She Strengthens

Breaking Free from Financial Mistakes

Growing up, I thought I had it all figured out. My family was middle-class, and my parents worked hard to provide for us. But when the recession hit, everything changed. My parents’ financial stress took a toll on their relationship, and eventually, my father left us. We were evicted from our home, and my mother had to resort to living off welfare to provide for our family. It was a scary time, but we made it through.

Learning from Mistakes

Fast-forward to my early twenties, and I found myself working a full-time retail consultant job in Los Angeles. I had a lovely apartment, healthcare benefits, and a balcony with a great view. But despite my seemingly perfect life, I was making financial mistakes left and right. I spent money like it was going out of style, wasted it on unnecessary purchases, and even racked up a $400 Ridesharing bill in one month. I had no idea how to budget, and my credit cards went to collections.

Taking Control of My Finances

It took a lot of self-reflection and hard work, but I finally changed my relationship with money. Here’s how:

Tracking My Spending

I started by tracking every single dollar I spent. It wasn’t easy, but it was eye-opening. I realized I was spending an average of $60 a day on eating out and Ridesharing. That’s when I knew I needed to make a change.

Living Within My Means

I stopped trying to keep up with the luxury lifestyle. I learned that treating myself and self-care are not the same thing. Self-care is about taking care of my emotional and physical well-being, not about indulging in expensive habits.

Forgiving Myself

I also learned to stop beating myself up over every mistake. It’s okay to slip up sometimes, but it’s how I respond to those mistakes that matters. Instead of dwelling on my failures, I focus on getting back on track.

Taking Responsibility

I couldn’t blame my parents for my financial mistakes. I had to accept that I’d been taught bad habits, but it was up to me to change them. I chose to live in an expensive city and spend money recklessly, but I also had the power to make different choices.

Starting Small

I started by creating an emergency fund and automating my savings. I began taking the bus, bringing coffee from home, and packing my lunch every day. These small changes added up and made a big difference in my financial situation.

A New Chapter

I’m not perfect, and I still make mistakes. But I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. I’ve learned to take control of my finances, and I’m proactively trying to learn new, better habits. The first step is admitting that your financial situation could be better, and you aren’t doomed to repeat the mistakes of your parents.