Have Your Own (Money)

There was a point and time in my life when I was really broke. I had an apartment, I had a car, but I didn’t have much money in my pocket.

At the time I was working as a freelancer with a national natural hair care company and the pay was ok but it wasn’t enough for me to sustain myself, but I loved my job.

I had the ability to work from anywhere and I worked with a team in New York. It was a dream come true but the pay wasn’t ideal. So I found myself caught between a rock and a hard place.

Coincidentally enough, I was seeing someone who didn’t seem to have any financial hardships. He worked a full time job and ran a business and life for him, appeared to be well.

When things got really hard for me financially, I talked to my Mother and told her that I was tired of being underpaid and I had the conversation that some women have with their mothers or girlfriends and I asked her if I should just marry well. He advice was essential. She said, “I understand how you feel, but I will advise you to always keep something for yourself. You never know when you’re going to need money just for you”.

I heard her, but I still wanted to do the opposite. Times were hard and I was tired of struggling.

I decided to chew on her words for a little while and as I chewed, life started showing me exactly what she meant. My Mother was right. As a woman you never know when you may need a little money just for you.

It’s a lesson I’m glad I learned relatively early and it’s one that I intend to teach my own little girl (if I have one, lol).