Our Founder Selina Flavius took over My Imperfect Lifes Instagram page to share her 5 top Financial Wellness Tips for 2021.
In this article I discuss the fact that Gen Z and Millenials are at the forefront when it comes to adopting the new fintech apps that allow us to invest, how can financial education keep pace to ensure young people are engaging in these services safetly.
In this article I discuss my top tips for managing your finances as a small business owner. Often your own personal financial well being gets neglected as you focus on growing your business. How does a business owner do both?.....click to read the article.
In this article myself and another expert discuss what is a bad credit score and top tips to improve your credit score. All is not lost if things have gone wrong.
In this article I discuss the money lessons taught to use by our family, culture, and parents. When it comes to our money mindsets its interesting to think about the familial and cultural influences.
Do check out this article written for Refinery29 - which discusses the reasons why Black women can't afford to wait to get their finances in order. Plus our financial top tips!
Thank you so much guardian for featuring an extract of the Black Girl Finance Book - Lets Talk Money.
The funny thing is my mum, called me up after reading this article laughing, saying that the two things you were not allowed to talk about with your kids, were how much you earned and also how old you were, because the fear was that the kids would go and tell everyone your business.
She also said - she used to borrow me £80 a month, that I should have said this in the book.
Love her. Check out this article.
This week we have been featured in this article from starling bank - How to set realistic financial goals for 2021!
Check it out.
This week we have been featured in the FT advisor online article regarding closing the racial wealth gap. What are the causes, what is the FCA's focus on diversity, how can the industry help.
Its super important to talk about these financial gaps.
Black women are impacted by the ethnicity pay gap and the gender pay gap. If you have ever attended one of our events, I always include information about the ethnicity pay gap and the gender pay gap, because sometimes we aren't aware of, these financial gaps, and how we are impacted. We should always speak up and be an advocate for ourselves. We also have to ensure that we actively build wealth. Check out our thoughts in the article, it's important to be a part of the conversation.
September and Autumn is here. I love the month of September because it is our founders birthday month, it is also the opportunity to finish the year financially strong. If you been following Black Girl Finance since launch, which was July last 2019, our goal for our community is to get really clear and focused on financial goals. This means regardless of what is happening, that you still focus on Financial goals, because one of the things that does not go away is cost of living. You need to ensure you are continually focused on building up an emergency fund, on saving for now and in the future, getting out of debt, and on building assets.
You need to finish the next 4 months strong so that by 2021 you can say you have hit the goals you set out in 2020.
Another reason why I love this September is because we will be launching some very exciting news about BGF. We want you to take this journey with us. So make sure you are signed up to our newsletter.
This month we have been told that the UK officially entered into a recession due to Covid 19 and the required Lock down. But what does it all mean? And what is the impact on your finances?
A recession is defined as 2 consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. It looks at a countries GDP which stands for Gross Domestic product. Which is a measure of the countries economic size and health over a given period of time.
Sadly it is likely to mean more business closures and Job losses. However if you are fortunate to avoid losing your job it's likely to mean pay freezes.
What does this mean for your finances?
The start of Covid 19 with businesses being put into lock down and the uncertainty it created, should have been the time to ensure you were building up your emergency fund, and budgeting, also ensuring that you are claiming the government support and help have become entitled to.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-help-and-support/
Also thinking about ways to create extra income, doing more hours if available, using your skills to set up a business on the side. Gig economy jobs to earn extra income.
A recession can be devastating to finances. This is not the first time we are experiencing this. The last recession was in 2008. You are likely to experience more than one in a lifetime. Whether in great economic times or recessions, you should make your personal finances and your financial well-being a priority, so you can weather the financial storms.
Check out the store for our guide to building an emergency fund and budgeting. Also feel free to book a complimentary coaching call. Now is the time to do it.
At the end of June - we released our second in a series of the Black Girl Finance Ebooks. If you haven't already got yourself a copy make sure you visit the store on the website. Used in conjunction with the free Emergency Fund guide and the a handy Black Girl Finance UK notebook it will get you super focused on your financial goals. I am also adding it to the list of recommendations on the website.
