Hello, my name is Candice and I love New Year's Resolutions. 

So I made a big one this year. To get as far out of debt as humanly possible so I can throw down next audition season. 

and, to be honest, the first month was kind of awful. 

I took some seriously drastic measures in my finances, because I am so tired of money dictating my life and career. I'm an opera singer. I want to sing opera. I don't want to obsess over money in regards to that. 

I'm doing a mix of Anna Newell Jones's "And Then We Saved" plan and Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover". 

If you are also on this journey, I also highly recommend the blog "Money After Graduation". 

I started listening to Dave Ramsey's podcast to stay motivated. Honestly, most of it is him dishing some serious tough love. 

Now I am ALL about loving yourself, but sometimes love is a "come to Jesus" talk. Sometimes that is the necessary thing that needs to happen. Sometimes you have to bust through denial. And denial is definitely one of my drugs of choice. 

Now, the reason I say this is because I also want an opportunity to be generous. I can't do that if I fear not having enough. This is a basic spiritual practice. You give of your plenty, when you have plenty from a healthy place. I have never been in that healthy place. 

I am not afraid of hard work, and I am not afraid of sacrifice. Anyone who knows me can attest to that. However, I definitely also know myself. When I get tired and weak, I need inspiration and fail-safes. 

There is a great book I read a few years ago called "Grit" by Angela Duckworth. In it, she talks about the main way people become successful, and that is through this little thing called grit. I am determined to make this happen, just as much as I am determined to get roles, get on stage, and create opportunities to sing. 

So friends, I will occasionally post about this journey. Not because I want pity, or to show off, but because I need to stay motivated. I know my end goal and I am tired of letting this little green, human invention dictate my life.