Today is our fifth entry in our series interviewing moms who have successfully achieved their goals while being present moms.  In the first article, I interviewed two single moms who were able to make full-time income freelancing and were therefore able to stay home with their kiddos.  You can check out their stories here. 

Then we met a mom who found a balance between working a full-time job and raising her daughter. She loved her job and loved being a mom so she found a way to make it work.  You can find her interview here. 

Next we heard from two mamas who created their own businesses after becoming parents. Both of these amazing ladies had a passion to help other people with their knowledge and skills and were able to find a way to do it even while being busy moms.

Last time we heard from Dr. Sarah Reck, anesthesiologist and mom of 4. She talks about how she was able to create a resource for other women and moms in medicine even while working as a doctor and being there for her family.

Today, we are meeting two moms. First we have Mandy Youtz who together with her husband was able to pay off $40,000.00 in debt in just 2 years. They were able to do this after they already had 2 kids. That’s pretty incredible!

We also have Gloria Mondragon who has figured out how to earn an income from home while raising her two daughters. She didn’t want to miss out on all of her babies’ firsts so she figured out a way to make it work.

So, without further adieu, meet Mandy and Gloria!

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

Mandy: My name is Mandy. I'm a Christian, a wife to Ben, and mom of three girls (ages 2, 5, and 7). I am certified as a life coach, and I also work as a Content Writer for an online reputation management company. But my main gig is running my blog, The Well and Balanced Mom.

Gloria: I'm a mom to 2 girls. We're currently making the move from Texas to Florida. It is a stressful time indeed. I'm a serial entrepreneur. I'm a writer, an ESL instructor, a mother-mentor, and an affiliate marketer. Oh and I'm also a commercial actress represented by the wonderful LMT Agency here in Dallas, TX.

WHAT IS ONE MAJOR GOAL YOU WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE, PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL, AS A MOM?

Mandy: After I had my second baby, my husband and I made a joint goal to pay off our $40,000 of debt. We accomplished it in just about two years.

Gloria: A person goal of mine that I've achieved is I am able to earn an income from home while raising my two young girls.

WHAT WAS THE WHY BEHIND YOUR GOAL?

Mandy: I wanted to pay off our debt, because I wanted financial freedom. I was working full-time in a career that I didn't love. I desperately wanted to be home with my kids more, but my family was already living paycheck to paycheck, so there was no way I could quit my job. But I knew if I paid off our debt, our monthly obligations would be much less and maybe...just maybe, I could leave my job.

Gloria: I did not want to miss the many FIRSTS from my children. I've experienced their first steps, turning over, among many other first moments and its been the best.

WHAT KIND OF PLANNING AND TIME MANAGEMENT TACTICS DID YOU USE TO ALLOW YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL?

Mandy: I needed to master time management in order to achieve our goal. I was working 50 or more hours a week, plus I worked at home building a network marketing business. I woke up at 5 am each morning, read some personal development books and prayed, exercised, and then got to work! I worked on my home business while I was on break from my full-time job.

To manage my time, I also had to recognize where I was wasting time. I gave up binge-watching TV and scrolling mindlessly on social media. I kept my goal in the front of my mind, and I pushed through even when I felt like giving up or being lazy.

Gloria: I usually plan either the day before or a week ahead. It NEVER goes as planned but it is helpful to get an idea of WHAT needs the most attention. However, if I drop the ball on something it isn't horrible and I just pick up right where I left off. It's a bit stressful at times even with planning, lol.

DID YOU GET HELP FROM OTHERS, FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS?

Mandy: I had a friend that introduced me to debt stacking and helped me to understand how I could pay off my debt faster if we tackled the smallest debts first. Her advice was very helpful!

Of course, my husband was on my team throughout the entire journey. It was so much easier having him working beside me.

Gloria: Absolutely! My husband's twin brother (Uncle Jay is a big help) a babysitter we love. My mother, grandma, sisters, sister in law etc. It takes a village guys! I'm sure you know :D

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU FOUND ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL?

Mandy: The biggest factor in achieving our goal was changing our mindset about money. We had to stop thinking about impressing people, or what we thought we "deserved" to be purchasing, and instead focus on where we wanted to be in the future.

It took a lot of sacrifice, but after we made the decision to pay off our debt, we knew that nothing was going to stop us. All it really took was that decision, and then the action to back it up!

Gloria: SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT. I cannot stress this enough. Some people are successful without support or help. They are the real MVP. I tip my hat off to them. Overall, I would not be doing what I do if it weren't for the support of my friends and loved ones.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BLOG AND WHERE WE CAN FIND YOU.

Mandy: My blog is called The Well and Balanced Mom. I encourage moms to take time for themselves and to create healthy habits that make mom life easier. I write about paying off debt, keeping yourself balanced, and achieving your goals while staying true to your values.

Gloria: You can find me at All Things Maternal where I talk about about and help mothers dealing with placenta previa.

Cheers,

Emily