Unashamedly, I must admit that the holiday season is my favorite time of year. My house has been decorated for Christmas since the first week of November, and although I’m already tired of hearing the Polar Express train circling my tree all day, this time of year brings me so much joy.

The holiday season floods my spirit with childhood memories of family vacations, festive gatherings, and the excitement of gifts. As a kid, I thrived in the holiday chaos, loving every activity and busy moment. But as I got older, I started noticing the stress my parents felt during this time of year.

Memories about Money

My mom came from a stable home where her parents, as business owners, provided well for their family. My dad, on the other hand, grew up poor and sometimes struggled to have his basic needs met. From a young age, he hustled—collecting and selling Coke cans or scrap metal to make money. Once old enough, he started working in the oil field, determined to never depend on his parents again.

My parents had four children and provided our basic needs and desires well. My dad’s experiences shaped his work ethic and desire to give us a better life. This drive was especially apparent during the holidays, as my parents worked hard to give us extravagant Christmases. While I loved the magic of it all as a child, I later realized how much stress and financial strain it caused them.

Reimagining the Holidays for My Family

These reflections have influenced how I approach the holiday season with my children. We focus less on extravagant gifts and material things and more on gratitude, joy, and making meaningful memories. While my kids still open a few gifts on Christmas morning, we emphasize the importance of gratitude for the life we have built for them. A life where they don’t have to spend 50% of their time awake in the week at school, where they don’t have to worry about having their needs met, they get to enjoy several vacations a year, and they don’t have to hear their mom and dad fight about money.

This week, I had a proud homeschool moment that assured me these values are making their mark on my kids. We made gratitude turkeys, and I was pleased to hear my kids list ten things they are grateful for, none of which were material things. As I made my gratitude turkey, I only had one feather about money (also something to brag about coming from me!). Yet, that single feather represents many lessons I’ve learned.

Here are five lessons from my journey to FI that I am most grateful for.

5 Lessons from My Journey to FI to Be Grateful for

1. Developing financial literacy for myself to pass down to my kids

Learning about financial literacy has been one of my greatest personal achievements. Growing up, my parents didn’t invest in the stock market, build retirement accounts, or save for the long term. While they provided for us, they often went into debt to do so, including paying for our first college degrees.

I had to learn financial literacy on my own, breaking habits I’d seen growing up. My husband also grew up with a strong work ethic but lacked foundational knowledge about investing or saving. Together, we started our journey with real estate investing and found a community of entrepreneurs who taught us the tools to change our financial trajectory.

This lesson will forever be my favorite that I’ve learned that I get to pass on to my children and future generations.

2. Starting where I was

As a perfectionist, I often hesitate to start something until I feel fully prepared. But when I first learned about investing, I realized that waiting for the “perfect” time would hold me back.

I remember a conversation with my husband after listening to a podcast about embracing chaos and figuring it out as you go. It sparked fuel in me and surprised him that I was willing to start even if I didn’t have all the answers.

The lesson? Start where you are with what you have. Don’t wait for perfect conditions– they don’t exist. I’m thankful I didn’t let fear of the unknown keep me from beginning this journey. Thankfully, you don’t have to start blindly. Start with calculated steps using the financial vitals checklist, and don’t look back.

3. Mistakes are the best teachers.

I’ve learned way more from the deals I have lost money on than those that have gone smoothly. I did learn one good thing from my parents about money growing up: “You can always make more.” This mindset has helped me stay resilient through setbacks.

One day, I will write an article about my biggest defeats or screw-ups in real estate and the lessons they have taught me. For instance, one of my recent deals cost me $15,000 due to a process oversight—failing to file a memorandum on a wholesale property.

Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also growth opportunities. For that, I’m grateful.

4. Time > Money

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that money is a tool– to buy something far more precious: time.

Because we have other income streams, I only work 10 days a month and spend the rest of my time homeschooling my kids, teaching them about business and life, and making memories we’ll cherish forever.

FI isn’t just about money; it’s about the freedom to live on your terms. I’m deeply thankful for the experiences and memories that financial independence has allowed me to create.

5. Success looks different for everyone.

This lesson is one I am still wrestling to learn. I naturally want to “take over the world” with everything I do. But success doesn’t look the same for everyone—or even for me, depending on the season of life.

For some, success means replacing an income so one parent can stay home. For others, it’s escaping a toxic work environment, giving back to the community, having a retirement account, or simply having the flexibility to spend more time with loved ones.

The beauty of financial independence is that it allows you to define success on your terms, and for that, I am grateful.

Conclusion

While money was just one feather on my gratitude turkey, it represents so much more. It symbolizes the lessons I’ve learned on my journey to FI- financial literacy, patience, imperfect action, time, and perspective.

As we enter this season of gratitude, I encourage you to reflect on your financial wins, whether big or small. Celebrate the progress you’ve made, embrace the lessons you’ve learned, and if you haven’t started your journey to FI, start here and start now. There’s no better time than today to take that first step.