The Black Girl Finance UK - Guide to Budgeting.
Any good budget should include a wants section, so you shouldn't feel guilty about spending on treats. The ebook explains it all. It's available to download from the website for July.
Black Girl Finance Podcast
I mentioned the idea of a Black Girl Finance UK podcast and the followers on instagram loved the idea, so I am working to get this released and available Mid July. As soon as it is ready it will be added to the recommendations page.
Lock down is easing (phew) was anyone else starting to go stir crazy? Now that shops are opening, it will probably be even more tempting than ever to over spend on restaurant trips and clothes. We have been deprived. I remember commenting to my fiance that I miss steak. But I wasn't talking about just any old steak, I was referring to the juicy rump steak, from the local restaurant we regularly went to before lock down. Just because we are a finance blog it doesn't mean the temptation is not there. Temptation is definitely there. However we have something to help, we have created a new budgeting guide called. The Black Girl Finance UK - Guide to Budgeting.
Any good budget should include a wants section, so you shouldn't feel guilty about spending on treats. The ebook explains it all. It's available to download from the website for July.
We have now been in lock down for 8 weeks. If you are anything like me you might have started to get cabin fever and have started reminiscing about all the pre-lock down fun and freedom we had. All the holidays, all the catch-ups with the girl friends, and catch up's with family. We can't wait to do it all again.
But with all the continued news of job losses, and businesses closures, and people losing their lives, it's definitely made me pause and reflect on how precious life is and how important it is to not take it for granted and to try and help and assist.
That's why we launched the helpline and also released the free e-book, because people are struggling at this time, this period is not one that can be looked upon with unfeeling and complacency and above all we are here to help our fellow sister navigate through this. Black Girl Finance UK is in your corner and is rooting for you.
So we are super excited to announce our very first black girl finance UK workshop. If you are free on Friday 29th November, and in west London come and join us to discuss money scripts and financial goals. It will be a fun and interactive event, getting you to delve deep into your thoughts and feelings around finance and your financial goals.
Check out the social media and books section of the website for our August picks to continue your financial education. Last month I had a lot of conversations with my clients about buying a first property, investing and business. This is what has been focused on this month in the updates. So if you are interested in these topics click the link below. Or join the 3 month course.
I wanted to add a blog section to give you information about what we have been doing in July check out our Instagram page @blackgirlfinanceuk, we completed the below tasks last month.
1. Money in review.
2. Negative Financial thoughts vs Positive Affirmations.
3. We have also given away some free goodies, last month it was our new black girl finance UK notebooks, in our Insta -story competition.
These are now available to purchase on our website - caveat - they are only to be used for financial goals! No shopping lists or notes for family.
Join in online - we are creating a tribe of unapologetic, ambitious money minded fabulous women!
Do something special for yourself today, grab a notebook to write down and get clear about your financial goals or book a complimentary consultation, they are only 15 minutes long, and added bonus they are currently free!
Alternatively if you are truly ready to create a shift and reach a financial goal book our 3 month course it will be life changing! click the link below!
Following the tragic death of George Floyd, and many others at the hands of the police, those who wear a badge and pledge to protect and serve, this week, has been a tragic reminder that there is a lot of work to be done to stamp out systemic racism and discrimination against Black People in the US, UK and globally.
Even though we are a finance blog, we are blogging about financial issues that impact the community so its important to speak up.
These events have sparked protests globally. So many people including myself have been so moved by the injustice that we want to take action not just feel negative emotions, but to think about practical steps and solutions we can take to change things. The protests are a way of clearly expressing feelings, of anger, frustration and for calling for change.
1. Don't deny that racism exists, just because you do not experience racism, does not mean that other's aren't experiencing it.
2. Call out racism when you see it. Staying silent when racial banter, slurs, decisions are being made, makes you complicit.
3. Support Black businesses.
4. Donate to Black Charities.
5. Educate yourself on racism and discrimination.
6. Protest, sign petitions, write to your local MP.
Black Lives Matter, this is not a time to sit back and be passive.
We are super excited to announce our official Black Girl Finance book