What’s Your Money Story?

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life

So I promised myself that this is the year where I will begin to intersect all of my different identities. I wear so many hats and my hope is that one day it will all become just ONE cohesive hat, (if that makes senses)

So here we go! Let’s talk Money and Finance!

So if you don’t already know, I work in Finance, Accounting and Operations at DoSomething.org . My day to day includes a great amount of both Agency and Non-profit accounting, forecasting, budget monitoring and reporting. Outside of the numbers I work on Ad-hoc internal projects that likely contributes to operational efficiency and HR/People operations. (Phew that was a mouthful) - Outside of the work responsibilities I’m “The Curly Bee”

There’s so many different avenues/lanes within Finance so to make it clear I exist primarily in the Accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis space. Which pretty much means working with my Director to ensure that the company has healthy financials and providing accurate reporting that provides insight and guidance for growth and long-term sustainability. So lots of cash management, P/L oversight, and monthly/Quarterly reporting. - No investment banking, no trading for me. :-)

So often people have asked me how did I stumble into Finance and Operations given my background in Political Science and Law. Honestly for some time I even asked myself the same question. For the girl who hated math and accounting in college, how “THE HELL” did this become my professional career?- - - Its been a few years and I can’t come up with a clear answer to that so instead I changed my perspective.

For so long its been safe to assume that your educational background dictates your professional career. Now while I do think that’s valid for many areas like teaching, law, medical etc., I do believe there is now some nuance with career paths these days. (Ugh I’m SUCH A MILLENNIAL) . Lived experience has a great amount of impact on your career path. So with that said I like to think that Finance and Operations was a career that chose me. - Growing up lack of finances and financial knowledge controlled so much of my life, family and people around me, so I believe my obstacles and early exposure is what prepared me for this career.

Discipline is the bridge between Goals and Accomplishments

Finance, cash management and operations was something I had to learn quite early in life. So when people ask me how do I manage it all, I just remember being 16, trying to navigate life both emotionally and financially. At the time my mother was terminal, so living with the fact that my mother can pass at any moment is what taught me how to balance a balance sheet and oversee an P/L before I knew what those reports even were. Balancing multiple hats, problem solving, and minimizing variation and delays was something I had to figure out as a teenager, just to survive. At that point not planning or saving money meant NOT EATING or being able to feed my ill mother. So now as an adult I thrive in this space because life has afforded me life struggles to understand the importance of Financial Planning and Analysis.

So often friends of mine and even followers ask me to help them with their finances, debt and cash management. For some time I didn’t believe I was credible enough, YET, or hit a point in my career to be able to teach… Then I thought to myself, SAYS WHO?

So my first question to you as I begin this journey, WHAT IS YOUR MONEY STORY? In order to “fix” anything or make a lifestyle change, you must first identify the ROOT cause and where you stand. Studies show that by addressing the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that determine a person's relationship with money and with self is what provides the foundation for learning the basics of money management. No matter how much money or financial mobility you have, you can still be suffering from poor habits that can be deeply rooted in your upbringing and exposure

So Here is Mine….

My name is Bonnie, I am a first generation Haitian American. Aside from having cultural ties to another country, it also means that my family was not in this country long enough to generate enough wealth to pass down. I lost both of my parents by 19, which set my family back in the wealth building journey. At 21, my tax-status changed from “dependent” to “Head of Household with 2 dependents.” Left alone without much certainty and guidance I had to learn how to navigate this world both financially and emotionally VERY FAST. Despite the amount of trauma it placed on me, I am forever thankful for the financial discipline it has granted me.

When I think about wealth and money, I remember all of the trauma I experienced growing up. Far too young I was exposed to eviction, and the consequences of not having enough to do something, buy something or pay something. My only financial goal was to soak up as much knowledge and skills to change that narrative not only for myself, but for my family down the line. I promised myself that I will build a level of discipline to avoid that narrative for my future.

My day to day financial journey consists of building a foundation of wealth for the family who will come after me. Having dependents means I don’t have time or security to make silly financial choices in my twenties. I am well aware that I must work twice as hard as those around me to build wealth. So everyday I tell myself I may not reap the benefits of what I am sowing right now but my children and family will thank me later.

So my first task to you is to document your “Money Story.” - Think about what money means to you and how you were exposed to it growing up. Spend a few days thinking about habits you have an where you picked them up from. Find the root cause of your financial behavior and document it. :-)