I used to believe money was always tight. That no matter how hard I worked, I’d always be just a little behind. My paycheck came in, and within a week, it was gone—absorbed by bills, random Amazon orders, and the occasional splurge I’d beat myself up about later.

It wasn’t until one particularly jarring moment that everything shifted.

The Rock-Bottom Moment

It was late on a Sunday night. I was in bed scrolling through my bank account, trying to figure out if I could cover groceries and rent in the same week. I had just worked a 50-hour week, skipped dinners out, and still—still—I was short.

I felt sick. Not just because of the numbers, but because deep down I realized I had no real plan. I was letting money happen to me, instead of directing it with intention. I realized I didn’t want to rely on anyone else.

The Mindset Shift

The next morning, I opened a blank notebook and wrote this down:

“I’m done surviving. I want to build.”

That sentence became my personal manifesto.

I started reading books about money—but not the ones written by finance bros who never skipped a latte in their lives. I found women-centered resources. I followed accounts that talked about money with heart—not shame.

I didn’t change everything overnight. But I changed enough to build momentum.

The First Win

My first budget wasn’t perfect, but it gave me structure. I started tracking expenses—not obsessively, just mindfully. I picked one financial priority: starting an emergency fund. $25 a week. That’s it. It wasn’t about the amount—it was about control.

Six weeks later, I had saved more than I had in the previous six months combined. Not because I earned more, but because I finally had a system and belief in place.

The Confidence Ripple

Saving gave me confidence. Confidence made me curious. Curiosity led to me learning about investing, negotiating bills, and organizing my money in a way that finally felt good.

I stopped associating budgeting with guilt. Instead, I started seeing it as a form of power. A quiet kind of power. The kind that lets you walk into the grocery store and not check your balance first.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt behind or ashamed about your finances, I see you. I was you. And you’re not broken—you’ve just been handed a system that wasn’t built with you in mind.

But here’s the truth: you can rebuild. You can start where you are, with what you have, and move forward in a way that feels strong, kind, and aligned. If I can do this, you can too—and that includes growing your income.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to decide you’re worthy of more—and build from there.