Money “Girl Code”

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 she will absolutely wreak havoc in your life.

So what is the Money “Girl Code”?

The Money “Girl Code” is the set of principles that guide your relationship with money. And at their core, these are the fundamentals of financial literacy.

It’s knowing the rules of money — and it doesn’t have to be a life of restriction.

Is something “too expensive”?

Maybe not when you look at your cash flow.

It’s being intentional and informed.

Because let’s be honest:

When money isn’t handled correctly, there can be an ugly backlash — debt, poor credit, bankruptcy, bills piling up, opportunities disappearing.

And that is not our ministry.

So, there are five parts to the Money “Girl Code.” Here’s what we’re working with:

• Cash Flow Focus

• Minimizing Bills

• A Bougie Budget

• Reducing Debt

• Smart Use of Credit

1. Cash Flow Focus

So what exactly is cash flow?

Cash flow is the movement of money in and out of your life over a specific period — usually a month.

You figure it out by subtracting your expenses (what you spend) from your total income (what you receive).

If more money came in than went out, you have positive cash flow.

If more went out than came in, you have negative cash flow.

Positive cash flow is essential — and it can be the fuel to create passive income.

Passive income is money that comes in from a source other than a typical job. It’s generated by assets (investments, real estate, cash value life insurance, etc.).

Your money is creating money.

For example:

Let’s say you have an extra $150 a week that usually goes to lattes and happy hour. If you started making coffee at home and budgeted $50 a week for happy hour, you now have about $100 a week freed up.

That’s $400 a month that can become the seed for an investment account or a cash value life insurance policy.

That $400 a month is now working for you — earning interest, growing, and compounding. Over time, what used to be “fun money” can put you on the road to building an asset or income source.

And yes, it requires intention and discipline. Positive cash flow doesn’t fall out of the sky — we cultivate it with our choices.

And here’s the beauty: you get to decide the pace.

Want to fast-track it? Seriously reduce spending and invest the difference.

Prefer a slower pace? Set aside what feels comfortable, and stay consistent. Small amounts invested consistently still grow when you give them time.

Either way, you’re planting seeds that turn into future wealth and passive income.

2. Minimizing Bills

Anyone who knows me knows that I love nice things. I love quality and luxury and tech! Yes, I love gadgets and convenience. But the soft life isn’t just Love bracelets, vacations, and silk pillowcases.

It’s peace.

And nothing snatches your peace faster than bills that are too high for your income. And while I love nice things, I’m super wary of anything with recurring payments. I call them income snatchers — because your money is already spent before your paycheck even hits.

Minimizing bills means your monthly obligations are light enough that they don’t stress you out, gobble up your whole paycheck, or cripple your cash flow. It means you have a good amount of disposable income — money left over that isn’t obligated to anything.

Think about it this way:

High rent + high car note + high credit card payments + low cash flow = Hard Life

(very few options, lots of stress)

Reasonable bills + high cash flow = Soft Life

(options, breathing room, and choices)

So when we create a new bill, we should really be thinking about how much disposable income will be left afterward. It’s asking:

“What will this do to my cash flow?”

And often we miss opportunities to increase our cash flow because a lot of us upgrade every time we earn more money.

New job? New car.

Promotion? Bigger apartment.

Refund check? Gucci belt.

I’m not here to tell you to skip the belt — it’s the timing and how you pay for it that matters.

We just don’t want recurring bills eating up our whole paycheck. And we don’t want to create a bill that eats away the increase from our pay raise.

You don’t have to live small.

You just don’t want big bills. Think:

“I’d rather set aside money first than pay interest later.”

Because when you keep your bills low and your income rises, your disposable income grows — and that’s your positive cash flow, where wealth building begins.

3. A Bougie Budget

Let’s be honest:

Most of us won’t stick to a budget that feels like punishment. When every dollar is locked down and there’s no breathing room, that “investment money” can easily turn into a dinner date with the girls — because deprivation rarely works long-term.

So instead of going cold turkey on spending, make room for what matters to you.

A budget should be a realistic plan — including the things your thrifty side might label as “a little bougie.” If you know you need your beauty treatments, keep the most important one in the budget. And if money is tight? Stretch out the time between visits instead of eliminating it completely.

Think of your budget like a VIP guest list:

If something isn’t on the list… it’s not getting in.

A balanced, bougie-friendly budget looks like:

• Money for savings

• Money for investing

• Money for bills

• And yes, money for the most important extras — just remember, if the essentials aren’t covered, the “extras” are where trimming starts

Because the Money “Girl Code” says:

You don’t have to sacrifice all your guilty pleasures and luxuries — you just have to plan for it.

And one way to think about that planning is the 50/30/20 rule — a simple guideline that divides your money into 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings or extra debt payments. That 30% bucket is exactly where your guilt-free extras can live, as long as the essentials are covered.

Keeping your important extras inside the 30% wants area helps you stay aligned with your goals without feeling deprived.

A bougie budget keeps you in control.

Mindful spending. Intentional choices.

4. Reducing Debt

Debt is pesky — like that ex who keeps texting ‘hey’ after midnight.

You’re over it… and yet… here it comes again.

And once debt gets out of control — feet up on your table, eating your snacks, scrolling your Netflix — it takes up all of your disposable income.

Disposable income is the money left over after you pay bills — the money you’re free to use for whatever you want.

Debt steals that disposable income.

When you start paying down debt, you increase your disposable income:

• Every credit card you eliminate gives you a raise

• Every loan you pay off increases your cash flow

• Every balance that disappears brings you closer to investing — or allows you to invest more

Because when debt is gone, cash flow comes back.

5. Smart Use of Credit

Credit isn’t the enemy — misusing it is.

We use credit to:

✅ Earn rewards from credit card companies

✅ Build a strong credit score

✅ Take advantage of low interest rates and use our cash elsewhere where it can work harder

✅ Protect our cash on hand

But credit only works when we understand the real cost — the price tag plus the interest that gets added if the balance sits. A $100 purchase can turn into much more when it’s paid slowly.

So before swiping your credit card, ask yourself:

• “What will this actually cost me if I don’t pay it in full?”

• “Will this slow down my investing or other goals?”

Putting It All Together

When we move with intention, we can use the Money “Girl Code” to increase our cash flow.

That cash flow fuels investments.

Investments build wealth.

It starts with mindset:

When we change how we think about money, we see our choices differently.

And when we see our choices differently, we make different decisions.

And here at Money Dearest, we understand that mindset is as important as understanding the concepts of the Money "Girl Code" - financial literacy explained in an actionable way. A money mindset, or your set of beliefs and habits that influence your financial behavior, is the gas that powers your use of the Money "Girl Code" or financial literacy concepts.

Remember, the Money “Girl Code” isn’t about restriction.

It’s about strategy — so we can have more of what we want, with less stress and less debt.

Click here to review the core concepts of financial literacy — the Money “Girl Code,” explained simply.

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Friendly reminder: This is for education, not personal financial advice. Everyone’s money situation is different, and any decisions should be based on personal research or speaking with a licensed professional about your individual situation.