My Financial Habits In 2025

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trapped in some illusory content cycle pushing me to embrace ‘my winter arc’ ❄️

To me, wealth is freedom, options, time, & health.

So I want my habits moving forward to reflect these values when it comes to financial success. It’s meant a refocusing of my energy—calling back my attention from past interactions, ruminations, and mental loops—towards the areas of my life that actually bring me vitality.

Here’s to charging forward boldly into your own life.

Solidarity is supposed to be hard.

When it comes to spending, take a firm stance.

Shop small, shop local, shop the businesses owned & operated by people you want to support. Support independent businesses over big brand retailers, trendy labels, and knock-off social media stores. I’ll only shop at these establishments if it’s absolutely necessary.

Shop for longevity. I’m done with low-quality, temporary solutions and designs. I don’t need to waste money or energy on things I don’t want, don’t need, or won’t last.

This year, I’m focused on looking “poor”— which just means looking like me. Not changing a thing about my current wardrobe, wearing what I own. I opt out of makeup, and all power to you if you choose to opt in. There are targeted occasions where dressing up is needed, I understand that, and the best formula for confidence in any situation is confidence in how you look first.

Yes, I wear comfy clothes outside the house, but no, I don’t wear them to meetings. Working from home has its perks, but I’ve kept a reliable set of professional clothes for virtual and in-person meetings that call for it. Those moments happen so rarely that I can’t justify buying new clothes constantly.

Metrics that matter.

My financial focus is crystal clear: building assets and increasing my net worth.

Net worth is the only number that matters to me right now. It’s my ultimate financial metric—an honest snapshot of where I stand financially. To grow it, my first priority is to pay off two key debts:

Car Note

Student Loans

I’m incredibly grateful that my student debt is below average for U.S. undergraduates. This wasn’t an accident. I worked hard during school, got good grades, and worked 3 jobs at the same time. I can credit this win to two strategic choices I made early in my college career:

Starting at a community college for two years before transferring to a university.

Supporting myself through school while living in a high-cost area like Seattle.

2025: A Year for Financial Discipline

The next few years are going to be certifiably chaotic—I can’t tell you exactly how, but I feel it in my bones. This is the time to focus.

Here’s my financial strategy for the year ahead:

Boost savings & investments. Build a safety net that offers security no matter what happens.

Get rid of unnecessary debt. Avoid taking on more than I can handle.

Prioritize long-term goals. Keep my eyes on building assets and increasing my net worth.

This year, I urge you to do the same: get your money right, focus on your paper, and set yourself up for success in the years to come.

Let’s get to work 💪🏽

Net Worth in the Making: 4 Key Lessons

Learn how early life experiences with money influenced my approach to financial growth and strategies for building wealth from a place of resilience. Practical, real, and tailored for those starting from behind the starting line.

Growing up, my family didn’t have much. My parents made some good choices in my early childhood, giving us a taste of peace and prosperity—until the Fire Nation attacked, so to speak. But when things changed, they changed drastically. We lived as a family of seven: my mom, dad, two younger brothers, my aunt, grandmother, and me. It was a full house, and I quickly learned that circumstances beyond my control would shape my views on money.

The 2008 financial crisis hit us hard.

My mom lost her job and, for years, couldn’t hold one down, which stretched my parents’ savings to their limit. Around the time I was 12 or 13, things at home became challenging. By age 15, we had moved to Seattle, away from extended family, and started again. I tell you this backstory to emphasize a point: my family and circumstances taught me some unintentional money lessons, some I’m still unlearning today.

4 Key Financial Lessons

Question All Financial Advice (Even from ‘Experts’)

I’ve learned to take advice with a grain of salt, especially around money. While financial gurus seem to be everywhere, only you know what’s best for your money. Others can help you understand the how, but the what is ultimately your call.

Keep Money Matters Private

When it comes to money, privacy is key. Money attracts more money, and having a solid, private relationship with it sets the stage for wealth-building. I keep financial decisions and goals close, focusing on what I want rather than outside opinions.

Understand that Money and Opportunity Are Linked

Money and Opportunity are sisters—where one goes, the other often follows. As I’ve seen, money paves the way for the life you want, creating opportunities that align with your goals. Recognize that each dollar spent or saved can create a path toward a more secure, intentional future.

Start from Where You Are, Not Where You ‘Should’ Be

Many of us start saving or investing from a place of debt, not zero. Acknowledge where you’re beginning from, and don’t get bogged down by comparison. The real journey is in building a foundation that works for you, one step at a time.

Upcoming 👩🏽‍💻

“How to Stay Motivated While Building Wealth from Scratch” article launching ✨ November 30 ✨

Society’s Influence on Your Financial Mindset

Our society doesn’t exactly prepare us for financial success, and I think it’s important to address how systems and lack of accessible financial education play a huge role in this. Most of us enter adulthood with little guidance in money management, forced to navigate it alone. The reality is, while some people hit the lottery or get lucky breaks, the rest of us build wealth from trial, error, and persistence.

Leave a note in the comments if you'd like a blog post on "Navigating Financial Challenges in a High-Cost City Like Seattle"

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Starting from behind the starting line is tough, but it doesn’t have to define your financial future. Through resilience and intentional strategies, you can build a healthy relationship with money that grows with you over time.

📣 If you’re ready to take control of your life’s journey…

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