The MoneyGirl Blueprint: 4 Financial Decisions That Will Change Your Life
If you only remember one thing from MoneyGirl, let it be this:
Don’t spend more than you make.
It sounds obvious. Almost too obvious. But the majority of people break this rule every single day—and spend their 20s and 30s trying to fix the damage.
The good news? If you master just a few foundational money habits early, you can skip years of stress and start building wealth now.
Here’s your blueprint.
1. Don’t Spend More Than You Make
This is the foundation of everything.
In Chapter 1 – Don’t Spend More Than You Make , I explain that no amount of investing knowledge, budgeting apps, or side hustles can fix the habit of overspending.
Credit cards make it easy to pretend you have money you don’t.
Minimum payments make debt look manageable.
“Everyone does it” makes it feel normal.
But normal doesn’t mean smart.
You can either:
Appear wealthy
orActually build wealth
You can’t do both.
If you discipline yourself to live below your means—even slightly—you create margin. And margin creates options.
2. Save With Purpose (Not Just “Leftovers”)
Saving isn’t what you do if there’s money left at the end of the month.
Saving is what you do first.
In Chapter 3 – Savings , I break savings into categories:
💸 Mad Money (fun, guilt-free spending)
🚨 Emergency Fund (protects you from debt)
🏖 Retirement Savings (future freedom)
🏡 Housing Savings (building wealth early)
If you don’t intentionally separate your money, it all blends together—and gets spent.
The goal isn’t to never have fun.
The goal is to fund your fun responsibly.
When you save first, you can spend without stress.
3. Understand the Difference Between Good Debt and Bad Debt
Debt isn’t always evil—but it is always powerful.
In Chapter 2 – Debt , I explain the two types:
❌ Bad Debt
Credit cards carrying balances
Financing lifestyle upgrades
Buying things that lose value
Bad debt costs you money.
✅ Good Debt
A house
Carefully planned real estate investments
Possibly education (if it significantly increases income)
Good debt has the potential to make you money.
The key is this:
Never enter debt accidentally.
Debt should be calculated, strategic, and aligned with long-term goals—not emotional or impulsive.
4. Don’t Wait to Buy a House
This is where most people hesitate—and lose time.
In Chapter 4 – Don’t Wait to Buy a House , I walk through how buying early can change your financial trajectory.
Here’s why:
🏡 Equity Builds Wealth
When you rent, you pay your landlord’s mortgage.
When you own, you build equity.
Equity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe. Over time:
The value may increase.
Your loan balance decreases.
Your wealth grows.
💰 Extra Payments = Massive Gains
Even small additional principal payments can:
Shorten your loan by years
Save thousands in interest
Accelerate wealth-building
👯♀️ Roommates Can Supercharge Your Progress
Instead of splitting rent with friends, buy the house—and let them help pay your mortgage.
That’s not greedy.
That’s strategic.
The sooner you own property, the sooner your money starts working for you.
The Bigger Picture: You Are In Charge
In Chapter 5 – You Are in Charge , I talk about something that sits above every financial strategy:
Personal responsibility.
No one is coming to save you financially.
Not the government.
Not your future spouse.
Not your job.
Financial independence doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because you decide:
I will not rely on luck.
I will not live paycheck to paycheck.
I will not wait “until later.”
The earlier you take ownership, the sooner you gain freedom.
What This All Leads To
When you:
Spend less than you make
Save intentionally
Avoid bad debt
Build equity early
You create something rare:
Options.
Options to:
Travel without stress
Leave a job you don’t love
Help your family
Be generous
Retire early
Or simply sleep well at night
That’s what MoneyGirl is about.
Not restriction.
Not deprivation.
Not obsessing over pennies.
It’s about setting yourself up early so that your 30s, 40s, and beyond feel powerful—not stressful.
If you’re young and reading this:
You are ahead of the curve.
And if you’re not young?
It’s still not too late.
Start today.
