Clarity in the Darkest Moments: How Susan Rebuilt Her Life After Loss

Have you ever worried about money? Of course you have! We’ve all been there, even on the best days. But when life changes in an instant, that weight gets a lot heavier. I’ve been there too—when suddenly, money worry feels like the least of your worries, but somehow still critical for moving forward.

That’s where Susan found herself. Overnight, her world shifted. She lost her husband, most of her household income, and the life they had built together. And in the middle of all that heartbreak, she still had to make decisions—keep the lights on, care for her daughter, and figure out what came next.

In those moments, clarity can feel impossible. But it’s also when clarity matters most—when knowing what your money needs to do next can offer just enough grounding to take one more step. That’s the kind of clarity Susan found in the middle of heartbreak, and the kind that helped her rebuild a life she wasn’t sure was possible in the early days of her loss.

Susan shared her journey with us through the YNAB Stories survey. It’s a deeply personal story of how she rebuilt her life after a profound loss, and we’re so grateful she allowed us to share it with you all. Let’s dig into the life Susan lived before everything changed, the moment that altered her world, and the quiet clarity that helped her rebuild something new. 

Before everything changed

Before her world shifted, Susan and her husband were living a stable, intentional life. They had begun using YNAB a few years earlier, building healthy habits and clarity around their money.

Her husband earned over $104K per year as a pharmacist, often bringing in an additional $1,600 on the weekends through side work. Susan worked very part-time as a Registered Nurse making about $29K per year. Together, they saved 6% of their income consistently, building a nine‑month emergency fund.

They didn’t know it at the time, but that clarity—and their habit of giving every dollar a job—would become the steady ground beneath Susan during one of the hardest chapters of her life.

The day everything shifted

Then came the unthinkable: Susan tragically lost her husband very suddenly.

In addition to overwhelming grief, Susan faced a steep financial cliff. Their household income dropped from over $135K to about $54K.

I was left with our 15‑year‑old daughter’s Social Security benefits of $16K/year and my continued part-time income. I also found I was eligible for some small pensions that amounted to $8,500/year.

She also learned that the life insurance they had assumed would cover at least a year of his salary was capped at $40K.

I did not realize that the life insurance from his work was only $40K… that was an unexpected loss as well.

Susan was grateful for the income she was able to bring together, but it was still far below the income her family had come to expect. In a moment where clarity should have been impossible, she needed it now more than ever.

Finding clarity in chaos

Financial decisions in grief can feel like trying to drive through down a busy highway on a foggy morning. You’re already exhausted, making it that much harder to react to the unexpected. But Susan had something to guide her.

Because of the budget in YNAB, I was able to quickly determine what expenses could be reduced or eliminated.

Susan took a machete to her monthly plan, and that couldn’t have been easy. She doesn’t remember every cut she made, because who can remember details during a year like that? But she does remember how it felt. Far from feeling restricted, she was grateful for the clarity that carried her through the hardest time in her life.

Her house payment was over $1,800 per month, pretty steep at her new income level. And yet…

…I never missed a payment. I never missed a bill. I was never unable to pay for an emergency expense.

Despite the strain, she remained committed to generosity, a practice rooted in her faith that had always grounded her when life got really messy.

I continued to give a minimum of 10%. It was a small investment of gratitude to the one person I knew could and would take care of me and give me the wisdom I needed to get through this loss.

Her emergency fund, the $40K life insurance payout, and the clarity of giving every dollar a job carried her through a year when everything else felt unmoored.

Rebuilding a life: One intentional step at a time

By this point in the story, I was already choking up. I can’t seem to get through a YNABer story like Susan’s without getting emotional. It just amazes me how resilient YNABers are in the face of such hardship. But Susan’s story was far from finished! 

The year after her husband passed away, Susan did something remarkable: she went back to school. Let me tell you, I’ll be happy to never take another academic test again. But even in her grief, Susan was ready to take on a new challenge to boost her career. 

I started back to school to be a Nurse Practitioner.

A scholarship helped cover tuition, books, and even some living expenses. Even so, Susan made the hard decision to accept a big tradeoff, which helped her get through school without accumulating new debt. 

I also sold the more expensive house and chose to downsize to cut expenses and upkeep.

That’s some serious sacrifice. But in spite of it all, she never worried about money. Susan leaned on the skills she had built up over the years to handle everything life threw her way. After three years of living on less, she completed NP school. 

My income increased to the level that my husband’s had been prior to his death.

After three years of grief and hard work, you’d think Susan would get a little spendy at this point, right? But even then, she kept her habits. She knew exactly what was important to her, and sent her money to those things first. She continued to live on less until she rebuilt a full six‑month emergency fund. And even today, she continues to save 6% every month. It’s amazing how much she was able to accomplish amidst such grief. YNAB kept her grounded.

Budgeting with YNAB made one of the most stressful, disorienting years of my life a little easier. I still use YNAB and can’t imagine life without it.

A new chapter: Love, stability, and joy

Susan rebuilt her life, made strides in her career, and saw her daughter become a full-fledged adult. And then a decade after her loss, life expanded again.

I remarried 2 years ago… and I introduced him to YNAB (he was already a saver/budgeter—wouldn’t have married him if he wasn’t).

Susan never forgot her beloved first husband, but it’s heartwarming to see she could rebuild her life and let love in again. And just look at the life the two of them have built together! They’ve built something priceless: a life without money worry:

• They paid off their house.
• They’re completely debt‑free.
• They live comfortably on his retirement income.
• Susan works part‑time for “fun money”—mission work, giving, vacations.

And, to top it all off, Susan’s legacy extends to the next generation.

My daughter and her husband have had some amazing wins with money. I love that these values have been passed on to her.

Looking Ahead

So what’s next for Susan? As she’s done her entire life, she’s firmly focused on her top priorities. The number one thing she’s saving for now is travel. She wants to see more of the world, and has a plan to make it happen. And her long‑term goal? It’s all about leaving a lasting legacy.

I want to save enough money to live on in retirement so I can leave my daughter $250K or more.

Susan rebuilt her life after a loss we all fear. And today, she’s thriving!

Clarity in the Darkest Moments

Susan’s story sums up everything that YNABing is all about. When her life shattered, she found clarity instead of chaos. She made intentional decisions when everything around her felt impossible. She rebuilt a life, a career, a home, and even found love again. 

Gah! Could Susan’s story be any more inspiring? It can be your story, too. I know you’ve worried about money before. Who hasn’t? Susan certainly had her share of money worries, but not anymore. She learned to get good with money. And those skills stuck with her, even in the darkest moments.

Today, she lives a life filled with confidence, purpose, and joy. And she shared her story with us to inspire you, to show you that you can do it, too.

If you’re ready to find clarity in your own money story, YNAB can be your guide. Download YNAB, get good with money, and never worry about money again.