Smart Money Moves Every Single Woman in Her 30s and 40s Should Know

Smart Money Moves Every Single Woman in Her 30s and 40s Should Know

I remember it like it was yesterday—my 30th birthday. I woke up, and almost instantly, my back began to ache. In that moment, I knew: I wanted to become rich. Like any other day, I called my best friend, and we had a good laugh about it before heading to work. As if it were fate, I received a call from HR asking me to come into the office. Politely, my manager said, “I’m so sorry, but we’re terminating your position, effective immediately.”

I smiled, and as I sat there, I noticed something in his office smelled amazing. So, I asked, “What’s that smell? It smells so good in here.” He and one of the shareholders—who happened to be present for the conversation—exchanged an interesting look before he replied, “It’s wax candles melted by tea light candles.” I thanked him for the information, got to my feet, shook their hands, smiled, and walked out of the office. It felt like I had been set free. While I had no plans in place, no backup accounts, no savings—and I was still reeling from a heartbreak that had left me in shambles—guess what? I was out of the system.

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WHAT IS THE SYSTEM?

The system is like a hamster wheel, designed to keep you in place. It’s an institution that says, “You live, you work, you die,” and in between, you might get permission to see some parts of the world—but not all of it. Essentially, it’s time theft. While working at the law firm, I had the drive to work on a novel outside the office, tour the novel, and achieve so much more. What I didn’t have was the time to deal with the aftermath and build a brand around the novel that would allow me to sustain myself outside the system.

Sure, books like The 4-Hour Work Week, The Psychology of Money, Millionaire Mindset, and Habits for Success exist, and while we can read and comprehend their messages, nothing compares to experience. Every single one of these authors wrote their books because they experienced things they had to learn from. And you know what you need to gain experience? Time. Whether you’re looking to explore the world or just your backyard, you need time to do it. Without that, you’re stuck in the system.

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I’m not a financial guru or the wealthiest woman out there. Sure, I’ve built a nice net worth for myself over the years. But after being released from the system and choosing not to become a repeat offender, I was able to open doors for myself that would have otherwise remained closed. As a woman in her 30s or 40s, we’re often regarded as “leftovers” or told we need to hurry up and settle down. We’re labeled as the stragglers when it comes to dating. But you know what? The longer I stay single and the richer I become, the less interested I am in having a man or starting a family. Money never breaks my heart.

anna-wintour-milan-fashion-show

SMART MONEY MOVES

Want to be rich? First, you need to define what being rich means to you. Does it mean paying off all your debts, stopping the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck, or shopping without a care in the world? Do you dream of being wealthy enough to become a humanitarian? What does "rich" look like for you, and how will achieving it change your life or the lives of those around you?

Next, understand this: almost every person who has acquired wealth was a deviant in some way. Perhaps they were a high school dropout, a risk-taker who never penny-pinched, or someone with an open mind and the willingness to make sacrifices to get ahead. Building wealth takes a certain level of bravery that many people simply don’t possess.

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American banks thrive on keeping their citizens scared into poverty. So, what will set you apart from the rest? Simple—you’re not afraid to lose. "Scared into poverty" is a phrase I coined during COVID when I found myself robbed blind while financing a vehicle that seemed affordable at the time. Both the car payment and insurance were manageable—until my auto insurance renewal came around, and the price doubled. Suddenly, I was facing nearly $1,000 a month for a 2017 vehicle.

What did I do? The smart thing: I called the bank, had them pick up the car, and canceled the insurance. Yes, I had my vehicle repossessed. Now, a system worker might say, “That’s crazy! Why would you do that? What about your credit?” To them, I say: “Screw credit. Money and assets are king.” I can rebuild my credit score—that’s easy. But if I allow the system to dictate my time and energy, I’ll forever be the loser in this scenario.

Time is a non-renewable resource. When the system raises prices, the message is clear—though subtly delivered:

  • Get another job (lose more time and sleep less).

  • Borrow more money (sink deeper into debt and sleep even less).

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"Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.”

Robert De Niro

We are losing power over ourselves, controlled by a system designed to keep us fearful and destitute.

  • Buy things with cash whenever possible. Limit debt. The higher your credit score, the more banks see you as a money mule—you know how to keep them rich, and they’ll love you for it.

  • Strengthen your asset portfolio by buying stocks, investing in your friends' business ideas (if you trust them), and sharing the capital. Consider buying life insurance policies. Do you have children? Insure their body parts—especially for boy moms. If these body parts become "less functional," you could be in for a payday.

  • Keep your credit card usage low! Aim to stay at 30% of the limit and remember to spoil yourself at least once a month.

Here’s a list from X that a user shared:

  • January – Perfume

  • February – Sneakers

  • March – An Outing

  • April – Gold Bracelet

  • May – Cookware

  • June – Travel

  • July – Give Back

  • August – A Black Sexy Dress

  • September – Bedsheets

  • October – Massage and Spa

  • November – A New Book

  • December – Scented Candles and Cake

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I’ll be doing more articles like this all month long. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel if you’d prefer to listen to the article.

by Lisa K. Stephenson

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