Your Money is Your Power: Building Wealth in Black America

Chapters

• 0:00 The Real State of the Economy
• 4:37 Saving as Economic Self-Defense
• 8:09 Budgeting for Black Freedom
• 12:14 Smart Investments on a Budget
• 16:55 DIY Systems: Food, Health, Housing
• 21:20 Teaching Kids Financial Literacy
• 25:07 Spiritual Wealth and Abundance
• 29:00 Money and Relationships

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

They're telling us to prepare for a recession, but the truth is we've been living one. Black communities have already been hit by inflation, gentrification, job loss and rising costs at every corner. So, while the world is panicking about the economy, let me ask you this Are you in position to pivot? Because this isn't about doom and gloom. It's about Black genius, Black resilience and creating your own lane. This is not a drill. This is a blueprint. Let's go Trigger warning.

Speaker 1: 0:32

This episode contains discussions on financial hardship, systemic inequality and economic instability. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed. Your mental peace matters most. What's up, family? Before we go deep, make sure you're subscribed to Life Points with Rhonda on YouTube, at Life Points with Rhonda 2968, and on your favorite podcast platform. Visit LifePointsWithRhondacom to grab your free budgeting template, get access to our financial freedom toolkit and book your consultation. Follow at Life Points with Rhonda on Instagram, Facebook, youtube and Patreon and, if you're new text, the word money to our ManyChat link to get your free financial affirmation audio.

Speaker 1: 1:17

Let's go. I know your time is valuable, so let's get started okay, and dive into the episode. I'm Rhonda, your host and your sister in transformation and this conversation right here. It's vital. This isn't just another money talk. This is a soul talk, because our families, our futures, our freedom depend on financial literacy, now more than ever.

Speaker 1: 1:39

The whispers of recession are loud, but for Black families it's personal, it's historical, it's spiritual. So today I'm giving you seven soul-deep steps to not just survive but build wealth through the storm. Real strategies, no fluff, because when the system shakes we steady ourselves. The real state of the economy through our lens. We can't talk about the economy without talking about reality, and our reality is layered. For generations, black communities have been left out of wealth building systems and right now the cracks in the economy are only exposing the injustice deeper. What does that mean for us? It means, while the world is just now waking up to instability, we've been navigating it since the moment we set foot in this country. But make no mistake, there's power in that experience. We know how to stretch, how to create, how to build from what looks like nothing.

Speaker 1: 2:36

Let's break it down Black unemployment is still nearly double that of white Americans, and job stability in sectors we dominate service health care government is slipping fast. Evictions are surging. In some cities like Atlanta, black renters are facing removal at rates two to three times higher than others. Grocery bills have skyrocketed and access to fresh food is diminishing in urban neighborhoods. We're paying more for less nutrition. Meanwhile, federal aid is drying up. Stimulus checks are gone, child tax credits have been rolled back, assistance programs are harder to access and slower to process. So what does all this mean? It means our old models of survival won't cut it anymore.

Speaker 1: 3:20

Now is the time for strategic repositioning not just cutting back, but leveling up. Here's the shift. You are not powerless in a broken system. You are a pivot point.

Speaker 1: 3:30

Our ancestors built economic systems under far worse conditions, using bartering, mutual aid and divine insight to make it through. You carry that same DNA. And here's the thing no one will say out loud. This new economy is not just about money. It's about control. The rise of artificial intelligence, digital currency, surveillance, capitalism it's all being designed without us in mind. But we can't afford to be excluded. We have to get educated, organized and financially lit up in ways that protect our future. We can't build legacy from fear. We build it from clarity, from preparation, from community Action.

Speaker 1: 4:11

Steps for this section Research local and national economic trends from Black-led platforms like Blavity, the Griot and your Black World. Begin journaling your current financial state. Not just bills, but how you feel about your money. Track your emotional economy, set a weekly family finance night. Talk openly, share what you learn. Saving like your life depends on it, because it might. Let's be clear Saving money as a Black person in America isn't just about building wealth. It's about reclaiming power. It's about saying I will not be caught off guard again. It's about economic self-defense. For too long we've been told that saving is something we do once we get extra. But what if the extra never comes? What if the economy never fully rebounds? For us, then, saving becomes not a bonus but a baseline. That's why we start with what I call the three-layer stack system, and I want you to take this to heart like it's scripture.

