I’VE HAD IT ALL—
AND LOST IT
TWICE
What It Really Takes to Be Financially Free
By Wendy Watson
People often ask how I remain so confident, even
when life is unpredictable. One of the things
people find both inspiring and occasionally
frustrating about me is just how deep my sense of
confidence runs. But what they don’t always see
is the road I took to get here. My confidence isn’t
arrogance or blind optimism—it’s the result of
having been tested time and time again and still
choosing to rise. I’ve had everything fall apart
more than once, and each time, I built it back with
more wisdom, more faith, and more clarity than
before.
My story with money began early. I started
working for my parents when I was just 11 years
old. My mom ran a financial mortgage office, and
my dad was in construction. From a young age, I
was exposed to spreadsheets, budgets, invoices,
and blueprints. The day I turned 16, I got my first
official job at the local bowling alley. By 18, I had
bought my first brand-new truck (with my mom as
my co-signer), had savings in the bank, and could
comfortably support myself. Understanding the
importance of credit, budgeting, and living within
my means was second nature—my parents made
sure of that.
Then came my first real financial curveball:
marriage.
I married a man I was convinced was “the one,”
despite everyone else’s warnings. Emotionally
and psychologically, the relationship was
deeply unhealthy, but he helped me come out
of my shell in many ways. Financially, though,
we were a disaster. He didn’t believe in
budgets. If a debit card worked, that meant
there must be money, right? DSF fees stacked
up like a second rent payment, and no matter
what system I tried—credit limits, cash budgets
—he’d revert back to overspending. Add in
college debt, unstable job situations, and
constant financial juggling, and you’ve got a
recipe for bankruptcy.
When we moved from San Diego to Phoenix in
2003 to escape California’s high cost of living, I
thought I’d done my homework. I found him a
job transfer with equal pay and assumed I’d
find work at the same rate. But I was wrong. I
had to take a pay cut, and four months later, he
had a seizure while driving a big rig—causing a
massive accident that his work insurance
wouldn't cover. Months of medical bills and
lost income followed. We filed Chapter 13
bankruptcy and tried to dig our way out.
SHE TALKS | 21