Trying to Save Some Cash? Resources from my Favorite (Female) Financial Thought Leaders
April marks National Financial Literacy Month!
I have a confession-I used to be really bad with money.
It went down the same way each time-paycheck would come in, paycheck would go out, without a firm answer to where it all went.
It wasn’t that I didn’t hustle, I worked multiple jobs and still wasn’t saving money. I could not resist spending my money the second it hit my pocket. YOLO was my constant mentality.
It wasn’t until I got my first solo apartment in my 20s that I decided to get serious and take a look at things. I remember being baffled- I had a student loan minimum payment I had been making religiously for years, and the balance was now MORE than the loan I had originally taken out.
Getting pissed off was the wake up call I needed to move me into action.
Let’s be clear, I’m not cured. I still get the itch to go on retail benders, but I now recognize how to build those moments of weakness into my budget versus living blind. Looking back now, I’m so glad I found the tools that helped me get a better handle on things. I don’t know about you, but for me life is getting expensive. I can’t get away with mindless spending on impromptu travel, shopping sprees, and nice to haves without facing the consequences.
There are endless resources and “experts” out there to help you with setting a budget, paying off debt, investing, and more. In my experience, the most important part was about finding the people I clicked with and the methods that resonated best with me.
Some of my favorites are:
Jamilla Souffrant, Podcaster, Writer, Personal Finance Educator https://jamilasouffrant.com/journeytolaunch/
When Jamila talks, you feel like you’re talking to the girl next door. She is down to earth, authentic, positive, and relatable. With a husband & 3 kids of her own living in Brooklyn, she shows you that financial freedom & independence is possible. She’s not incredibly restrictive, encouraging you to still enjoy a spicy margarita and guacamole while also spending and saving responsibly. The Journey to Launch podcast has given me tons of bite size nuggets to focus on in her solo episodes. She also brings on guests to offer their varied perspectives. Her book Your Journey to Financial Freedom broke down the journey into achievable, understandable levels so you can know where you’re starting and how to get where you want to go. I love how she says you can have financial freedom while on your journey to financial independence (if you desire to go there).
Tori Dunlap, Her First $100k/Financial Feminist https://herfirst100k.com/
With Tori Dunlap, you won’t get any sugarcoating. You certainly won’t find prim and proper. She is a fearless feminist, openly sharing her opinions & her knowledge of financial strategies with the primary goal to make women rich. She provides tools to help women “make more, spend less, and feel financially confident”. She has written a New York Times bestseller, Financial Feminist and her podcast of the same name features tons of interesting guests. If you go to her website, you can get your free money plan by answering a few questions. If you’re looking for a no bullshit hype woman, Tori is your girl.
Kumiko Love, The Budget Mom https://thebudgetmom.com/about
Kumiko was instrumental in my debt payoff journey. For some reason, her Budget By Paycheck method really clicked with me. I found it much easier to plan for my money by paycheck than for planning overall across the month or a period of time. It helped me give a job to every dollar that I had, allowing me to save & pay off my student loans, put money towards my wedding, & pay off my car. Without that framework, I think I’d still be floundering wondering where my money went each month. Miko openly shares her struggles as a young adult, spending based on her feelings and making frequent trips to the mall (guilty). It wasn’t until she had her son that she got serious about her money & developed some of the strategies she teaches fellow women today. Miko seems incredibly down to earth and like somebody you could throw back a beer with. She offers tons of free worksheets & resources in her e-newsletters, as well as affordable resources in her online shop (shoutout for the cash envelopes). I also really enjoyed her book, My Money My Way.
Dow Janes, Empowering Women In Financial Literacy https://www.dowjanes.com/
The Dow Janes say women with money have more choices and louder voices. They post new episodes on their YouTube channel weekly, publish blog articles, offer a free class called Master Your Money to get you on the right path, provide free quizzes and checklists on their website, & their Instagram is stocked full of gems. If you want to commit further, they offer a few paid programs that I’ve heard are incredible.
As we wrap up April, I leave you with this. They say money does not buy happiness. But I’m not sure I agree-I think at the very least, it can’t be denied that money buys you comfort and choices. And that has led me to greater happiness.
Happy Saving!
