Natural Bodybuilding Competition Show Promoter. If I think more guaranteed return. Furthering my skills and education has I can’t afford to do something, I determine how I can afford it afforded me to grow in my career and demand higher pay. rather than deny myself what I want or need. Having money helps me make life choices without constraint When I moved back to NYC after my divorce, my commitment and empowers me to use my voice, demand my value and reject to financial independence allowed me to own a multi-family any behavior that is not in line with that. It also allows me to be house. I was able to generate income from it because I was more loving and generous. I am able to be there for my family, willing to work as a landlord to pay for it. Recently I was able friends, and partners more. I can hop on a flight and visit them. to sell that home for a good profit. Then I purchased a smaller I can make them feel special on their special occasions and I can home in my new state allowing for even more financial freedom. help them in many other ways. For example, my mom currently Investing in Real Estate, becoming a landlord, and owning my cannot afford to pay for my little brother’s driving classes, but own property has been a great addition to my financial freedom. I know I can by picking up a few extra hours on my side hustle. Having the ability and means to do that is priceless to me. Education has always been important to me – even when I was a child walking without shoes and swimming to get to school. I Financial freedom requires sacrifice and hard work but the acquired two graduate degrees by 24 and those degrees helped freedom it provides me is well worth the effort. I highly me get paid more than other teachers. I look for ways to obtain encourage all of my students, coaching clients, social media new skills and credentials as a way of creating financial freedom. following, fellow bodybuilders, friends, and family to try. I share my successes and sacrifices to let everyone know that affording I have an expensive hobby, professional bodybuilding, that freedom is possible. I couldn’t support financially if it wasn’t for all of the ways I earn money. It requires spending for nutrition, coaching and conditioning, gyms, competition fees, and travel. Creating habits that save money like meal prepping, shopping wholesale, doing my own hair, make up, nails, buying clothes from online and discount stores, making my own coffee instead of going to Starbucks are some of the ways that save me anywhere between $1000-$1500 a month. I can put that saved money towards bodybuilding, self care, traveling, scuba diving and therapy. I often take advantage of paid labor, especially when I lived in NYC. I hired laundromats, housekeeping and contractors which freed up my time to engage in other things that made me money. Recently I hired affordable virtual assistants from abroad. This was required to get an additional graduate degree and certifications to increase income as well as to make up for me to do side hustle consultations and business of show promotion. Not keeping revolving debt and paying off high interest private loans or auto loans helped as well. I use credit to earn points and cash back. There was a time when I did not make enough money to pay off credit cards with cash but used some student loans to pay them off since student loans interests were much cheaper. By working in public service as an educator, my student loan debt will be forgiven after a few more years of service, saving me thousands of dollars. At one point, I refinanced my mortgage and paid off my cars which made financial sense. I don’t have high risk investments or cryptocurrency, choosing instead to put my income into a high yield savings account except for what’s necessary for bills. I invest in my business and education/training instead which has
Fahmida Sheuly, 36, is a first-generation immigrant from Bangladesh, raised in NYC. She is a certified educational leader and doctoral candidate working at a public school, while also training as a professional natural bodybuilder and bodybuilding show promoter. For more info visit www.shaktyfitness.org. 13
