Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Nelson.
Hi Justine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It was the fall of 2008. I was a college sophomore at K-Sate (Go Cats!) when I got an unexpected call from my mom. She had been laid off, she explained, and my parents would no longer be able to financially support my college education.
Just like that— It was up to me to figure out how to afford college tuition and my sorority, and somehow still find a way to have a fun college experience. So, what did I do? Take out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, of course! (And got a part-time job at Chili’s.)
For the first time in my life, I was solely responsible for my financial future. Before I knew it, I had graduated college, was working at an advertising agency making a whopping $10 an hour, and staring at $35,000 in student loan debt.
I had always dreamed of moving to the city after college, living in my dream apartment, working a job I loved, and spending my weekends enjoying happy hours and sushi dates with friends. Instead, I was back to living with my parents in Kansas and hustling at a job I hated. To say things weren’t going as planned would be a massive understatement. I was overwhelmed, overworked, and overall exhausted.
Was this really what life was going to be like for the next 10, 15, 20 years?
And then, I got a notice in the mail that sent me into sheer panic. The Department of Education had reached out to *officially* let me know that I owed $35,000 in debt, plus interest. In the wake of that initial wave of anxiety, that’s when it hit me. I knew I wanted to be in control of my money moving forward, not sit back as my money controlled me.
And I haven’t looked back.
Since Then I Have…
Paid off $35,000 in student loan debt in 2.5 years
Written several online articles in the personal finance space
Published my first book, Investing for Kids Activity Book in 2022
Spoken publicly about personal finance
Been named a “YouTuber to watch” by Forbes
Embraced my love for money management and coaching
Helped 100,000+ people transform their lives by reshaping their money mindset
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Building Debt Free Millennials came with several challenges. The first was figuring out what platform to use that would reach millions of millennials. The second was figuring out what is the best path to get people to the transformation they want to achieve. For years, I’ve walked the line between financial coach and YouTuber and understanding that in order to scale the business, I truly need to go all in on one path.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Watching people transform their relationship with money is one of the best parts of my job. I get a front row seat to people making progress with their budget, debt, and financial goals. Money touches every aspect of our lives and often people will tell me their relationships have improved, their more confident to take risks in their careers, and are even motivated to lose weight. One of my clients lost 70lbs because she was in a better headspace financially!
What sets me apart from other personal finance creators is I take a big sister approach to money. My audience is met with compassion and empathy, not judgment and criticism. I give the honest feedback without shame so they can make the right next step.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was an avid reader and writer. I loved storytelling. One of my favorite projects I worked on in the fourth grade was writing my own mystery novel, illustrating the pages, and getting it printed in a hardback book. I was constantly journaling and very introspective.
One of the first memories I have of working with video was when I was 16, I created a short movie called Grandma Moneybags and the Stolen Kitty with my sisters and cousins. I directed the scenes and we had a lot of laughs putting it together. Looking back, that was probably the first seed planted on my path to getting started on YouTube.
Pricing:
- Super Budget Template – $37
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.debtfreemillennials.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debtfreemillennials_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@debtfreemillennials
