Disha Spath, 38, and her husband were about $750,000 in debt a few years ago and were spending above their means. "I just want a balanced life and to not feel like I'm tied to my job," Spath said. Her student loans from medical school were $191,000, according to financial documents shared with BI. They eventually converted the home into a rental property for passive income, which allowed her to pay off her student loans quicker. Even though her job paid well, she had to take unpaid maternity leave for a few weeks when their first child was born.

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Persons: Disha Spath, Spath, wasn't, —, maxing, She's, I've, they're, she's, we've Organizations: Service, Business, BI, Army, Nashville, New York —, IRA, FIRE Locations: Nashville, Savannah , Georgia, Savannah, New York