I Was Broke at 30—Then I Found Calm in Financial Stability

Because smart money choices are the wellness tool too few people talk about

I was 30 when I woke up to see a $0.00 balance in my bank account. I’d invested every last dollar into launching Love Wellness, come out of a broken relationship, moved into a new apartment, and borrowed from my parents just to stay afloat. It was never regret, but fear. “How will I pay rent? Will my business survive? Am I starting over again?” If you’ve ever faced that bottom-out moment, you know the weight it places on your mind and spirit.

I used to chase wellness through juice cleanses, meditation apps, and boutique retreats. None of it reached the true root of my anxiety: money insecurity. Living paycheck to paycheck drains creativity, disrupts sleep, and counteracts therapy more than any trend ever could.

I’ve been financially independent since I was 17, but I made classic mistakes of overspending, chasing status, living beyond my means. I call it being a recovering spender. Those early experiences didn’t just cost me money. They cost me calm.

Seeing a zero balance at 30 made me feel like I had failed, right as I was stepping into what should have been my most important chapter. I was proud to invest in my business and myself, but I also knew I could not let fear define me as my new normal.

So I did something brave. I asked for help even though I did not have it all figured out. I began working with a financial planner when my bank account was nearly empty. It felt counterintuitive at first. How could I invest in guidance when I had nothing? That choice became the foundation of rebuilding trust in myself. The support and structure of financial planning gave me clarity, stability, and a clear path forward.

Now at 38, engaged, growing my business, and planning for the future, something shifted. Not overnight, but over time. My fiancé and I built monthly money habits based on what we value most: conversations about goals, dreams, and yes, dollars. Financial planning didn’t restrict us. It freed us. It felt like self-care.

When I recorded Northwestern Mutual’s A Better Way to Money® podcast recently, it gave me the opportunity to share my story and reflect on everything we’ve already built. The convo with financial expert Lauren Yoder reminded me that planners are like wellness coaches. They help turn fear into strategy and confusion into clarity.

Here’s what followed when I started planning a few years ago:
• Morning calm, not panic
• Confidence instead of anxiety
• Shared vision instead of uncertainty

We traded chaos for clarity not by giving up joy but by defining it in alignment with our values. Real wellness isn’t just kale. It’s conscious money decisions that strengthen you when life gets real.

Studies show that financial anxiety is strongly linked to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. In fact, a recent study by Northwestern Mutual found that nearly 70% of Americans relate these feelings to financial uncertainty. Conversely, people with clear financial plans often report better mental health and more emotional resilience . Asking for professional guidance isn’t a sign of weakness or wealth, it’s a form of self-care that helps you live more intentionally.

If you’ve ever stared at a near-empty account with a racing heart, know this: planning won’t box you in, instead it gives you room to breathe. Wherever you are - rebuilding after loss, buying a home, or starting a family consider trusting a financial planner. Planning is wellness.

You can peek behind the scenes of my journey over at the A Better Way to Money® podcast. It’s not just a convo! It’s a real story on how smart financial decision lead to meaningful calm.

Ever seen a money worry turn into relief after making a plan? Let me know in the comments!