There’s one particular line item I really hate in a cash flow tracker (a.k.a. budget): the “Miscellaneous” category! This is not a fun category to budget for. It’s not an exciting vacation or a new pair of shoes. Instead, it’s some random, unplanned punch to the gut...
Is Financial Independence (FI) a White Privilege?
Just to say up front, I don’t expect a single blog post to solve an issue as complex as the racial wealth gap. If I do in fact have white privilege, what I hope might come from this post is to use that privilege to advance the conversation by pointing to some...
Review of the 2022 Oscar Best Picture Nominees (by a Money Nerd who ain’t seen half of ’em)
With the red carpets rolling out in just a couple weeks, I wanted to do a quick review of the 10 Best Pictures nominees for the 2022 Oscars. These reviews will be from the context of how to “Own” a money mindset. I’ll avoid spoilers here, which should be easy, since I...
The Power of Unplugging
After getting updated on everything happening in Ukraine, I want to suggest something radical. I propose that we take some time for our mental health and give ourselves a break. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that 86% of Americans constantly or...
Falling In (and Out of) Love with My Money Mentors
Happy Valentine’s Day! This year, I celebrate my latest loves in the world of personal finance, and say goodbye to some old ones. With so much competing information out there, it can be hard to know where to turn for trusted advice on money. And will the leaders you...
The Upside of Financial Trauma, PART 2: My Money Mistakes from the Past 20 Years
Excuse the 22-year-old half naked boy above. She thirsty. In the first part of this 2-part post, I shared how my financial trauma of 2008 gave me the financial discipline to buck the social norms and take the road less traveled on my path to financial freedom. In this...
The Upside of Financial Trauma, PART 1: Are You the Frog in the Pot?
Let's face it, queens. The past couple years of pandemic life have been no picnic. People have lost their jobs, lost their homes, lost loved ones... If you’ve had financial trauma because of COVID, I want to tell you that there could be an upside coming your way. That...
Book Review of “Money Honey” by Rachel Richards. You’ll Thank Me Later.
Have you ever seen someone comment on social media with this: TL;DR? It stands for “Too Long, Didn’t Read.” I find it hilarious, and love that every chapter of Rachel’s book "Money Honey" starts with a TL;DR summary. Although, that shouldn't be a concern for readers...
Who’s Your Daddy? The Value of Aspirational Peers and Mentors.
This post originally "came out" October 27, 2021 for National Mentoring Day. And we're bringing it back for Father's Day 2022. Both holidays remind me of the famous book by Robert Kiyosaki, “Rich Dad Poor Dad.” In it, the author tells about his two "father figures."...
Coming Out of the Closet? Here’s How I Did It… Personally, Professionally, and Financially.
Mark your calendars. Next Monday, October 11 is National Coming Out Day! And as a lead-up to that day of LGBTQ celebration, I want to share a few stories of my own coming out process... personally, professionally and financially. I’ll also share why I believe this...