Women's Transformative Journeys: How These Five Women Managed and Utilized Debt to Improve Their Lives
Tackling debt can be a real challenge, especially for moms who are juggling more than just bank balances. Every mother's financial journey is unique, shaped by factors such as family structure, caregiving responsibilities, health, income goals, and emotional well-being.
Financial decisions are strategic responses to the demands of each mother’s life. What works for one mom might not work for another. That's why advice about debt needs to start with understanding the context – because money decisions are always influenced by our personal circumstances.
We chatted with five financial experts from different walks of life, each with their own debt stories. From business credit cards to bankruptcy, from foster care to first-time parenting, they remind us that paying off debt is more than just budgeting – it's about trusting yourself, being creative, and showing yourself compassion.
Soledad Paulino, a money coach and podcast host, provides self-care strategies for ambitious first-gen wealth builders. As the founder of Wealth Para Todos, she specializes in guiding BIPoC, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals toward financial independence using a holistic approach that combines personal finance education with self-care.
Andrea Ramos, a first-time mom to a 16-week-old baby girl, is navigating life with a newborn while managing business debt. Despite carrying five figures of business credit card debt, she feels calm and neutral about it, focusing on regulating her nervous system to stay creative, curious, and energized. Her top tip: Journal about your debt daily – separate belief from truth, and empower yourself to take aligned action.
Nicole Valenzuela, a queer Latina financial coach and the founder of Fostering Finances, is in her fourth year as a foster mom while also growing a values-aligned business. With personal debt-freedom after paying off $270,000, she deliberately chose to take on business debt to launch her coaching practice. Nicole emphasizes the emotional weight of debt, especially for foster parents, and encourages caregivers to use return-on-investment (ROI) thinking when making financial decisions to ensure they align with their values and support their loved ones.
Deborah Johnson Miranda, at 55, is a lifelong caregiver and proud mother of three grown children. After filing for bankruptcy twice and losing her home, she reframed financial loss as resilience and believes in naming debt without shame. Her healing began when she stopped trying to do it all alone, learned to ask for help, and focused on what she could do. Her advice: Acknowledge the debt, then share your situation with someone you trust. You don't need to carry it in silence.
Sahirenys Ortega Pierce, a Southern California mom of two, runs her own company while navigating motherhood, chronic illness, and the unpredictable rhythm of raising kids. She reminds us that time is precious and giving ourselves grace is essential. Ortega Pierce emphasizes the importance of staying organized and prioritizing an emergency fund to protect against financial uncertainty.
Nathalia Segoviano, a full-time professional and part-time money coach, is the sole income earner in her family, while her husband, a stay-at-home dad, takes the lead on caregiving. She learned to balance work, running a business, and managing debt by creating a sustainable debt payoff plan, budgeting by paycheck, and leaving room for joy. Her tip: Build a budget that balances debt payments, savings, and leaves room for happiness. A spending plan gives you clarity and control – but it must also honor your humanity.
Let the wisdom of these five moms guide you. They remind us that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to managing debt – but with self-trust, creativity, and self-compassion, we can move forward and build a life that honors our full potential.
- Soledad Paulino, a money coach, specializes in guiding individuals toward financial independence through a holistic approach that combines personal finance education with self-care.
- Andrea Ramos, a new mother juggling business debt, advocates for daily journaling about debt to separate belief from truth and empower oneself to take aligned action.
- Deborah Johnson Miranda, a lifelong caregiver, believes in naming debt without shame and advises acknowledging debt and sharing one's situation with trusted individuals to avoid carrying it in silence.
