Hey girlies,
Quick question: How many times in your life have you claimed to be "bad with money"?
If the answer is more than zero, we need to talk.
Ariel Nathanson, founder of Finances for Feminists, joined us on the podcast to talk about why so many of us feel this way — and why it’s simply not true.
Honestly, this was one of our favorite, most eye-opening conversations to date. Here are some highlights:
Women couldn't get credit cards in their own names until 1974. That’s like… not that long ago. 🤯
If you have a 401(k), other workplace plan, or an IRA — you’re already an investor.
It’s okay to love money. (And it’s understandable if you’re afraid to admit it).
We loved (and agree with) Ariel’s take that most of your money problems aren't actually your problems. They're systemic issues that we've been taught to blame ourselves for.
Our financial system wasn't designed with women in mind. Recognizing this doesn't fix everything, but it does take away some of the shame. ← And that’s where real progress starts.
Speaking of progress, we couldn’t have this conversation without asking Ariel about investing – after all, it’s a topic we get asked about all the time.
Her advice was spot-on and especially relevant during these politically, economically, and socially chaotic times. You’ll have to listen in for her full take, but the TL;DR is this:
In the U.S., we don’t have the social safety net for you not to invest. You gotta take care of future you.
Scared of the ups and downs in the market? Ariel compared it to refreshing Zillow multiple times a day to check your home value. You wouldn't sell your house because the value went up $10k, right?
The same logic applies to your investments. You're not losing or making money until you actually sell. So play the long game and ignore the noise.
And if investing feels out of reach right now, we also asked Ariel for one simple piece of homework for our listeners — a tiny action step to get you started. Here’s what she said:
“Track your discretionary spending for one week and note how each purchase makes you feel.” Positive, negative, or neutral. No shame. Just awareness and curiosity.
This conversation with Ariel reminded us that financial confidence isn't about having all the answers — it's about getting curious about your own patterns and being kind to yourself while you figure things out.
See ya next time,
Emily + Cassidy 💸
P.S. Inspired by this conversation and curious to learn more from Ariel? Visit her website, financesforfeminists.com for details about her coaching program and to subscribe to her newsletter. You can also follow her on Instagram.
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