Speaker 1: 5:13

One the quick grab fund. This isn't your rent money. This is your grab and go bag 500 to $1,000 in cash, preferably in small bills, stored safely but accessible. This is for real emergencies your car breaks down, your lights get cut off, your child needs urgent supplies. It should not be in your bank. It should not be digital. It should be real cash. If you've ever been in a blackout or watched a system outage erase your account, you know why this matters.

Speaker 1: 5:45

Two, the liquid security fund. This is one to three months of bills kept in a high yield savings account. Look for black owned credit unions or reputable online banks offering 4% plus APY. This account should be separate from your checking account, harder to access, no debit card attached Labeled for your vision. Call it my Freedom Account if you want to. Even if you're only putting in $25 a week, that's over $1,200 a year. That's a cushion. That's a reset button.

Speaker 1: 6:20

Three, the Black Legacy Fund. This is your long-term stack, not for emergencies, but for elevation. You'll use this for things like land-down payments, starting your business, seed, funding your child's college or launching a product. This money can live in CDs, money markets or a combination of low-risk, long-term instruments. It's not flashy, it's foundational. Combination of low-risk, long-term instruments. It's not flashy, it's foundational. Why this matters?

Speaker 1: 6:47

Culturally, we have historically been left out of savings culture due to redlining, underemployment, medical racism and exploitation, so we were trained to live on just enough. But now is the time to disrupt that mindset, because wealth is not what you flash. It's what you store. Daily habits that help you save. Round up every purchase into savings using apps like Acorns. Cook four out of five meals a week at home. Choose one day a week to be a no-spend day. Set up automatic transfers. Even $5 matters. Use windfalls, tax refunds, bonuses to stack first, spend second.

Speaker 1: 7:24

Words of wisdom Saving doesn't mean you're broke, it means you're wise. You're not waiting for the government. You're not begging your job, you're building your own lifeboat. And listen don't save alone. Do it in community. Start a family savings challenge. Do a group chat accountability check-in. Teach your elders how to stash safely. Get your kids involved. Action steps for this section Set a savings goal with a real dollar amount.

Speaker 1: 7:50

Write it and post it. Open or name your three accounts. Give them spiritual names if needed my comeback fund, ancestor honor account, etc. Add five dollars today. Don't wait that five dollars is a seed and seeds grow. Add $5 today. Don't wait that. $5 is a seed and seeds grow.

Speaker 1: 8:06

Section three budgeting for Black freedom, not bear survival. Let's call it what it is. Budgeting has been weaponized in our community. It's been turned into a tool of shame. How many of us grew up hearing we can't afford that or that's not in the budget, with no explanation, no plan, just fear that trauma sticks with us. But what if I told you that budgeting is actually one of the most powerful acts of self-love and ancestral alignment you can do, because when you control where your money flows, you control your outcomes. You reclaim your future. Budgeting isn't about deprivation, it's about direction, it's about vision. It's about saying I know what I'm building and every dollar I move is a brick in that foundation.

Speaker 1: 8:51

Let's start with rethinking the budget model. Most mainstream advice gives you the 50-30-20 rule, but let's make that culturally relevant and rooted in our real-world needs. The 50-30-20 rule remixed for liberation 50% necessities rent utilities, food, basic transportation, elder care and spiritual supplies. 30% flex plus debt tools, credit repair, child care, bartering costs, community support, small business materials. Bartering costs, community support, small business materials. 20% freedom fund investments side hustle, development savings and courses that elevate your income. That's a remix that fits the average Black household, trying to juggle caregiving, spiritual obligations and multiple income streams.

Speaker 1: 9:41

But here's where we go deeper. Your budget should also reflect your trauma healing. That means you include therapy or healing circles as part of your necessities. Wellness like massage, herbs or Reiki in your Freedom Fund. Giving back to family, church or ancestors in your Flex Fund. Because money moves through us spiritually. If you ignore the emotional, the numbers won't stick.

Speaker 1: 10:06

How to build a liberating budget, step by step Track without judgment. Spend 30 days simply observing where your money goes. Use a notebook, a spreadsheet or apps like Good Budget or Zeta Great for couples. Assign every dollar a mission Instead of budgeting by category. Budget by intention. X $100 for legacy, $75 for healing, $40 for black joy. Use visuals. Print out vision boards that reflect what you're saving toward Property, peace, family unity. Put them inside your wallet, phone case or bathroom mirror Real Talk.

