Being Thankful for Financial Turning Points

Emotions and Money, Financial Wellness, Meta 2 Minutes

No one makes their financial journey alone. All of us can think back to times in our life when someone helped us, even just with some advice or a word of encouragement.

My sister Lyn often tells the story of how, when she and her husband were just starting out, getting a new-to-them car from her mother-in-law completely changed the course of their life. Without car payments they were able to save money to buy the duplex where they had been renting, and the rent from the other apartment paid their mortgage. This allowed them to save, travel, and eventually start their own business.

My biggest financial turning point was going back to school in my 30s to get my engineering degree. I am forever grateful for:

  • the City Colleges of Chicago, which gave me an affordable way to get my math and science prerequisites before going to the UIC College of Engineering;
  • the boss at my day job who gave me a raise when I had to shift to part time work so I could go to school;
  • every friend who bought me dinner or invited me out during those years when I was broke beyond broke;
  • all the engineering societies and other institutions that gave me scholarships and the work they do all year long to raise money for those scholarships;
  • my fellow students who accepted me as one of their own even though I was older, and who helped and encouraged me every step of the way.

I couldn’t have made it without all these people and more, and getting that degree completely changed my life.

Take a moment to think back on the people who helped you at your financial turning points. If they are still in your life – tell them thank you! 

We can also think about the people in our lives right now that we might be able to help with their own financial turning point. It might be just a word of encouragement, or it might be something more substantial, but it could be the thing that changes their life forever.

Want to create your own financial turning point? Financial coaching can do just that. I have helped many people change their relationship with money and even completely change the direction of their lives. If you want to find out more, schedule a free 30-minute intro video call and let’s talk.

Published by Sandra Verthein

Sandra Verthein is a Chicago-based Personal Financial Coach, currently living in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. She is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ with the National Financial Educators Council. She was Co-Artistic Director of Stage Left Theater, and was a founding member of Glenwood Dance Studio. In 2018 she retired from her 17-year career as a Civil Engineer with Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP). After years of informally helping friends and family, she officially founded SJV Financial Coaching in fall of 2022, and has been successfully helping people change their financial futures.

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