The Epic Money Lesson I Learned
There are some money lessons I’m genuinely grateful for and others I’ll never forget, even if I wanted to.
I’ll never forget the time I blew my rent money on a night out, or that wild Memorial Day weekend I flew to South Beach with only $200 to my name, only to return home and find my checking account in the red. Most of the financial lessons I’ve learned were either hard-hitting or downright life-altering. But looking back, they gave me experience and perspective that would eventually shape who I am today.
One of the biggest money lessons I ever learned was actually refreshing and left a surprisingly positive imprint on my life. It was an evening that shifted something in me forever.
I was about 33 years old, lying in bed with my then-boyfriend. He logged into his Credit Karma account and, with a proud little grin, showed me his credit score. A few moments later, he opened a folder labeled “Bills” and started calling each company one by one to make his monthly payments. He casually explained his financial goals and the steps he was taking to reach them.
That day, I fell in love not just with him, but with my own financial potential.
Up until that point, I had never witnessed anyone handle money like that. I didn’t grow up around responsible money habits. No one ever paved the road to adulthood for me. I had spent all of my adult life just…getting by. I wasn’t responsible with my money, my spending, or even how I paid bills. I paid them when I felt like it. I never saved a dime. I didn’t care about my debt or my credit score.
That moment lit a fire in me. I realized that being financially responsible was a form of self-love.
THE PROCESS
The very next morning, I sat down and faced the music. I took a hard look at my financial choices and how they had been sabotaging my stability and peace. First up: pulling and reviewing my credit reports. I was embarrassed by the mess I’d made. But I made a promise to myself to clean it up, piece by piece.
I committed to increasing my credit score, disputing any errors I found, and paying down debt. At the same time, I started tracking my spending and created a real budget. I began planning for the next 3–5 years of my life with intention.
Within a year, my credit score jumped from the low 600’s to a 780.
I’ve made great progress over the years, but I’m not gonna lie, I’ve slipped back into old habits here and there. I’ve even intentionally taken a pay cut in exchange for more joy and alignment in my life. But the difference now is: I know better. I’ve educated myself and shifted my entire money mindset.
Financial literacy is a journey, not a destination. Over time, I built new habits that transformed my relationship with money. My goals have evolved and so have the systems I use to manage my finances. If I could go back in time, I’d give younger me a crash course in budgeting, saving, and wealth-building. But since I can’t, I’ve taken joy in sharing what I’ve learned with others.
One of my favorite parts of this journey was forming a small group of like-minded people, folks who were ready to take control of their finances and dream bigger. We met biweekly, shared resources, talked through our financial goals, and learned strategies for saving, budgeting, and long-term planning. Before long, we were full-blown Dave Ramsey enthusiasts.
Today, that little group has grown into a community: Dough Dreamers.
Our mission is simple: to strengthen our relationship with money and build a healthier, more empowered approach to personal finance. We support each other, share our struggles, and celebrate our wins no matter how big or small.
IT’S BETTER TO HAVE IT AND NOT NEED IT, THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT”
- SG