Dear Reader, For most of my life, I only took big financial action when I felt scared or under pressure. In 2019, I learned how to budget because I had no other choice. My family was navigating how to pay all our expenses on my disability income while Husbae found a new job. But here’s what I know now after coaching dozens of first-gen wealth builders and continuing to grow my own net worth: You don’t need to be scared or under pressure to take action that leads to wealth building. In fact,...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Sometimes, it’s not the big things that overwhelm us—it’s the little ones. The to-do list. The laundry. That one invoice you’ve been meaning to send. You know what needs to get done, but your nervous system says nope. Instead of taking action, you freeze. You feel the butterflies in your stomach. The dread. The shame. And then comes the self-talk: Why am I like this? It’s not even that hard. A client of mine recently shared how this cycle plays out for her—how even simple tasks...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, There’s a moment every entrepreneur faces eventually— Sales don't go as desired. The numbers don’t reflect the effort. And doubt starts to creep in. Suddenly, you’re questioning everything: Was it the pricing? Did I do something wrong? Should I have played it safer? And underneath those questions is the fear: Is my business even sustainable? A client of mine recently navigated this exact experience. After bravely raising their prices to reflect their time and energy, their launch...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, A client recently shared: “I’m struggling with the idea of spending over $2,000 on myself.” If you’ve ever felt that kind of tension in your body when it’s time to spend money on you, you’re not alone. Especially if you’re a first-gen wealth builder, you were likely raised to believe that money is for surviving—not thriving. That it should go toward family, bills, emergencies—not coaching, therapy, rest, or joy. And when that belief lives in your nervous system, investing in your...
18 days ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, Ever tell yourself… “What if I fall back into old habits after three months?” “Is this just one more thing I’m trying?” That thought? It’s one I hear all the time from first-gen wealth builders. And it makes sense. Because if you’ve ever: Started a budget only to abandon it during a family emergency Tried meal prepping or a new routine but couldn’t keep it going during a stressful work season Set boundaries around money but struggled to maintain them without guilt ...then yeah—of...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Stop thinking that higher-paying jobs come with more stress. That belief is keeping so many first-gen professionals stuck in underpaid roles. But here’s the truth: burnout isn’t about the paycheck—it’s about the environment, expectations, and support systems. Not every $120K job demands your evenings, weekends, or peace of mind. And not every $50K job protects your wellness. I’ve seen this firsthand. Husbae used to earn $10 an hour working as a teacher assistant. Now he makes...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, So many of us believe we have to wait until we feel better—more energized, less overwhelmed, fully healed—before we can start showing up for ourselves again. But that’s not how healing works. And it’s not how change happens either. Healing and action aren’t enemies. In fact, gentle, imperfect action is often what helps us heal. I know this deeply from my work with clients—and from my own life. Recently, a client came to our session saying she’d “checked out” of her money...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, If you live with ADHD and find yourself stuck avoiding money tasks—submitting reimbursements, checking your balances, opening a new account—it may not be about procrastination or poor time management. It may be Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). RSD is a common experience for people with ADHD. It’s an intense emotional response to perceived rejection, criticism, or the possibility of messing up. Even when no one has said anything negative, the anticipation of being...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Healing from money trauma doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t go away just because you get a new job or start making more money. It doesn’t disappear the moment you learn the “right” thing to do. Healing requires more than just information. It requires cariño—gentle compassion, nervous system care, and support that meets you where you are. Let me show you what I mean. A client of mine recently landed a new full-time job and was earning more money than before. But when it came to...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read