Money Monday

Debt is something I’m still in the thick of. I’m not writing this as someone who’s already debt-free or who has all the answers neatly figured out. I’m writing this as a single mom who is still juggling bills, still working on building better money habits, and still trusting God to guide me through this journey.

For me, debt hasn’t just been about numbers on a page—it’s been about late-night anxiety, wondering how I’m going to cover basic needs for my little family and not bleed my parents dry in the process. It’s been about saying “no” to things I wish I could give my son, or pushing aside dreams because the money wasn’t there. But lately, I’ve been making small shifts—little things that don’t solve everything overnight but help me move one step closer to freedom. And maybe my story can encourage you if you’re on the same path.

Learning Where My Money Goes

The first big wake-up call for me was actually sitting down and looking at where my money was going. I thought I had a pretty good handle on it, but when I tracked everything for a week, I realized how many “small” things were draining me—fast food stops, Amazon checkouts, random Target runs. None of them felt huge in the moment, but together, they were stealing money I needed for bigger priorities. Writing it all out wasn’t fun, but it was necessary.

Scaling Back, Not Cutting Out

As a single mom, I need little joys to keep me going, and I will often sacrifice doing things for myself to ensure that I have the money to take care of my responsibilities. I used to think budgeting meant cutting everything out, and that only left me frustrated and more likely to give up. Instead, I’m working on scaling back. Instead of five takeout meals a week, I might grab just two or three. Instead of buying full price, I hunt for sales. Those small decisions add up, and I don’t feel like I’m punishing myself in the process.

Putting Things on Autopilot

Between work, school for myself and my son, and just trying to keep our home running, bills sometimes slip my mind. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve racked up late fees simply because I forgot the due date. Automating minimum payments has been a game-changer for me. It doesn’t erase the debt, but it helps me plan for the payment, protect my credit, and avoid extra charges.

Finding New Streams of Income

Cutting back was one thing, but I realized I couldn’t save my way out of debt. I needed more income. That’s why I started Shine Boss Co., my candle business. It began as a creative outlet but is growing into something that gives me hope. Every time I make a new candle, I feel like I’m building not just a business, but a brighter future for me and my son. It’s not replacing my income yet, but it’s one of the ways I’m trying to take back control.

Leaning Into Community and Learning

One thing I’ve realized is I don’t have to figure this all out alone. There are so many amazing voices teaching about money in ways that feel real and relatable. Some of my favorites are:

Rich and Regular – a husband-and-wife team breaking down money topics with honesty and humor.
Financial Feminist – Tori Dunlap’s podcast and resources have given me the motivation to think bigger about my finances.
She Wolfe of Wall Street – her content makes investing and money management feel accessible, not intimidating.
Building Bread with Kevin L. Matthews II – his resources have opened my eyes to how wealth-building is possible, even starting from scratch.
The Budgetnista – Tiffany Aliche is one of the most practical and encouraging voices when it comes to managing money.
The Broke Black Girl – Dasha Kennedy provides raw, real advice about money, especially for women of color.
Tai and Talaat McNeely – their platform shows how couples and families can tackle finances together with faith at the center.
The Frugal Feminista – Kara Stevens helps women of color heal their relationship with money while building wealth.

Tuning into voices like these helps me stay encouraged and reminds me that debt isn’t the end of my story.

Trusting God With My Finances

Most importantly, I’ve been learning to surrender my financial stress to God. That doesn’t mean I stop working or ignore my responsibility—it means I remind myself daily that I’m not walking this road alone and that ultimately God is my main source of provision. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” On the days when I feel overwhelmed by bills and balances, I go back to that verse. My path may not be straight yet, but I believe God is leading me step by step.

Celebrating Small Wins

I still have a long way to go, but I’ve started celebrating small victories: paying off one bill, saying no to an unnecessary purchase, making a candle sale, or even just choosing faith over fear. Those small wins matter because they keep me moving.

If you’re in debt like me—whether you’re a single mom, a college student, or just someone trying to make ends meet—I want you to know you’re not alone. We don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to fix everything in one day. We just have to take one step at a time, trust God in the process, and believe that freedom is possible.

Love you guys! Xoxo,

Ash, RN

So, I took a giant leap of faith a couple of days ago. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve taken a free webinar only to be bombarded with the whole “buy my class” sales pitch. Usually I don’t go for it because I don’t believe that everyone has the gift of teaching (or the calling) that they think they do. However, back in October of last year I made a commitment to myself to get my act together after I took a serious hit to my finances when I left my full time job with no back. Well friends, I did the exact same thing this year and took an even bigger financial hit. I still feel the same way I felt around this time last year; I do not regret my decision. Last year I was suffering from burn out; this year I was dealing with severe anxiety regarding my pregnancy and what I was seeing on the labor and delivery unit I was working on.

If it was not for my family, I would not have a house to live in or food or electricity or gas or anything really. My family came through for me in ways that I can never fully repay them for, but I’m so grateful. In an effort to never let myself get to this point financially again, I decided that I wanted and needed to do something different. I follow a lot of finance peeps on Instagram: @shewolfeofwallstreet, @delyannethemoneycoach, @betterwallet, @female.in.finance, @leothedebtslayer and many more. I honestly don’t remember how I came upon Britt & Laurie-Ann and the Dow Janes; I don’t remember if i follow them on instagram or if I clicked on a link or what but nevertheless, I found them. I took advantage of their Black Friday sale and purchased their Million Dollar Year course. I’m often seeing people say that we have to be willing to invest in ourselves and take the necessary steps to achieve our goals, and so that’s what I did.

Usually I wouldn’t do it because it costs too much, but this time I decided to bite the bullet and do this for myself because I need to learn. I would not consider myself to be financially literate. I know enough to get by, but clearly I don’t know enough to stop myself from living paycheck to paycheck. I’ve always wanted to take the next step and attempt to fix my financial situation, but I just never did. I would always get by, and I was okay with that. After having my son, I realized that I don’t want to just get by. I want to learn to build wealth and leave my son with the knowledge and the skills to do the same thing. I started the course on Black Friday and I have access for the next 52 weeks.

During one portion of the course you are tasked with finding an accountability buddy, and in true introverted fashion – I don’t want to be committed to checking in on someone every day or week. I just don’t want to. But I do enjoy writing and updating this site, so I think I will use this as my accountability. I’ll keep you guys updated on the process and my progress, and who knows – maybe one of you will decide to join MDY too. I’m pretty excited about it. I know that I have a lot to learn, and I know that I’m only going to get out of it what I put into it so I’m looking forward to jumping in there and getting started. I’ll check back in next week.

Xoxo