I know we don’t know each other well yet, but I am absolutely thrilled you are here. I don’t take it lightly that you’ve chosen to give me your valuable time, and I’m honored you’re reading my very FIRST blog post on my new website.

My name is Erika. I am a writer, a traveler, a dreamer, a social worker, and a single mama to four who wants to help you save, invest, pay off debt, and teach your kids to build wealth. These are my kids.

They value their privacy, so you won’t see as much of them, but I do have permission to share how I’ve helped them on their money journeys. Without realizing it, I started teaching them valuable lessons as young as three! During our time together, I’ll break down how you can make financial literacy a part of your kids’ daily lives no matter your income or their age.

My Personal Finance Journey

I am not a financial expert in the traditional sense, though becoming a Certified Financial Planner is in the works. (Especially since I found out only 3.1% are Latinx!) My current knowledge comes from my personal homeless to homeowner journey.

In the past 13 years, I’ve changed jobs seven times, tripled my income, learned to negotiate my salary, left several toxic work environments, clarified boundaries at work and at home, rented an apartment and a house, and now own a brand spankin’ new home in the ‘burbs. I’ve navigated real estate investments, retirement planning, and investing in the stock market. I’ve exited a marriage, paid off over 20K in debt, earned a graduate degree, started a business, and I am the breadwinner. I haven’t done it all, but damn, I have done a lot. Much of it has been me figuring out in nontraditional ways what is most efficient and will give me the smallest headache, preferably none at all.

Why Traditional Financial Advice Doesn’t Work

Traditional financial advice doesn’t work for me or most moms at that. For one, I have a creative brain, and I would rather watch paint dry than fill out a spreadsheet. Two, said brain doesn’t like following other people’s rules or any rules really. Three, same brain feels restricted by budgeting. Four (though I could go on), I want all the freedom possible with my money because freedom makes me happy as hell.

Money Trauma Can Hold Us Back

I know the trauma that comes from not having enough money to meet your basic needs. You feel about as free as a living person locked in a buried casket without a key. I hope you’ve never experienced that trauma. Chances are, you still carry unhealthy money mindsets that keep you from reaching the level you want in life. You may have childhood experiences or parental influences that haven’t always been the most helpful because those in power profit when the majority of us remain ignorant. Don’t get mad at your parents. They were likely dealt really shitty cards. Stick it to the Man instead.

Financial Literacy Can Heal Us

Financial literacy is the single most powerful gift you can give yourself and your family for generations. That’s some powerful shit. It’s likely you are closer to where you want to be than you think! I am cheering you on. My hope is my words will give you the knowledge, tools, and insight to cut your hurdles in half at least.

As a mama, you don’t have time to spend hours upon hours searching the internet for everything you need to know. You don’t have energy to budget every dollar on a complicated spreadsheet, and that’s really not needed anyway. With automations and a few bank accounts, your day to day money flow can be rather simple. I like my money simple, a bit boring even, because life with kids can be an unpredictable, wild ride. We need it chill sometimes.

Money can’t cure all your woes, but it sure can make your life a hell of a lot easier and more peaceful. I don’t know a single mom who doesn’t need that.

If that weren’t enough, healing our relationship with money trickles over into every area of our lives. It’s no coincidence much of the world would prefer we take on the role of homemaker rather than outearn our partners. When women have money, we hold decision-making power in our homes, in our communities, and in our world. Wealth, in our hands, is healing.

And when women heal, game on baby.