Money Musings 💭 learning to enjoy ⛱ (+ a tribute to RBG!) 👑
The original Money Musing for this week talked about my quest to enjoy things more (and the lack of diversity on the Supreme Court). But first, I’d like to acknowledge the pain and sadness that comes with the loss of a true heroine and icon.
On Friday night, we lost Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after a long battle with cancer. RBG fought tirelessly until the end for justice and brought her perspective on women’s rights to the Supreme Court.
RBG fought for womxn - and she was a pioneer for our economic independence. Because of her, women can sign a mortgage without a man and open a bank account without a male co-signer. Because of her, we have the right to equal pay and a job without gender discrimination - and to be pregnant at work. Although there is A LOT left to be done, we owe so much to her. You can read a beautiful tribute to her here.
Her death — only weeks away from the election — has set the stage for a political fight over the future of the court. RBG’s death is a huge loss to womxn everywhere. But, it’s our turn to fight.
Register to vote. Get involved if you can. Educate your family, friends, and neighbors - our future depends on it.
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Something I’ve been working on is how to enjoy 😌 things. Sound crazy? I know. Enjoying something sounds really simple but I have a knack for avoiding it. I worry about what’s next, formulate to-do lists in my head or generally feel distracted. It doesn’t matter how lovely the moment is.
I’m such a pro at not enjoying, I can even do it on a beach ⛱ with a drink 🍹 in my hand. 🤦♀️
This seeps into my money life because I (ironically) spend money on things and experiences to treat myself - with the purpose of enjoying them - and then don’t. Feeling dissatisfied I continue on, buy another thing to enjoy, and then don’t... again.
Someone in the 30-Day Money Cleanse Course shared how she created a practice of actually enjoying her matcha latte every day for ten minutes. Before the Money Cleanse, she’d drink it on the go while listening to a podcast 🎧 or thinking about the jam packed day she had ahead. Next thing she knew, her drink would be gone and she hardly even tasted it. Now if she doesn’t have ten minutes to sit and enjoy it, she skips it.
For me, like the Money Cleanser, what’s worked the best so far is consciously choosing to enjoy something by being fully present. If I pay special attention to the sensory experience - the taste of the ice cream 🍦, how the sun ☀️ feels on my skin, the joy I get listening to E giggle 🤣, that ups the enjoyment ante.
I also notice it’s easier for me to enjoy on days that I’ve meditated. I bet that has something to do with being present and less distracted.
Enjoying is top of mind as I embark on my maternity leave.
Do you find it easy to enjoy the things you indulge in (or even the little things)? What strategies work best for you?
PS The 30-Day Money Cleanse Course is now open! Sign up to take control of your finances, manage your spending, and de-stress your money for good (all in 30 days).
MONEY MOVE OF THE WEEK
Automate your savings. How we traditionally try to save money doesn’t work. We earn money, pay everyone else first (our bills, 💡live our lives 🍽, even give gifts 📦) and then we hope 🙏 there will be money left to save (aka pay ourselves). And there’s not. We earn more and think we’ll finally start saving. Still no. What gives? To pay ourselves first, we want to treat saving like any other expense. Set up an automatic transfer to your new online savings account where it’s out of sight, out of mind. If you’re thinking, “Ashley, there’s no way I can save… I’m living paycheck to paycheck,” start with as little as $5 per paycheck. Check in and up the ante when you don’t miss it.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Diversity on the Supreme Court. I wrote this many weeks ago, before the passing of RBG. Although the future of the Supreme Court remains uncertain, I’d still like to highlight the need for diversity on the bench.
On September 25th 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. She served on the Supreme Court for 24 years.
There have been 114 justices to serve on the Supreme Court and only four (3.5%) have been women - Sandra Day O’Connor (appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981), Ruth Bader Ginsberg (appointed by Bill Clinton in 1983), Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan (both appointed by Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010).
Of the 114 justices to serve on the Supreme Court, only three (2.6%) have been people of color - Thurgood Marshall (appointed by Lyndon B. Johsnon in 1967), Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas (appointed by George H. W. Bush in 1991).
That means 1.75% of the 114 justices have been Black, 0.8% have been Latina and there have been no justices that have identified as Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander. No justice has ever identified as anything other than heterosexual.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and many argue that being a Supreme Court Justice is the most powerful job in the United States. The Supreme Court rules on cases that affect all segments of the U.S. population and representation matters. We need a diversity in perspective and voices to adequately assess the issues.
Biden pledged that if elected President, he will put the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.