Alejandra Rojas, a finance professional, found herself in a surprising predicament - drowning in five-figure credit card debt despite her extensive financial knowledge. Her story serves as a powerful testament to the complex relationship between money and psychology, and how even the most financially savvy individuals can fall victim to emotional spending habits. Through her personal experience, Rojas has emerged as a beacon of hope, guiding others to overcome their own financial challenges and achieve true financial freedom.

Unlocking the Secrets of Financial Resilience

From Bookkeeping to Debt Trap

Alejandra Rojas, raised by two accountants in Cali, Colombia, was no stranger to the world of finance. From a young age, she was immersed in the intricacies of bookkeeping, playing with invoices instead of dolls. Her financial education continued as she pursued a degree in finance, graduating as a finance professional. However, her academic prowess did not immediately translate to real-world success.After landing a job as a financial officer in Washington, D.C., Rojas found herself in a $10,000 credit card debt trap. "I got into credit card debt from mindless spending — what you would now call 'doom spending,'" she recalled. "I was a young professional in DC. There were a lot of things to go to. There were a lot of happy hours." The accumulation of debt as a finance professional was a confusing and disheartening experience for Rojas, who grappled with feelings of shame and guilt.

Uncovering the Emotional Roots of Overspending

Determined to understand the root cause of her financial woes, Rojas embarked on a journey of self-discovery. She delved into the intersection of money and psychology, eventually obtaining a Trauma of Money certification. This pivotal step revealed that her "doom spending" habits were not merely a matter of financial mismanagement, but rather stemmed from deeper emotional needs."When I realized that I wasn't the only one — that this was not a 'me problem' — and that it was something that I could turn around, the first thing I did was make a plan," Rojas said. She recognized that her overspending was driven by a fear of losing her friends or not being able to connect with her community, a realization that empowered her to take control of her financial future.

Crafting a Debt-Free Vision

With a newfound understanding of her emotional relationship with money, Rojas set out to create a comprehensive plan to eliminate her debt. The first step was to define her "big vision" - a clear and compelling picture of where she wanted to be in the next three to five years. This vision was two-fold: to travel the world and build a business."I was just going day by day," Rojas admitted. "I had to first sit down and say, 'Where do I want to be in three years from now? In five years from now? What is the thing that I want for myself?' And that step alone showed a complete misalignment of how I was spending and where I wanted to be."

Implementing the Debt Snowball Method

With her "big vision" in place, Rojas turned to the debt snowball method, a proven strategy for paying off multiple debts. This approach involves making the minimum payment on each debt, except for the smallest one, where she would allocate as much as her budget allowed. The satisfaction of checking off debts one by one provided the motivation Rojas needed to stay on track."I needed the motivation that comes from, 'Okay, I did this. I paid this one,'" she explained. To free up cash for debt repayment, Rojas had to make difficult choices, cutting back on expenses that did not align with her long-term goals. This process of tracking her spending and aligning it with her vision was both challenging and empowering.

Embracing a Minimalist Mindset

As Rojas navigated her debt-free journey, she underwent a profound shift in her mindset. She began to scrutinize her spending habits, examining her credit card statements to uncover the true nature of her expenses. "If I look back to what I was spending at the time, I was literally pleasing everybody but myself," she said. "There was absolutely nothing that showed up that could bring me long-term joy — none of that. It was just in-the-moment purchases and things that I don't even remember."Rojas adopted a minimalist approach, focusing only on essential expenses and intentionally allocating her remaining funds. "Every single dollar that went out, I knew exactly the purpose that it had, and how it was going to benefit me," she said. This shift was not without its challenges, as Rojas had to navigate the "period of grieving and processing" that came with declining social invitations and forgoing certain luxuries. However, she found solace in discovering new, less expensive activities that brought her joy and fulfillment.

Emerging Victorious and Empowered

Rojas' unwavering determination and strategic approach paid off, as she successfully paid off her $10,000 credit card debt within six to seven months. The sense of accomplishment and control she felt was profound. "It felt so good, not only because it was gone, but because I was in control," she said. "That was the part that felt the best. It was like, now I understand that I can turn things around — that I have the control over this."Rojas' journey has since taken her to new heights. She has gone all-in on running her financial education company, The Money Mindset Hub, which she started as a side hustle. Today, she splits her time between Maryland and Amsterdam, empowering others to overcome their own financial challenges and achieve financial freedom.Rojas' story serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of self-awareness, strategic planning, and a steadfast commitment to one's goals. Her journey from debt-ridden finance professional to debt-free entrepreneur and mentor is a shining example of the resilience and determination that can be found within us all.