Welcome

MY STORY 

I grew up in a small town where hard work wasn’t optional—it was simply life.
I got my first job at 14, determined to build something better. After graduating high school with honors, college still felt out of reach. I didn’t have savings, and I didn’t want student loans, so I joined the Air Force. I served proudly for six years and earned three degrees—completely debt-free.

After the military, I built a strong career in aerospace and telecommunications. But the long commutes, the stress, and the constant rush made me realize something important: my life didn’t match my values anymore.

When we ran the numbers, we discovered something surprising—it was actually cheaper for me to stay home. Between daycare, gas, eating out, and hidden work-related expenses, the paycheck wasn’t worth the trade-offs. So we made a bold choice: I left my career to raise our sons and build a life centered around family instead of finances.

My husband returned to full-time military duty, and together we embraced one-income living. We homeschooled, simplified, learned to stretch every dollar, and eventually traveled full-time in our RV after his retirement. It wasn’t always easy, but it taught us the power of intentional living—spending on what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.

Over the years, friends would ask, “How do you make it work on one income?”
That question is what sparked Rooted in Cents.

Today, this space exists to share everything we’ve learned—from small daily money habits to smart digital tools designed to help families save more, stress less, and thrive on a single income.