  • Have two kids, ages 3 and 5

  • Began working with FFP in January 2018

Kristen & Dan’s Financial Wins

$0
increase in overall net worth
$0
in credit card debt PAID OFF
$0
in unexpected house repairs paid from savings
0
family vacations fully paid for with cash

How would you describe your financial situation? What issues did you have with money?

We had gone through a rough time financially and thought we would bounce back quickly. So we did what everyone else does and used credit cards to hold us over until we were in a better financial situation.  We accumulated A LOT of credit card debt and once our income stabilized, we weren’t able to put the dent in the debt we had hoped. In fact, it kept growing because using credit cards had become a way of life. It felt like no matter how much money we made, we could never chip away at the credit card debt.

Why did you decide to schedule a Eureka session?

Our financial situation was causing so much stress.  It was a major negative in our life. We both knew it had to be fixed before we hit rock bottom. Every New Year, we try and identify something to work on and our finances were surely our weakness is 2017.  We signed up for a Eureka session with the New Year, and it has been nothing short of life-changing!

How did you feel going into your first financial coaching session?

Really nervous and embarrassed… like no one else has ever dug themselves into a hole as big as ours.

How did you feel after you left it?

Empowered. Jill gave us confidence that together we could get back on the right track.

How do you describe your financial situation now?

We are in such a better spot! My husband’s credit score has gone up 80 points, mine 30. We are building our savings. We actually had a $7,000 house emergency pop up this month that we are paying for in cash. There is zero stress about it. We are so excited to begin saving for new cars, bathroom remodels, college savings,  and our emergency fund! I would have never said that 13 months ago, and here I am loving it!

What has been your biggest mental shift?

My biggest mental shift is that I am capable of achieving any of the financial goals we set.  I know where every single dollar goes now, and I’m in control of my finances, not the other way around.

See what all the fuss is about. Learn more about our Eureka session.

Ally R.

“I no longer feel guilty about eating out, getting my nails done, getting my massages or booking trips because they’re all planned for.”

  • Lives in Kennett Square, PA

  • Has owned her own business since 2015

  • Started working with FFP in 2017

Prior to financial coaching, how would you describe your financial situation? 

Prior to financial coaching, I was the type of person who stuck her head in the sand when it came to looking at my finances. I didn’t really have a system to track what was coming in and what was going out. I really felt out of control around my finances, and that caused me a lot of stress and anxiety.

Why did you decide to schedule a Eureka session?

I scheduled a Eureka session because I was getting ready to go through a divorce and I really wanted to start to take better control of my finances. It felt like a good time to really get a handle on them and to get a fresh start.

How did you feel going into your first financial coaching session?

I felt super nervous going into my first coaching session. Letting someone else look at my finances felt super vulnerable and I was afraid of what we’d find together. I was afraid that Jill was going to tell me that I was in way over my head and that I needed to massively change how I was living.

How did you feel after you left it?

I left our session feeling heard and seen and relieved. One of the things that I was afraid of was being judged for my past financial missteps and Jill was so kind and caring and supportive, she held great space for me, and I walked away feeling relieved that 1) it wasn’t as bad as I had thought 2) now that I knew the full picture, I could move forward with more confidence and clarity.

Why did you decide to move forward with ongoing coaching? 

I decided to move forward with ongoing coaching because I knew that the Eureka session was just the first step and that if I wanted true and lasting change around my habits and patterns around money, that I was going to need accountability.

How would you describe your financial situation today? 

Today I feel confident about my financial system because I have a system that I know how to use to make good financial decisions.

What has been your biggest mental shift when it comes to your money?

I think the biggest shift has been my ability to actually look at my money. I had to realize that by not looking at the numbers, I was giving money power and control over me. Since coaching, I feel like I have control over my money. Also, one of my biggest fears was that I was going to have to cut back so much that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy life. The thing I love most about the system we’ve created is that it accounts for all of the extra luxury things that I desire to have as a part of my life.

See what all the fuss is about. Learn more about our Eureka session.

Nicole & Jason

“I knew as soon as I got the follow-up budget, that this was something I could do. I felt empowered to change our life.”

  • Live in Robinson, IL

  • Nicole has owned her own business since 2017

  • Has a four-year-old

  • Attended a Eureka session with FFP

Nicole and Jason’s Financial Wins

$0
saved over 8 months
0
car loan paid off
$0
of credit card debt paid off in six months
0
number of times their checking account has been overdrawn

How would you describe your financial situation? How was your relationship with money affecting your life?

