RICH BITCH. Let’s Discuss MONEY, Budgeting, & Saving

I’m going to go ahead & be real honest here: I AM NOT THE BEST WITH MONEY MANAGEMENT.

Michael is GREAT in this area ( THANK GOD ). But me? Not so much.

I’m the girl that at 21 would buy a $112 dollar sweater when I had $245 in my bank account. I’m the girl who at 21 who was always buying rounds of pomegranate mimosas…when I had no business buying rounds of anything. & I’m also the girl who at 21 who would get a blowout instead of buying ( MUCH NEEDED ) groceries.

See? BAD.

BUT I’ve learned. I’ve learned how to manage my money & SAVE.

Sure, sometimes I buy things I probably should NOT buy…BUT I’ve learned a ton of tips & tricks from Michael that have helped. AND three years ago I started SAVING. The concept of saving at 21 was completely foreign to me. Really, it was like an alien from outer space asking me to hang out on Mars & eat moon cheese.

Saving, obviously, is smart because you never know what the hell is going to happen. Plus like Sophia Amoruso of NastyGal says:

“Money looks better in the bank than on your feet.”

( At 21 it looked better on my Steve Madden’s though ).

Anyway, enough about me, let’s talk about RICH BITCH.

Rich Bitch is a book by Nicole Lapin. She’s a sassy girl boss who wrote a badass book about how to get your financial life together. Guys, this isn’t a boring book either. It’s written in a way that makes sense & will get your ass in line financially ( I’ve picked up a ton of financial tips from her ).

To all the 21 year olds who are shopping at Forever21 instead of saving: check this out. It just might be some of the best advice you’ve ever read.

( Speaking of Forever21 & money…how cute is this white wallet I just got?!….HA! ).

On that note, let’s talk to Nicole…clearly I need it! Let’s all channel our inner rich bitch, k?

| Ok, so introduce yourself— you are so inspiring! |

Nicole Lapin: I’m Nicole Lapin—author of the New York Times Best Seller, Rich Bitch: A Simple 12-Step Plan for Getting Your Financial Life Together…Finally & the only financial expert you don’t need a dictionary to understand.

| Tell us all about your book! It’s such a good read ESPECIALLY for a girl boss. |

NL: When I wanted to learn about money I looked at lots of books & not only were they boring, they were not relevant. Rich Bitch is relatable for every stage of life, from your first job, apartment and checkbook to merging bank accounts with a future spouse, & planning for retirement.

Rich Bitch is a no jargon zone. Rich Bitch is the stuff that no one tells you about money; negotiating bills and purchases, finding extra money by making your social network work for you, asking for a raise and getting it.

| Tips for people on a budget? |

NL: A financial diet is like a regular diet: if you don’t allow yourself those small indulgences you will only binge later on.

I make the case for the morning latte ( you’re welcome! ). If that $5 latte makes you happy & more productive at work, & keeps you from blowing your budget elsewhere, then it’s a great daily investment in yourself.

And hey—it might even lead you to a lucrative bonus down the road. Just build it into your budget so everything is above board—& enjoy!

| Budgeting tips for the college girl? Personally it was SO difficult for me to budget in college…I want to say almost impossible? |

NL: I recommend setting aside 15% of your monthly income for extras, AKA fun, 15% for your endgame, or retirement, and the remaining 70% for the Essentials, the basics of living like rent, food, and transportation.

I’m also a firm believer that the more money you make, the less money you have to save.

So when it comes to that 15% for extras: spend it on whatever you want! Your monthly mani/pedi, a new pair of shoes, or your morning latte.

I’m not going to tell you how to spend it; just build it into your ‘Spending Plan’ every month so it’s all above board. And take it out in cash so you’re not tempted to overspend by constant credit card swiping.

Once that cash is gone, the party is over until next month.

| Worst mistake you see women making with money? |

NL: Doing nothing. It’s so tempting to ignore your money issues, but you CANNOT. That’s why my 12-Step Program starts where other 12-Step Programs start: by admitting you have a problem. A money problem, that is.

You can’t reach any of your goals—personal, professional, & otherwise—until you admit this simple fact, and then we go through the steps together to overcome it.

| Let’s switch gears a bit, shall we? How do you stay healthy when you’re constantly working in NYC? |

NL: It’s a daily struggle; trust me! But I try to start every day off on the right foot with a good workout, a green juice, and of course, plenty of water. I’d like to say I prioritize sleep too but…I don’t want to lie to you!

Remember, though, that YOU are your walking business card. You can’t help anyone until you help yourself.

So if you want to make a big impact, take care of yourself first.

| What’s a small change that makes all the difference? |

NL: Negotiate everything—cable, internet, medical, even credit card bills—at least once per year. Do not pay the sticker price for anything. Most companies would rather throw you a bone than lose you as a customer, and the worst they can say is “no.” It’s your money…fight for it!

| So how do we all become rich bitches?? We’re dying to know! HA! |

NL: It’s time to rethink convention and learn to think for yourself. Stop being brainwashed and start making financial decisions for you, for your own personal adventure. We’re living in a new normal, and there is no one-size-fits all solution to your money dilemmas. So you need to learn the language of money first—I’m here to help—and then make informed decisions for you and your career

| It’s tax season!! Tips?! Share please! |

NL: Baby steps, baby. Divide your filing time into a few quick and easy steps and you’ll be done before you know it. I like using steps for anything I try to accomplish, especially in the realm of money stuff, because it prevents you from having an anxiety attack when you don’t accomplish everything all in one day.

When I did my taxes for the first time, I didn’t set aside one day to do them: I set aside an entire month. Day one: un-crinkle my receipts. That was it. Success!

Then came organizing those receipts into piles; gathering my W-2s and other tax forms; and entering everything into my online tax platform. Before I knew it, I was finished—and Uncle Sam was off my back!

| Why does every girl NEED your book? |

NL: Money is cultural, and I think that once we stop feeling scared and like it’s taboo then we can start living the life we want, because it’s really all about the life you want; not just about numbers in your check book.

Money is about setting goals in all aspects of your life—and then realizing that you’re going to need money for those goals. I’ll help you figure out what those goals are & then we can plan on how to support those goals financially—together!

+ follow Nicole on Instagram | check out her book.

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