How Climbing A Mountain Made Me A Happy Saver

Meet Bukky - Mountain Climber, Marathon Runner and Maverick

Discover how she went from a carefree spender to a happy saver. Learn how she conquered self-doubt and started a business. Find out what she is working on to achieve financial success.

I thought "Money would always be available"

I grew up as an only child in a middle-class family. My parents doted on me. We weren’t rich but I never felt any lack. I went to good schools and always got whatever I asked for. In retrospect, that’s likely why I thought “Money would always be available.”

I love being outdoors, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. About five years ago, I got into hiking mountains. I have climbed two mountains. I also love running. I ran a 10K earlier today. I have run two marathons and want to run more races in different parts of the world

For privacy, several identifying information has been changed.

How did you get to where you are now?

I have a master’s degree in Engineering. I worked as an engineer for three years. I didn’t like it. I couldn’t afford the life I wanted with my salary. I switched to work in operations for an e-commerce startup as part of the founding team. I made 2.5x my engineer salary.

But, the startup became toxic as it grew. After three years, I needed a break. I quit my job. I had a beauty blog where I wrote about makeup. People would ask me to do their makeup. I was uncomfortable at first. I still thought of myself as an engineer and not a makeup artist. However, my savings were running out, and I needed the money. I used the last bit of my savings to rent a tiny store, and that’s how I started my makeup studio.

The first six months were tough. I struggled with identity issues. I went from a high-paying job to scraping by to make ends meet with my studio. I asked myself, “Why am I doing this?” many times.

I debated going back to engineering or getting another job in e-commerce. But, something happened most days to encourage me. Like a client loving her wedding makeup or a reader telling me how much she appreciated an article I wrote. I loved those moments so much that somehow I stuck with building my studio.

After two years, the studio finally took off. I got interviewed by a major news network for an article on wedding makeup. That interview opened up doors for me. I got more TV interviews, more clients, and more referrals. I could afford to hire people.

At that point, I wanted a different challenge. I got my scrum master qualification and got a job working in tech. I still do makeup part-time. I take appointments on weekends. I am grateful for the fantastic people who work at my studio. They keep the business I built from the ground up growing. I am always thrilled when I get Instagram messages praising my team.

What's your relationship with money?

I saw money as always available. That comes from growing up as an only child with parents who doted on me. Money was always there. In my 20s, I thought: “Money is meant to be spent.” I spent my paychecks down to zero each month. My mindset was: “There will always be another paycheck, and I’ll be okay.”

I only started saving five years ago. I wanted to climb a mountain and realized how expensive the trip would be. For the first time, my paycheck couldn’t cover something I wanted. I saved for six months. I spent all the money during my trip and was back to zero savings. I did the same thing the next year to climb another mountain.

In 2020, my dad fell sick. Luckily I had been saving for another trip and could use the money for his treatment. That was the first time I saw the benefit of having emergency savings. I now save every month.

What do you do with your money?

I save $7000 and spend $4600 monthly. My husband covers expenses like rent and car payments. We are using my income to save for a down payment on a house. I have no debt. I pay off my credit card balance in full every month.

Monthly budget:

Savings – $7,000
Groceries and restaurants – $1500
Studio rent – $1200
Other studio expenses (e.g. supplies) – $800
Personal expenses (e.g. nails, hair, clothes) – $800
Subscriptions and phone bill – $300

What purchase brought you the most joy last month?

I paid the first month’s rent on a townhouse. We have wanted to move out of our apartment for years. I hesitated about spending more on rent, but I finally decided to live life fully. I learned this from you – enjoy life while working on financial success. The new place is much bigger and closer to work.

What purchase do you now regret?

Food! I love to eat out, and I’m gaining weight. My goal is to cook more and spend less on restaurants next month. You never know how your food is cooked in a restaurant. I could be eating truckloads of butter and sugar each month without realizing it.

What does financial success look like for you?

I had a health scare a few years ago. Quality of life matters to me. I want to afford a comfortable, healthy, and happy life. I have a chronic disease, so my biggest priority is to stay healthy. I have worked hard for money all my life. I want to switch to having my money work hard for me. I want to work less and have more time to create memories with my loved ones that I will always cherish.

Financial success is a house and $1M in the bank. I want to get there by 40. We have saved $40K for a down payment and have $60K left. We want to buy in the next year.

How has Simplified Wallet helped you?

I moved my savings to a high-yield savings account. I was earning 0.25% interest on my savings at my old bank. I earn 4% interest at my new bank. That’s 16x more. If I left the $40K I have saved in my old account for a year, I would earn $100 interest. In my new account, I would earn $1600 interest after a year. That makes a big difference to me.

I like your make more money advice. I got a great performance review at work. I am going to ask my manager for a raise. I am also considering getting a certification that could increase my income. It costs $3000, but then, I can apply for a promotion at work.

Let's talk

We love hearing from you! What resonated with you from Bukky’s story? What do you dream of but are scared to act on? Are there ways you can take courage from her story?

Pause for 5 mins and consider what steps you can take today to achieve financial success.

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