The Day I Realized I Didn’t Want to Be “Taken Care Of”

I used to think I just wanted to be “comfortable.”
I told myself I didn’t need to be rich—I just wanted security.
But secretly? I wanted to be taken care of. I didn’t even realize it until it almost happened.

A Wake-Up Call in Disguise

He was kind, successful, generous. He talked about “our future,” and he meant it.
At first, it felt like safety. A man who’d take the pressure off. A partner who’d handle the big stuff—money, decisions, security.

Until one day, over dinner, he said, “Don’t worry about investing, babe—I’ve got that covered.”

And just like that, I saw it clearly.
This wasn’t partnership. It was dependence.
I was handing over my future like it was too complicated for me to manage. I wanted to be the one building the life—not waiting for someone to hand it to me.

Why I Took It Personally

That moment flipped a switch in me. Not because I didn’t trust him—but because I didn’t trust how easily I gave my power away.

I’d been told all my life to let someone else handle it. Fathers. Husbands. Advisors.
And I realized: no one’s going to gift me financial freedom.
I’d have to claim it.

The First Step

That night, I opened a Roth IRA. I didn’t know what I was doing. I Googled. I made mistakes.
But I learned. I started investing $100 a month, even when it felt like a drop in the bucket. I started learning how money really works.

And that act—small as it was—rewrote something deep inside me.

What Changed

I stopped waiting.
I stopped looking for a financial savior. I stopped shrinking and started showing up.
I started asking better questions. Taking risks. Reading books. Buying assets.

And the craziest part? It didn’t make me colder or harder.
It made me softer. More confident. More open. Because I wasn’t afraid anymore. I was safe—in myself.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt like money wasn’t “your thing,” or like you needed someone else to handle it—it’s not your fault.

But you don’t have to stay there.
You don’t need a seat. You are the table.
And when women invest? The world shifts.

This is your sign. Take your seat. Or better yet—build your own damn table.

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I’m Penny

– the founder of Investment Babe. This is your go-to space for smart money moves, passive income ideas, and unapologetic ambition. Whether you’re building wealth or just getting started, you’re in the right place. Let’s grow that portfolio and mindset together.