Gym Magic with Jill

Hello Martinis and Your Money Listeners! At the Financial Gym, when a client experiences a positive financial health result after joining the Gym and focusing on their finances, we call it “Gym Magic.” Gym Magic and helping our clients find it and believe in it is so important to us that it’s a core value of the Gym. For over eight years now, I’ve witnessed the magic firsthand and every single one of my teammates has seen it as well. And I’m so excited to share with you that for the month of November, we’re going to share some of that Magic with you. This month I’m talking to clients and teammates who have truly experienced and witnessed results that are nothing short of magic and their stories and journeys are just what we need for this crazy time in life. Joining me today is Jill, we’ve changed her name for you because she’s going to share some very sensitive details about her family members and a warning for you that some of the subject matter may be triggering. Jill joins me today to share how not only she, but her sister and her brother found Gym Magic. It’s a family affair and you’re not going to want to miss their journeys.

What are we drinking?

Jill - Pumpkin spice coffee with pumpkin spice creamer - both from Aldi 

Shannon - Coffee & a big 64 oz bottle of water 

Podcast Notes

  • Jill’s story is full of Gym Magic. She first heard about The Financial Gym while reading The Skimm, a daily newsletter. At the time she was struggling financially and decided to book a warm up call immediately. 

  • At the time, Jill was making a solid salary. Even with that salary, Jill found herself in a paycheck to paycheck cycle. She had around $80,000 in student loan debt along with $30,000 in credit card debt.

  • Working with The Financial Gym helped with some major mindset shifts around saving vs. paying down debt.   

  • Previously subscribing to Dave Ramsey’s methods, there was guilt at first with building up her emergency fund. 

  • Similar to a fitness journey, a financial journey takes time. 

  • It’s not about being perfect every day, but having a plan that works over time. 

  • It’s a process - by 6 months, 70% of our clients hit their goals. There’s compounding growth the longer you’re a member - financially or mentally 

  •  In two years, Jill was able to reach her emergency fund goal (36k), even with a large unexpected expense while working on that goal. 

  • Jill purchased her first rental property in February 2021 and is currently working on a 6 month emergency fund for that. The goal is to invest in more properties over time. 

  • Her debt has also changed drastically. Student loans sit around $48,000 and the credit cards after being consolidated into a personal loan are around $4,000. 

  • Cash savings are now around $50,000 

GYM MAGIC FOR JILL: 

  • Being able to pay for something in cash, whether that is a big purchase or a trip. 

  • Being prepared for an unexpected expense, like a $12,000 tax bill, in cash. 

  • Being able to flex that savings muscle again to replenish the $12k, and not spend too much time upset about having to use the money. 

  • There are sparkles coming from Jill’s spreadsheet as she explains how in just 3 years, she’s down 40k in debt and her overall net worth is around $617k. Before The Financial Gym, her net worth was around $17,000.

GYM MAGIC FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

  • Jill shares the story about how The Financial Gym spread to her family. 

  • Her sister had an incredibly tough case and The Gym wasn’t afraid to dig in and help her. They gave her options for how to move forward with pros and cons for each. She would not have been able to do this without The Gym. 

  • Two years later, her financial health has greatly improved which has helped her mental health so greatly. 

  • Jill’s brother is twelve years younger and thought Jill was obsessed with money. Jill started a savings account for him. He would give her $25 each week and she would put it in this account. Over time, there was about $600 in the account and for his birthday, Jill bought him a Financial Gym membership. 

  • He has been working with Garrett for over a year and now loves the Gym just as much as Jill. 

  • The Financial Gym provides an environment to talk about money without feeling judged for not already knowing. Without fee

  • Jill loves The Gym and her family so much, she pays the cost of their membership as they become financially fit. She says she’s happy to do so because they put in the work, love being members, and The Gym has truly helped the family with more than money alone.

DEBT CAN BE EMOTIONAL 

  • Debt is not a death sentence. 

  • You truly never know people’s struggles. Shannon started The Gym because she needed to create a place where EVERYBODY can work out. The Gym meets people where they are. 

  • We make choices that might not be the best but everything financially is fixable.   

  • You are able to roll with life’s punches more easily when you have cash in the bank. Clients feel more comfortable / less anxious with more cash. 

  • There are different parts of the journey and hyper-focusing on debt payoff alone can be miserable. 

  • Clients feel like family and friends - it means a lot when whole families become members. Groups of co-workers, book clubs, we love it all. 

  • Gym Magic is one of our core values and we love to hear and share real stories of it in action. These are real results from real people and they’re truly amazing.  

Random Three Questions

  1. If money was no object, what would you do for a living?

  2. What do you do to relax?

  3. If it was your last meal on earth, what would it be?

Takeaway:  I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Jill today. For me, the absolute biggest takeaway is that debt is not a death sentence. Your financial situation may be challenging, but it doesn’t define you and it certainly shouldn’t give you unnecessary stress. As I always say at The Gym, everything we do financially is fixable. Some fixes just need a little more work than others.   

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast or you’d like to get in the Financially Naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@fingyms.com or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear. 

We are fast approaching the end of another year. Do you feel like you achieved your financial goals of 2021? If not, don’t let another day go by without working towards this goal. At The Financial Gym, despite the ongoing global pandemic challenges, we’ve helped thousands of people find Gym Magic in 2021. And we’d love to help you find yours. Plus, Martinis and Your Money listeners get 15% off of Financial Gym memberships. So if you’re ready to get started, head over to or send friends to financialgym.com to get signed up today. 

Shannon McLayComment