What I wish I knew about money when I was a teen....

I recently led a financial wellness workshop to a group of teens. We talked about money mindset and community cultural wealth. After my workshop, my heart felt so full....and then I realized, "man, I wish I was told these things when I was a teen". I love talking about money with teens because they are curious about money, and always have lots of questions. Talking about money through a shame-free lens helps us to destigmatize money, which I hope leads us to living a more joyful and abundant life.

Here's 3 things I wish I knew about money when I was a teen:

Money is just a tool.

It's a tool that can make a deep impact in our lives, our families and in our communities. Money provides an opportunity to create the kind of change you are looking for. Build it wisely, remain generous, and always give back to the community.

Money doesn't determine my worth or value.

Y'all, this one is deep! As someone who grew up low income and has experienced financial insecurity for most of my adult life, I believed that others would only accept or invite me if I had money. And while there are some who may think this way, the truth is everyone is worthy of being seen and treated with dignity, regardless of how much money we may have or not have.

Our cultural stories/practices and lived experiences are powerful.

There is so much we can learn from our stories. Every part of who we are and what we've experienced can speak into how we lead, the kind of careers we pursue and the kind of lives we build. We do not need to assimilate or deny ourselves in order to achieve success. But rather, staying connected and rooted in our communities as we build wealth is and should be the goal.

Share with me: what's something you wish you knew about money when you were a teen?

Until next time,

@yourfriend.jasmine