From Near Bankruptcy to $100K Months: How One Couple Found Financial Freedom Through Digital Skills
When Lucy and Gary saw their multi-million dollar importing business crumbling during the Global Financial Crisis, retirement seemed like a distant dream. Supporting university-aged children and aging parents, they were part of the “sandwich generation” watching their savings disappear.
But today, they’ve built something remarkable – a thriving digital business generating $10,000 to $20,000 in monthly income, with some months reaching an extraordinary $100,000. They achieved this not through traditional investments or business models, but by embracing an entirely new skill set: buying and renovating digital assets.
Their journey proves that financial independence isn’t just for tech entrepreneurs or those with digital backgrounds. Starting with websites worth just $200, this couple – who initially didn’t even know what a domain name was – methodically built their way to significant monthly earnings while creating a flexible retirement lifestyle they love.
In this candid interview, Lucy shares their complete transformation:
- The step-by-step path they took from complete beginners to digital business experts
- Why starting small with $200 websites was crucial to their long-term success
- How they turned early failures into valuable learning experiences
- Their strategy for building sustainable, passive income streams
- Why age is actually an advantage when building digital skills
Most importantly, you’ll discover why traditional retirement planning may be leaving you vulnerable, and how developing digital skills can create the financial security you’re looking for – regardless of your technical background or experience.
Ready to learn how you could transform your retirement outlook? Read on to discover the practical steps Lucy and Gary took to achieve financial freedom through digital business, or watch their full interview below.
Ten years ago, Lucy and Gary were facing bankruptcy. Their multi-million dollar importing and manufacturing company was reeling from the Global Financial Crisis. Today, they earn up to $100,000 per month from their online business portfolio while enjoying a relaxed retirement lifestyle on their 40-acre property. Their journey offers valuable lessons for anyone approaching retirement age who wants to secure their financial future.
The Breaking Point That Led to Transformation
In 2014, Lucy and Gary found themselves in an increasingly desperate situation. Their once-successful importing business was failing, barely generating enough income to pay staff. In a last-ditch effort to salvage their finances, Lucy opened a café despite having no hospitality experience. As part of the “sandwich generation,” they were supporting both university-aged children and aging parents with housing needs.
“We were literally going down the path of exploring what bankruptcy meant. That was how serious it had got, we were virtually drawing no income, only able to make sure our staff got their pay.”
The turning point came when Lucy attended a conference where she heard Matt and Liz Raad speak about digital business opportunities. During a break, she called Gary immediately: “You’ve got to meet these guys. You’re going to love this!”
Starting Small: A Calculated Approach to Digital Business
Despite their dire financial situation, Lucy and Gary’s path to success wasn’t through rushing in with big investments. Though they wanted to purchase expensive, established websites immediately, their mentor Matt Raad insisted they start small and learn the fundamentals first.
“We wanted to go in hard. We wanted to buy big websites that were making money,” Lucy explains. “But Matt kept saying ‘No, slow down.’ It was such wise words because we could have blown everything. We started by buying $200 websites. Thank God we did because we broke them, we learned on them. Learning means making mistakes, and we made those mistakes on $200 websites instead of $20,000 or $50,000 websites which would’ve destroyed us.”
This measured approach proved crucial. The couple treated their digital education like a university degree, committing fully to learning the necessary skills despite having minimal technical background. When they started, Lucy handled emails and online banking while Gary worked with spreadsheets. They didn’t even know what a domain name was.
The Path to Financial Independence
Their dedication began paying off within their first year. By month 11, they achieved their first $1,000 month in online income. This early success proved transformative for their confidence and vision.
We were sitting there thinking, if we can make a thousand, we can make 10,000. If we can make 10,000, maybe we could make a hundred thousand.
Their progression was remarkable – by month 18, they reached their first $100,000 month!
As their skills grew, so did their investment strategy. They gradually moved from $200 websites to $3,000 sites, then $5,000, eventually purchasing websites worth $20,000 and $50,000. Each step was calculated and built upon their growing expertise and success.
Creating a Sustainable Retirement Lifestyle
Today, Lucy and Gary’s retirement looks vastly different from what they initially feared. Gary has fully stepped back from daily operations, enjoying life on their 40-acre property. Lucy works about 10-20 hours per week, managing their online portfolio and coaching others through the eBusiness Institute.
They’ve built a lean, efficient operation with minimal overhead. Their team consists primarily of one full-time technician in the Philippines who has been with them since the beginning. “He knows mine and Gary’s weaknesses and compensates for those for us,” Lucy explains. “He knows what we need and what our expectations are. It’s a beautiful working arrangement.”
I’m just very grateful we will never need the government pension because of what we have
The couple’s success has freed them from common retirement concerns. Unlike many of their neighbours who face strict regulations about pension eligibility based on property size, Lucy and Gary have achieved true financial independence.
Breaking Down Age Barriers in Digital Business
One of the most inspiring aspects of Lucy and Gary’s story is how they’ve shattered misconceptions about age and digital entrepreneurship. When they tell people about their business, they often hear “I couldn’t do that” or receive patronizing comments about “keeping up with technology.”
Lucy challenges these assumptions:
Gary and I could probably talk most young techies under the table with what we know now, but we knew nothing when we began.
She points out that retirees actually have an advantage – they have more time to learn compared to younger people juggling full-time jobs and family responsibilities.
“My friends get up, have their morning coffee, go for a walk, then they basically have all day they could be learning these skills,” Lucy notes. “I honestly wish I could give people a glimpse into how simple it is if you follow a step-by-step process.”
Key Lessons for Aspiring Digital Entrepreneurs
For those considering a similar path, several crucial lessons emerge from Lucy and Gary’s experience:
- Start preparing at least 10 years before retirement
- Begin with small investments to learn safely
- Focus on education before making major financial commitments
- Don’t let age or technical inexperience hold you back
- Build gradually using proven systems and mentorship
The biggest risk isn’t financial – it’s knowledge. As Lucy emphasizes, success comes from being willing to learn and following a structured process. The technical skills can be acquired at any age with the right guidance and commitment.
Most importantly, this path offers more than just financial security – it provides a new vision of retirement. As Lucy puts it, “I don’t want to be that old lady sitting there doing crosswords. I want to be that old lady sitting there building websites and having fun, getting them ranked and all that stuff.“
For those interested in exploring this path, Lucy recommends starting with the eBusiness Institute’s free masterclass to learn the fundamentals of buying and renovating websites. The opportunity to create a financially secure retirement through digital business is available to anyone willing to invest in learning the skills, regardless of their technical background or age.
