Money Musings 💭 it all matters 🌈
This past week has been an emotional rollercoaster - to say the least. I was cautiously optimistic going into Election Day, sad when I saw the initial results rolling in, and then felt hopeful again.
Even after Biden and Harris were announced the winners, I was scared to get too excited because it’s 2020 after all. 🤪
But when Kamala and Joe gave their acceptance speeches on Saturday night, it became real for me. It was a big moment. As one of my friends said, it feels like we have humans coming back to the White House.
Kamala will be the first woman VP, the first Black VP and the first South Asian VP.
Growing up, I was told I could be anything I wanted to be. But slowly over time, things I experienced and witnessed as a woman told me otherwise. Including, never seeing or learning about a woman leading our country in its 244 year history. I internalized these messages - usually without even knowing.
Seeing a woman, specifically a woman of color and a daughter of immigrants, elected as the Vice President of the United States is really significant. Representation matters.
And it took me seeing it happen to really get how powerful a moment it is.
This election brought other important firsts. Womxn ran and won in record numbers, securing 134 congressional seats.
Sarah McBride was the first ever out trans person to be elected state senator, Cori Bush was the first Black congressperson elected in Missouri, and New Mexico is the first state to elect all women of color to the House of Representatives - among many more important firsts.
That being said, we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do.
If you are feeling motivated to take action, do something now to keep that momentum going.
On January 5th, Georgia is holding a run-off election for their two senate seats. Get involved - volunteer to phone bank, register voters, and if you live in Georgia become a poll worker and vote. The results will determine control of the senate.
Other ways to take action? Continue your anti-racism work. Have difficult conversations with those who disagree with you. Choose to support and spend money on products and services from companies that align with your values.
If we learned anything from this election it’s that every vote and each action we take - it all matters.
I’d love to hear what’s next for you. Hit reply and let me know!
MONEY MOVE OF THE WEEK
Put together your 2021 spending plan. If you put together a 2020 budget this money move might make you laugh. 😂 How can we possibly plan for the next twelve months given all the uncertainty in our lives? It’s a joke. Despite all that, I still believe it’s extremely important to put together a spending plan for the next twelve months. Why? The same reasons it always is. We make more conscious decisions with our money, prioritize what’s important and feel less guilty about our purchases. Sounds good, right?
Make your best guesstimates for what you think will happen and then adjust as you have more information each month at your Money Parties. 🥳 You can use this budgeting spreadsheet to get you started!
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Define: FINANCIAL ADULTING. Being a financially confident and competent person. Includes knowing where your money is going, having a plan for your student loans and credit card debt, maximizing your benefits at work, investing your 401(k) or IRA, understanding your credit score and sleeping peacefully at night (at least as far as money related things).
Use it in a sentence - “It’s time I start financial adulting.”
Most of us don’t start financial adulting as early as we’d like but it’s never too late to start. I have a four month course that shows you how.