@ashley.elle.co: I used to think being able to make the payment meant I could afford something. Those are NOT the same thing. 😭 And when I look back at the years before I paid off $60K of debt and built a wonderful savings , there were definitely things I bought because they made me feel like I was doing well financially… while quietly making it harder to actually become financially secure. Here are 6 of mine: 1. A car based on the monthly payment 🚗 I cared way more about whether the payment fit into my month than what the car was actually costing me. Payment affordability ≠ actual affordability. 2. Constantly upgrading my phone 📱 Did I NEED the newest one? Absolutely not. But somehow “it's only $___ a month” had me in a chokehold. 3. Clothes for the life I thought I was supposed to look like I had 👗 Work clothes. Going-out clothes. Random trend pieces. So much money spent trying to look put together instead of actually getting my finances together. 4. Vacations I hadn't saved for ✈️ I thought being able to book the trip meant I could afford the trip. Then Future Ashley got to deal with it when we got home. 😂 5. Financing things I could've waited to buy. Furniture. Electronics. Random “0% interest” purchases. I eventually realized I was borrowing from my future income because I didn't want to tell myself not yet. And whew. That one changed me. 6. Lifestyle upgrades every time I made more money. 💸 More income somehow always found a more expensive version of my life. So I looked like I was doing better financially… but my bank account wasn't getting the memo. Paying off $60K completely changed what “doing well” means to me. Now I'm much more impressed by: My savings account , money in the bank, low monthly obligations, having choices, being able to handle an emergency, and sleeping peacefully at night. I still like nice things. 😂 I just stopped confusing looking financially successful with actually being financially secure. We're rebuilding the bank account, not performing wealth. 🤎 Okay, your turn: what's something you used to think was a sign you were “doing well” financially? #financialfreedom #womenandmoney #moneytok #debtpayoff #debtfree

Ashley | Fitness for Women 30+

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Monday 07 September 2026 10:36:25 GMT