Starting from Square One
I’ve cried over money more times than I can count.
Not the “I overspent at Target” kind of tears—the quiet, middle-of-the-night sobs. The ones where your chest aches because you feel stuck in a life you know was never meant for you.
I remember lying in bed staring at the ceiling, the glow of my overdrafted checking account still on my screen. I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t careless. I was just overwhelmed and tired of barely getting by. I wanted soft mornings. I wanted freedom. I wanted peace.
But instead, I felt panic.
And if you're here reading this, maybe you do too.
The Moment Everything Changed
It wasn’t some magical windfall or a big promotion that changed my life. It was a choice—a quiet, stubborn, exhausted decision that I couldn’t keep living like this. I was tired of surviving. I wanted to build.
And that meant starting over. From scratch.
If I could go back to the beginning, here are the four things I’d do—religiously, relentlessly, lovingly. These steps changed my life. They can change yours too.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend things I truly believe in—products that have helped me on my journey.
1. Read Rich Dad, Poor Dad—One Chapter at a Time
This book was my wake-up call. It’s not perfect. It’s not new. But it planted the seed that I didn’t have to trade my time for money forever. Even if you don’t finish it all at once—just a chapter a day. I read mine in 15-minute pockets between crying and coping.
→ Get it here on Amazon
2. Read The Richest Man in Babylon
This one’s short, sweet, and powerful. It reframed the way I thought about saving and spending. You don’t need a finance degree to understand it. You just need an open heart and a highlighter.
→ Find it on Amazon
3. Look at Your Spending—Really Look
Not with guilt. With curiosity.
Almost every debit or credit card provider gives you a spending summary each month. Mine was sobering. I thought I had a “money problem.” I didn’t. I had an awareness problem.
Ask yourself:
What category hurts the most to see?
What was I trying to feel when I spent that money?
This isn’t about shame. It’s about clarity. Knowing where your money goes is the first step to taking it back.
4. Have a Financial Conversation with Yourself
I don’t mean “I should probably spend less.”
I mean:
What kind of life am I truly yearning for?
Where do I want to wake up every morning?
What would it feel like to not be afraid of money anymore?
You’re allowed to want softness. Space. Beauty. Abundance.
But you can’t get there without deciding what it looks like for you. Once you define it, the way forward becomes a little less foggy.
You Are Not Behind
If you’re sitting in a tiny apartment, refreshing your bank app, holding back tears—you are not alone. I’ve been there. I built Net Worthy for that version of me… and for you.
Starting from scratch doesn’t mean starting empty.
It means starting aware.
It means starting with a spark.
And trust me—you are already so much closer than you think. Cheers to the start of something beautiful.