Broke at 50: What Now?

Sometimes the most challenging truths are the ones we need to share most. As I stand two weeks away from my 50th birthday with no income, no savings, and no backup plan, I'm pulling back the curtain on a reality many women my age face but few discuss openly.

This raw conversation goes beyond financial struggles to examine the mindset work necessary for transformation. The truth is, staying broke isn't an option—not financially and certainly not mentally.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Paradise Perspectives
• 0:39 Spilling My Own Tea
• 3:44 Revealing My Financial Truth
• 6:52 How I Got Here
• 11:30 Strategies to Overcome Financial Rock Bottom
• 15:47 You Are Not Alone
• 18:24 Key Takeaways and Next Episode Preview

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:10

Welcome to Paradise Perspectives, the podcast for women over 40 who are ready to move past fear, embrace change and create a life they love. From a Caribbean perspective, we keep it real here, we keep it honest and unfiltered, and we talk about growth, healing and the magic of travel, because stepping outside of your comfort zone, whether it's in life or anywhere else, is where the real transformation happens. Now let's get into today's episode. Hello, you, beautiful soul, and thank you for tuning in to another episode of Paradise Perspectives. It's the podcast that teaches you how to live fearlessly and, of course, also the secrets to living your best life.

Speaker 1: 0:56

I am Rizal, also known as the Traveling Island Girl. I'm your host, your island friend and your confidant. Now, today, I want to spill some tea with you. Actually, I want to spill my own tea. I am sharing something that I long wanted to talk about, but that shame, guilt, fear and all of that ugly stuff has kept me from sharing until now. I am revealing something that I dared not admit to anyone before, and now I am doing it in the most public of ways, because that's how I roll. My mother would actually be super horrified at this moment. In fact, I already released this information and I'm about to share with you in a video that I posted a few days ago on my YouTube channel, and that's the video that I'm sharing with you today, actually. But when I revealed that this thing that I want to talk about and by the title of this podcast episode, you already know what it is actually.

Speaker 1: 1:52

When I released this video a few days ago, I got a lot of comments on the YouTube channel and then I took a short part, only the beginning. I posted that on Instagram with the idea that that might drive traffic to the YouTube channel, but you know what happened. People went nuts, all of them trying to like pat me on the back. It's going to be okay, they're there Without having listened to the complete YouTube video that I posted. They only saw that part, and that's the part that they're now formed a story around, and that's them. It's not something that is my issue. You know that's their issue. So whatever issue they want to have with what I've revealed, that's fine. But I also had people in my inner circle, people that are the closest to me me come to me to ask me why I would do and share something so personal in such a public way and whether I don't feel ashamed of my current situation, and I realized that these people are just projecting because they're ashamed around this particular subject it's not my shame to carry. So I figured there is someone out there who needs to hear that they are not alone, because one thing I absolutely know for 100% is that I'm not the only one in this boat battling these giant waves. I know there are more people out there, more women around my age, that are going through the same or something similar, so it's important to share this.

Speaker 1: 3:33

So that video is what I want to share with you today, and it is the first part of a mini series about our money mindset. So take a listen. I am two weeks away from my 50th and I'm broke. How the fuck did I get here? Let's talk about it. So here's the truth I'm about to turn 50 and I have no income, no backup plan, no savings, and I honestly can't believe. I'm saying that with a smile on my face. I should be crying Okay, how did I get here?

Speaker 1: 4:10

First of all, if you're thinking this is going to be one of those videos of how I went from making $0 to $10,000 in just 30 days, this is not it. If this is what you came here for, then keep on scrolling. This is definitely not it. This is my attempt at being completely, 100% transparent, vulnerable and honest. Transparent, vulnerable and honest. I want to show you what my life actually really looks like, because I know I've been sharing all of these beautiful shots of St Martin, and how I'm taking people around on tours and I have my digital is slightly different, which is why I now find myself two weeks shy of my 50th birthday with zero income. So no, this is not one of those videos of how you can make one digital product and then make 30k in 30 days. Then make 30k in 30 days. This is definitely not one of those videos. It is about what happens when that plan doesn't quite work out and it's about how to keep on going even when things get really really hard. I am broke, scared, tired, anxious and stressed, and I am 100% sure that I am not the only one in this boat right now. So let's get real.

