When was the last time you checked your credit score? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone — but that’s a problem. Too many women are walking around with no idea what their credit looks like until they need it. And by then? It’s too late to fix it quickly. Your credit score isn’t just some random number lenders made up to stress you out. It’s your financial reputation. It determines whether you can rent that apartment in the neighborhood you want, finance a reliable car, q

Want to know how many years it will take your money to double? Use the Rule of 72. ⸻ What It Is The Rule of 72 is a shortcut that estimates how long it takes your money to double at a given interest rate (assuming compound interest). Compound interest means your interest earns interest. All you need is the interest rate. Note: The Rule of 72 is most accurate for interest rates between about 4% and 10%. ⸻ Why It Matters For Saving/Investing Use it to compare investment vehicl

You know that woman who “married well”? The one who ended up with a man who’s wealthy — the fairy-tale lifestyle, real assets, the whole package? The one who looks like she stumbled into a storybook? Here’s the quiet part: statistically, that scenario doesn’t happen very often. Let’s talk about the math. Around 1 in 5 U.S. men (about 20–23%) earn $100,000 or more. And if you’re looking specifically at Black men, the numbers shift. Black men earn a median income of about $41,0

What would you do if you could afford to walk away from anything that doesn’t serve you? The job where your boss disrespects you in meetings. The relationship that stopped feeling right months ago. The living situation that drains your peace. What would change if money wasn’t the reason you stayed? Walk away money changes all of that. Not because you’re planning to abandon everything. But because having options changes how you move through the world. It changes how you negoti

Hi lovely, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope today feels warm, grounded, and full of good food and good people. Before you slide into that delicious post-meal nap, I want to catch you for a moment — because tomorrow is the real test of your soft-life discipline. Black Friday. And listen, the way those “amazing deals” are waiting to jump you at midnight? If you’re not careful, they’ll undo a whole year of progress and drop you straight into a January full of overdraft fees, maxed-out

We’ve been talking about how income should be allocated — the 50/30/20 rule, needs vs. wants vs. savings, a foundational budget guideline. You’ve seen that cute little “money pie” — the 50/30/20 chart that shows how your income should be split. This is the recommended Money Mix. And I invited you to use the Money Snapshot Calculator to see your own Money Mix (find the link to the calculator below). And I already know some of my sisters are feeling some kind of way right now…

Hi lovely — and no, I’m not talking about your checking account. On Monday, we talked about the Money “Girl Code” — the core concepts of financial literacy that help you use money wisely, invest and build wealth effectively, and secure your future. Cash flow, saving and investing, budgeting, debt management, insurance, and your mindset… all key pieces in building and protecting your wealth. But knowing the concepts is one thing. Understanding how your own numbers line up wit

Money has rules — just like Girl Code. We all know that Girl Code is about unwritten principles that guide friendships — loyalty, respect, support. It’s a thing. But here’s something just as important: Money “Girl Code” — your relationship with your money — or as I like to call her, Money Dearest. Yes, I say Dearest because she can be very exacting about how she wants to be treated. Handle her well and respect her, and she’ll work for you. Abuse her or ignore her rules, and s

“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” — Warren Buffett A common goal for most people is to pursue careers or professions that make a lot of money. And yes — a great salary is an incredible goal! But believe it or not, there are people who never brought home massive paychecks or had “glamorous” careers — and still became millionaires. For instance, a secretary at Abbott Laboratories quietly turned a few hundred dollars of company stoc

Most of us grow up with the same “starter kit” for money: a cute piggy bank, birthday cash, maybe a savings account when we get older. And that’s great for learning how to keep money safe. Which leads me to… Habit #1 — Believing Saving Is the Final Goal Let’s be clear: saving is absolutely commendable and super necessary in order to implement wealth-building strategies. Creating the habit of keeping money instead of spending every dollar is huge — it’s the foundation for ever

Most of us have had… let’s just say, a complicated relationship with money. We work hard for it. We save some of it. We spend a lot of it. And it seems to disappear faster than a pair of designer sunglasses left at brunch. For more than 25 years, I worked for the federal government — and not just anywhere. I was blessed to work at an agency with a higher pay rate, which meant I earned more than the average federal employee, and we had benefits that were unique to that agency.

Let’s be honest: the stock market can be a little scary. And when the world feels chaotic, every red arrow and headline makes it seem like this is it — the final plunge. One week the market is up. The next week it’s down and the news cycle is going crazy. And most people — especially folks who aren’t experienced investors — think: “Nope. Too risky. Don’t want to lose my coins.” Totally fair. There are risks. And fear keeps a lot of smart people sitting on the sidelines. And h

Let’s be real: nobody wakes up thinking, “Today feels like a great day to lose my job, or get furloughed. And in those moments, one question rises to the top: Are we prepared, or are we just hoping things magically work out? For over 25 years, I worked for the federal government. Safe, steady, predictable. The kind of job people assume you’ll retire from with a great pension and a fat Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). By the way, a TSP is a retirement savings plan — basically the fe