Mortgage Free at 30

Hey, I'm Megan Josol a local artist here on Vancouver Island :) I'm normally making videos about oil painting or live streaming my painting sessions, but today I wanted to share some exciting personal news that will affect the way I'm going to be approaching my art accounts this year.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but my husband and I officially paid off our mortgage at just 30 years old! I don't think it's fully set in yet how big of a thing this is.

I've been a little reluctant to share this story because I know how difficult some people's financials are right now, but I wanted to give my perspective, share how my husband and I got to this place, and talk about how it has freed up our time for creativity and travel.

When my husband and I first met, one big goal for us was to buy a house because we knew it would help us reach our investment goals. It was so important to us that we actually decided not to have a wedding so we could put all our money towards a down payment. Looking back on this time, I have no regrets at all about that decision, and I'm so glad we followed our own path.

The pressure to spend our money on so many things over the years and not caving to what other people wanted in our lives is honestly the biggest reason we are sitting here today mortgage-free. We led with our values when it came to every decision we made together.

Our Values and Setting Boundaries
One key part of our journey was being clear about our values and setting boundaries with family and friends. By sticking to our goals and dreams, we made intentional choices that aligned with what mattered most to us. This clarity made it easier to say "no" to things that didn’t serve our vision.

Our First Home
We bought our first home on Vancouver Island in Victoria, BC, Canada, in 2015. I feel fortunate that we bought when we did, right before the big housing boom here. Last year in November, after almost 10 years of owning our house, we made the decision to sell our house and downsize to a condo. With all the extra money we had put into the principal of our house and the savings in our tax-free accounts, we were able to make the move to the condo completely mortgage-free.

Mindset Matters
I think a combination of good timing, lots of "sacrifices," and being on the same page with our finances and goals is what made it happen. But the one thing that I believe is the most important in this was our mindset. Doing the hard mental work with each other has resulted in a strong sense of knowing who we are.

Working together for so long as a couple is what has made this truly possible. You have to be on the same page as your partner, not just for a few weeks or months but for years. I think our dedication to each other is what really made this all possible. Always listening to the other's concerns and coming together in hard times to revaluate our goals and game plan.

Working on our mental health was also a big factor. We were constantly working on our relationship with physical items and how these items were serving us. We took a mindful approach to our lives and the way we made every purchase over the last 10 years. Mindfulness to not cave into other people's wants of us and setting boundaries when we felt like we were being pressured to stray from our goals and values.

We also leaned on the concept of having a strong "why." Simon Sinek's book Start With Why influenced us profoundly. While it's often applied to leadership and business, we found it equally valuable for personal goals. Knowing our "why" kept us focused and resilient, even when things got tough.

The Fun Part: Financial Freedom
Now, we’re in a position to focus on what truly matters. After years of hard work and sacrifices, it’s time to rest and release the emotions built up over the journey. This year, I’m prioritizing creativity, rest, and joy. I can’t wait to dive into new art projects and spend more time connecting with you, my creative community.

This financial freedom also allows us to give back more to our community, which has always been a dream of mine. One of the reasons I started this channel was to share my love for creativity with others, and now I can do that without worrying about basic expenses or paychecks.

And then there’s travel! Growing up, I didn’t have the opportunity to travel much. Now, the thought of experiencing the world, its cultures, landscapes, and inspirations, is incredibly exciting. I’m sure these experiences will bring new perspectives to my creativity and art.

Let’s Connect!
Are you mortgage-free or working toward a similar goal? Let’s chat in the comments. I’d love to hear your stories and connect with like-minded people. And if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe for more posts and videos like this.

Until next time, keep creating and stay true to yourself!