Speaker 1: 5:39

I built my brand on giving people travel advice about the Caribbean and sharing all of the information that I had about this beautiful region. Then I went more specific into promoting the island that I call home, which is St Martin, by sharing videos every week on what to do and giving, like, a local's perspective and a very honest, you know travel advice for people who have never been here. And it worked for a while it did. You know. I was doing private tours, I was giving advice and doing consultations, I was helping people put together their vacations and I even eventually made a digital product, a ultimate guide to St Martin, that has all of the information that I have accumulated in the three years of doing this. I've packaged it very nicely and which took me 18 months, by the way. I packaged it really nicely in this one digital product and I thought that was going to be my goodbye to that part of my life.

Speaker 1: 6:46

Things shifted in my life just before I released this product. You see, I separated from my husband. My marriage as I knew it ended. What happened when we separated is that I felt like I did not want to live a life in which I'm not aligned with the person I want to be anymore, so I decided to pivot. I wanted to live a life that was aligned with the vision that I had for myself. I wanted to align with that life that I wanted to create for myself. I stopped giving these island tours, I stopped making the videos about St Martin, I stopped putting myself out there on social media constantly showing off what St Martin looks like and what a great time visitors can have when they get here, and I decided to follow my passion, which has always been to empower women over 40. You see, I wanted to help women over 40 who feel stuck. I wanted to show them how to get liberated from fear and do those scary things that can help them build a life that they absolutely love.

Speaker 1: 8:00

So this is the time in my life where I decided this digital product that I made that was going to be my goodbye to my c martin promoting days and I was going to pivot into the direction that I always wanted to do. So I launched my coaching program, I started my podcast and boom, I was thinking this is it, I'm feeling great. I still had a little bit of income. By the way, promoting St Martin never made me rich and, no, I am not making an income from my YouTube videos, because St Martin is not eligible for monetization. So there you go the little income that I did make from the videos and from taking people around on tours, et cetera. That helped me afloat for a little bit, but it was very, very soon that that started to. Really, my bank account started to look like this and I started to think how the hell did I mess this up so royally, how? And I'm not blaming anyone how the hell did I mess this up so royally, how? And I'm not blaming anyone but myself in this scenario. But I came.

Speaker 1: 9:00

You know it is very, very hard when you wake up every time and you see a bank account that is empty and it's whatever money you have left in it is slowly draining out of it too, because, let's be honest, you got to keep the lights on, you got to pay for the Internet and you got to feed yourself and your cat. But you're also seeing everybody else that at this point in life, what society has taught us all our lives is that at 50 you are finally going to be stable, you're going to have it all figured out your kids if you have kids, I don't, but if you have kids, I don't. But if you have kids, they're out of the house and you now have the money in your bank account to really truly start your second chapter in life. Well, it is not the case for all of us. Case in point here it is absolutely terrifying when you realize that you have to start from scratch, that you have to start from scratch all of this. You're gonna have to rebuild, especially when you see others at the same age as you are, thriving, you know, doing all the things that the youth thought you'd be doing at this time in your life.

Speaker 1: 10:05

I am NOT making this video to get any sympathy or any pity. That is not what I'm after. What I do know is that I am absolutely certain that somebody out there is going through something similar, and I wanted to is that I am absolutely certain that somebody out there is going through something similar and I wanted to share what I'm actually doing about it. So here's what I'm doing. Number one I'm staying positive Because really the only way to go when you've hit rock bottom, like where I am right now or I think I am, especially when it comes to my finances, because my life is great but my finances not so much. So when you are in this position rock bottom the only way to go is up, and that is keeping me positive. I am also staying real with myself. No more chasing those overnight success stories. I am no longer going to do what the internet tells me to do, and this is a foolproof way of making money. I am not doing that anymore. I am going to create space for me to keep on creating what I love, the kind of content that I love to make, and I know for sure that I am going to connect with the right people down the road. In the meantime, what am I doing for money? Whatever I can, even the things that are not making me happy. I am doing that just in order to live at this moment.

Speaker 1: 11:24

Number two of the things that I am doing to make the situation better is that I am simplifying my life. You see, I'm a one woman show. I record the videos, I host the videos, I edit the videos and then I upload them. I am also all over the internet. I'm on all of the social media platforms Instagram, youtube and I have the podcast, and the podcast also means that I am editing it, I'm recording it and I am looking for guests to be on this podcast, et cetera, et cetera. Creating scripts and putting makeup on, taking makeup off all of that is part of this brand and I get it, but I no longer want to stretch myself so thin that at the end of the day, I am completely exhausted and I did not do anything that made any impact. I want to create stuff that has an impact, that can reach people like you. Who is watching this video right now. I want to make a difference.

