Drowning in Debt at 48, Retired at 58: Here's How She Did It! | Kim Hunter-Borst | 181

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Nov 30, 2025

At 48, Kim Hunter-Borst found herself overwhelmed by debt, but she turned her life around by making brave financial choices. She reveals how confronting her $69,000 debt and embracing accountability helped her attain early retirement by 58. Kim shares practical strategies like meal planning and smart grocery shopping, emphasizing the importance of community support in her journey. Her impactful story underscores the power of starting late and reexamining financial habits, inspiring others to take control of their financial futures.

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ANECDOTE

High Income, Big Consumer Debt

Kim and her husband carried $69,000 of consumer debt from living large in New York City.
They were earning six figures yet often lived paycheck to paycheck until they confronted the debt together.

ANECDOTE

Pocket Money Solved Partner Resistance

Kim initially faced resistance from her husband about combining finances due to past experience.
They solved it by giving each partner a pocket account and a weekly allowance, which built trust and cooperation.

ADVICE

Start With Basic Cash-Flow Tracking

Track income and expenses even with a simple paper and pencil to start understanding cash flow.
Scrutinize each outgoing item and ask whether it's a want disguised as a need.

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At 48, Kim Hunter-Borst was drowning in debt even though she had a solid New York income. Where was the money going? How did she fix it and reach early retirement by 58? We find out in this no-shame late-starter conversation that was recorded live in Bali at the FI Freedom Retreat (please excuse the background noise!)

Kim was firmly in the messy middle and retraces the moment she decided to stop winging it. She shares some simple systems that finally stuck, and the handful of brave choices—asking for more at work, saying no to status buys, and saying yes to purpose—that changed her trajectory. In this candid interview, you'll also hear:

The money scripts Kim had to rewrite
The tools that actually helped
The joyful stuff she refused to cut while saving
How she healed her 'one more year syndrome'
What she's doing now to help others on their FI journey

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