Wow, it’s been a while since I last updated my blog; June was the last time I posted. In my defense, July has been a whirlwind of busy and life-changing experiences.

For years, my husband and I have nurtured a dream of owning our own little piece of heaven in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Our love for this place began in 2017, and since then, we have made it a tradition to visit the Biltmore in the Blue Ridge Mountains at least once a year, even amidst the challenges of 2020.

Each time we drive up and enter the mountain range, an overwhelming sense of coming home washes over us. Rolling down the windows, we savor the mountain air and relish the soothing breeze. Departing is always bittersweet, leaving us with a tinge of sadness.

For those following my blog, you are aware of our ambitious quest toward debt freedom in recent years. Though we still have a long way to go, we have celebrated numerous milestones that bring us closer to our goal. One of the most significant achievements has been improving our income-to-debt ratio, bolstering our financial progress.

However, our ultimate quest extends beyond financial freedom. We dream of building a home in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a place where we can eventually retire and cherish the beauty of West North Carolina. This month, we reached a major milestone by acquiring a piece of land in the area. While it will be a few years before we can start building on it, we consider this a substantial step forward, edging us closer to transforming our dreams into reality.

Despite having nearly two decades until we reach retirement age, we are driven to work diligently on this quest right now for several reasons.

Our ideal vision for retirement revolves around being completely debt-free. We aspire to enter this phase of life without any loans or credit card debts, and most importantly, with our home fully paid off. This way, we can focus on enjoying our retirement to the fullest. Our dream is to have the financial freedom to travel, indulge in our hobbies, and relish each moment without the burden of monthly expenses hanging over us. By taking proactive steps now, we aim to secure a stress-free and financially stable retirement that allows us to embrace life’s pleasures without any constraints.