From Rock Bottom to Financial Freedom: My Journey Through Financial Abuse

 

I still remember breaking down sobbing on my bedroom floor, surrounded by piles of unpaid bills and bank statements. After years of financial abuse at the hands of my husband combined with some ill-advised joint business moves, I had found myself drowning in debt I couldn’t pay back. Creditors were hounding me daily. My confidence was shattered. I felt like a complete failure - an educated, experienced woman brought to her knees without a penny to my name.  

In my culture, the husband heads the household. So when my husband coercively controlled all money decisions after I lost my job, I reluctantly went along with it at first. I told myself it was normal. But over time, as he racked up debt that he ruthlessly forced me to pay off even as he splurged on his personal lifestyle, the financial abuse took its toll...

I share my story not to demonize my husband - he too was dealing with his own demons and health issues. I share my rock bottom moments to let other women dealing with financial abuse know: You are NOT alone. And no matter how trapped you feel, there IS light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope.

Because from that devastating moment on my bedroom floor, I made a decision...  

I decided to take control, educate myself on personal finance, ignore naysayers, and slowly build up an income stream. How long this will take I have no idea, but I knew that was the right decision to make. 

While I’m still on my path to total financial freedom today, I have come so far from the defeated woman I was back then. And my mission now is to empower YOU to do the same...  

If parts of my story resonate with you, stick around. Because I created Becoming Financially Savvy to provide women with personal finance tips learned along my journey, financial abuse info, income stream ideas, investment tips, motivational stories, and more.

You deserve financial independence and security - no matter what anyone tries to make you believe. Let’s get started on this journey together.  

In solidarity,

Abena Sikani