Speaker 1: 12:26

Number three I have the power to change and shift my mindset to a more positive one. I journal to reframe my mindset. I do meditations in the morning, I wake up doing affirmations that it's going to be another beautiful day and, to be honest, my life is great. You know, at the end of the day, yes, I can feed myself. It won't be gourmet dinners, but at least I'm eating. And in the meantime, I am just creating the life that I envision for myself. And I know also that eventually, this time will pass and I will get to where I want to get financially, because this is the thing, my friend, staying broke is not an option.

Speaker 1: 13:09

But staying broke is also not only about the money. It is about the mindset that you tend to get into as well. And the mindset of staying broke is also that mindset that keeps feeding you that you're not worthy, that you're not deserving and that you are not capable, and once you stay in this mindset, there is no way of getting yourself out of the situation that you're in, because the thing is that in a mindset like that, you are no longer going to see the possibilities around you either. The only way of creating new opportunities and seeing opportunities for what they are and possibilities that might cross your path, and also creating ways of getting yourself out of this situation in a healthy, happy way, is for you to be in a positive mindset, because there's nothing good that you can create while you're in that bad mindset. So I will be absolutely damned if I go back into that feeling sorry for myself. I'm not worthy kind of mindset.

Speaker 1: 14:14

And again, I am making this video because I need to have this conversation with you the woman who's about to turn 50 or maybe it's already in the 50 and beyond that is now in a similar situation. You may have lost your job, you may now find yourself maybe you're divorced and you're trying to rebuild your life, or you find yourself, like me, in a situation where you shouldn't have been, or that you were taught that you shouldn't be in at the age of 50 or beyond. I want you to know that we are not broken. We are not, you know, cast aside. There's nothing to help us, and we are definitely not old. There is still time to pivot. There is still time to create that beautiful life that we want. I am absolutely 100% about this.

Speaker 1: 15:03

So, if you are in this place right now, in your life as well, then I want you to know that you are definitely not alone and we can figure this shit out together. So I want to ask you to subscribe to my channel and follow, because you want to know what's next and I want to know what's next, and I am so excited for whatever comes comes next. I just wanted to come here and share all of this with you and, if you are in the same situation, know that you got this and you have somebody in your corner that is here to help you through all of it, and you're not alone. There are so many women in similar situations, and we need to talk about this more often. Instead of constantly only showing the beauty in our lives, talk about these moments as well, when things are just not okay. I'm not giving up, and neither should you. If you are in the same situation right now, or one that is similar.

Speaker 1: 16:04

I want you to remember these important steps from this episode. Firstly, you are not alone, and realizing this makes everything a bit easier, because it means that there are others who understand your position. And when you have others who are in the same boat, you kind of like form this community. And when you have a community battling something, battling that same obstacle, then things go a little bit smoother, a little bit easier. Secondly, it is of utmost importance to stay positive. Nothing good ever comes from only seeing the bad in any situation.

Speaker 1: 16:48

Thirdly, no more chasing overnight success, because one thing all of us need to remember is that all of those people who have achieved the so-called overnight success, what they don't tell you is that they worked their asses off to get to where they are today. That overnight success did not happen overnight. There was a lot of blood, tears and long days and long nights to get to where they want. And I'm not saying that for us to get into a more financially stable position, we have to work really, really hard and sweat and cry, and all of that in order to get there. That is not what I'm saying. But it is important to stay really positive and not to stretch ourselves thin in the hustle of getting to where we want to get. And number four takeaway cultivating a positive mindset is key to getting out of any situation you don't want to be in, because only with a positive mindset are we able to create and see the opportunities that actually may cross our path. Staying positive is everything. Similar position like myself right now.

Speaker 1: 18:04

Make sure you tune in to the podcast or you watch the YouTube channel again next week, because I am bringing you the second part of this Money Mindset mini series, and in the second part I want to share the 10 things that we can do right now to change our current financial situation.

Speaker 1: 18:24

You and I are in the same boat, sis, and together we can row faster to get to that promised land that we see on the horizon. So if you enjoyed this episode and you thought it was valuable, please share it with a friend who wants to paddle with us, because it's important to get more people in this boat so we can row even faster and go ahead also, and let me know what you thought of this episode of this podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcast. Okay, thank you so much for listening. Things are already looking up and I see the light at the end of the tunnel, just knowing that I am not alone in this. So thank you, my friend. Thank you, my name is Rizal, saying sayonara hasta luego, ciao, tot. Later te avero and later gator.