We had maxed out one credit card at $25,000 while I was building a business. We had two vehicle debts, our house, my student loans, and we had just paid off my husband’s student loans the past year. We were wanting to embark on adopting our second child, but we had no savings and were flying through our money even though we both had great jobs. I had tried to create budgets multiple times, but they always fell apart or did not fit the lifestyle we wanted. The hardest thing was knowing there was no way we could afford another adoption, and even if we could take out another loan, there was no way we could afford the expense of raising a child without a disaster coming.

Why did you decide to schedule a Eureka session?

Honestly, regret and frustration. I loved my business so much, but I started to resent it because I knew it had gotten us into debt. Because I was the person heading the finances and leading my business, I felt like I had led my family and husband astray. I felt exacerbated, had panic attacks, and got in fights with my husband every time I saw a stack of mail on the table.

How did you feel going into your first financial coaching session?

Overwhelmed at the beginning. I had done the homework really thoroughly and went back over a year of bank and credit card statements, trying to get a handle on how we spent our money. When I did the calculations and put it in the spreadsheet, I was appalled to see we were overspending by $1-2K every single month. I was embarrassed and had no clue how we had gotten here and even less clue how to get out.
On the call, I was floored. Jill shared things and ideas I knew nothing about. She talked to me about how and why to put my student loans in deferral for 6 months just to get back on track. She made me feel at ease. She made it seem like it was not only possible but that it would be fun.

How did you feel after you left?

Determined. I knew as soon as I got the follow-up budget, that this was something I could do. I knew that every 2 weeks I could sit down pay bills, look at our finances, and do it with peace, not anxiety. I felt empowered to change our life.

How would you describe your financial situation now?

The biggest mental shift is I never check our accounts, waiting for a check to come in, and I always know when I get an unexpected bill that most of it is covered with our set savings accounts. It is such a relief. Our furnace died this year. It was $700, and we had $650 in a savings account just for home repairs, so it was $50 unexpected instead of $650 which is way different management style.

If we stay on our current budget, we will achieve our goal of being debt-free (except our home) by June 2022, and I can see that perfectly laid out on the spreadsheets!!!

See what all the fuss is about. Learn more about our Eureka session.

Nicole P.

“I was so stressed around money, and I knew I needed help to get me out of the hole I put myself in.  I was embarrassed that I was even in this situation, and knew if I didn’t get help it was only going to get worse.”

  • Lives in Phoenix, AZ

  • Has owned her own business since 2013

  • Started working with FFP in 2015

Nicole’s Financial Wins

$0
in business emergency savings
0
purchased new car paid for in cash
$0
of credit card debt and tax liabilities paid off in one year
$0
worth of student loans paid off in 3 months

How would you describe your financial situation in the beginning? How did money make you feel?

I had a lot of credit card debt. I was working on paying it off with a debt settlement company.  Plus, I had additional credit card debt and an IRS tax liability from my business that I needed to pay off.  I had no savings, and I was living paycheck-to-paycheck even though I knew I shouldn’t be. I had no budget for my business either, which is crazy! I had no structure at all.

Why did you decide to work with FFP?

I was so stressed around money, and I knew I needed help to get me out of the hole I put myself in.  I was embarrassed that I was even in this situation, and I knew if I didn’t get help, it was only going to get worse.

How did you feel going into your first financial coaching session?

I was nervous that I was going to be judged for the situation I was in.  I was also nervous that it was going to take years to undo what I had done, and I didn’t want to face this reality.

How did you feel after you left?

l felt hopeful for my future.  My boyfriend was sure that Kelsa was going to make me take every penny and put it towards debt.  However, Kelsa’s approach was more of a balance between paying off debt and spending money on things I enjoyed.  It was MY choice to eliminate a lot of the extras I knew I didn’t need because paying off debt was way more important to me at that point.

How would you describe your financial situation now? How has your relationship with money changed?

My financial situation is now stable/consistent because I have a plan (or a budget).   I look at spending money differently, and I go through a process before I commit to buying something.  It also helps with my business.
See what all the fuss is about. Learn more about our Eureka session.

The first step to changing your relationship with money is knowing that it can be better. We want you to feel just as confident and hopeful about your money as these clients.

It starts with a Eureka session.

Ready to change your future? Schedule a Eureka session today.