a brief history of her inner money ramblings
14 lines that uncovers one woman's unspoken money journey #IWD23
Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash
In honour of the 2023 International women’s day on March 8th, I have challenged myself to write differently. The format of this post is inspired by Rupi Kaur’s poetry book The sun and her flowers1.
No, you are not stupid.
yes at age 29
The difficult money jargon is very real
and no one took the time to teach you how speak a new language
unknowingly,
you’ve become an accomplice
to one of the statistics they like to recite on TV:
women’s net-worth is 3 times less than men
yes, money is not everything
but it is many things
it is one gateway to that soft-life you’ve been talking about
it is a harbinger of peace
No, your reality today suggests this peace is for others
this is not your language
you will just make do as you do
somehow it always works
somehow
Yes, Sethi said you should create a rich life
stuff for dreamers you say,
instead you wait for the day you win the lottery
not knowing that your lottery wins are disguised.
it arrives every 1st of the month
in account 979494
BACS £2933
No, WHERE DID IT ALL GO?
£2933 you murmur to yourself
looks big but
how does it transforms to £150 by the 25th
every damn time
Yes, you are questioning
the tugs of life are plenty
rent up by 4%
tomatoes up by 7%
energy bill up by 27%
stress level up by 60%
joyless living hanging by a thread
Yes, you’ve only just started observing this new language
mostly the small rules are starting to stick
‘70% max of your earnings is for expenses’
‘Save at least 10%’
‘use 20% for debt’
‘You need to invest in an asset’
‘have a money goal’
‘track your progress’
‘future you says thanks'
Yes, sometimes you wonder
why you cannot tell anyone about this
never mind
you go back to re-reading the rules
Yes, that was you then
now 34,
you’ve tied a leash to several figures
in control
tracking all them figures, Fitbit style
savings rate 35%
Networth- £13,678 (Pension £5767, Stocks & shares £3965, Emergency fund £2000, Travel £946, Family support £1000)
Yes, Sethi said to dream
and so here it is:
sweat over £100 decisions, not the £5 ones
don’t fret over the bill when it comes - it has been saved for
go on that sunny holiday this year as a family
buy that H-scarf in 18 months, it will be a reward
Yes, you want to feel guilty
about the time lost
but what use is it
you have some control now
Yes, you can make things happen
no, you are not stupid
Yes, you are the saviour you have been looking for
Yes, you’ll find a way to tell others this story
-END-
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Happy International Women’s day to all the women and ally’s that continue to show up, support and drive change!
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