Speaker 1: 10:48

Your budget must include Black Tax. What's Black Tax? It's the unspoken financial responsibility we carry Helping family, covering unexpected community needs, being the one who made it. Include a category for it. Don't resent it, just plan for it Tools that can help YNAB. You need a budget for goal-based tracking Tiller if you love spreadsheets synced with your bank. Zeta if you budget with a partner or family member. Envelopes or cash jars for those who prefer analog Affirmation for this section.

Speaker 1: 11:23

I am a conscious steward of my money. My budget honors my ancestors, nourishes my present and builds my future. Community wisdom Tip Host a budget plus vision board Night with friends. Share goals, swap resources, pray over each other's goals, make sacred action steps for this section. Rename your budget, call it something loving my liberation plan, my garden budget or wealth flow blueprint. Spend one sunday doing a deep financial cleanse. Light a candle, make it sacred. Lay out every bill, expense and dream. Choose one thing to eliminate this month and one thing to elevate X. Cancel DoorDash. Elevate grocery prep.

Speaker 1: 12:09

Small money, big moves, smart investments on a budget. Let's have a heart-to-heart family. Most of us were never taught to invest. In fact, we were taught to fear it. We were told it was too risky, only for the rich or a scam. But here's the truth Not investing is the bigger risk. When your money just sits, it loses value. When your dollar doesn't move, it dies in your hand. But when it circulates with intention, it multiplies. You don't need thousands to invest. You don't need a stockbroker. You need a mindset, you need a strategy and you need courage. Smart Starter Investments for 2025 and beyond. These are areas where you can start with as little as $5 to $100 and still build real momentum over time. Let's walk through them with clarity, love and vision.

Speaker 1: 13:05

1. Fractional shares and index funds. Apps like Fidelity, charles Schwab and Public allow you to buy slices of major stocks or bundles like the S&P 500 for just a few dollars. Don't chase trendy stocks. Instead, think long-term. Look at companies you use every day. Look at companies you use every day Apple, google, visa and black-owned or led ETFs like the NAACP ETF Investment tip. Start with a recurring buy $10 a week into a diversified fund. Watch it grow.

Speaker 1: 13:44

2. Crypto long-term only. Cryptocurrency is volatile, but it's also the future of digital value transfer. Stick to coins with long-term utility XRP, ada, cardano, xlm, shib for community power or BTC Bitcoin. Avoid meme coins unless you understand the risk fully. Use platforms like Coinbase or Uphold. Set a recurring buy $5 to $20 per month. Move your crypto to a private wallet if you're planning to hold for years.

Speaker 1: 14:16

3. Precious metals silver and gold. Start small. A one-ounce silver coin can cost around $30. Gold grams are available for $60 to $100. Physical metals are a great hedge against inflation and store of wealth. Stick to reputable sellers like JM Bullion, apm, ex or local coin shops. Keep them in a fireproof safe at home or a bank deposit box.

Speaker 1: 14:44

Fourth, community investment circles. Black families have long practiced collective economics Susu savings, tithes, group land ownership. Use digital tools like Seat at the Table, kiva or Buy the Block to pool funds into real estate startups or small businesses. This is where legacy begins. When you invest in another Black entrepreneur, you plant a generational tree. Use $25 to learn Canva or Shopify. Buy a used herbalism book. Those skills can launch your side hustle, elevate your income and create independence. Make yourself a high return asset.

Speaker 1: 15:38

The emotional side of investing. Let's not ignore the truth. Many of us fear investing because we've seen money disappear through scams, bad advice or economic collapse. That fear is valid, but it should not rule you. Start small, with what you're willing to lose. Build confidence by doing your own research. Take your time, ask questions. Build from a place of grounded power. Spiritual practice for investing Before each new investment. Spiritual practice for investing Before each new investment. Light a green candle, say an intention prayer. I invest in alignment with my destiny. My money multiplies in purpose, not panic. Offer a cup of water to your ancestors and ask for guidance. This keeps you grounded, aligned, protected. What not to do? Don't invest money you can't afford to lose. Don't copy someone else's portfolio without understanding it. Don't panic sell. Ride the waves. Long term is key. Action steps Choose one category above and make your first $10 to $25 investment this week. How it felt? Was it scary, exciting, liberating? Create a simple spreadsheet or notebook to track your investments monthly. Building our own systems DIY medical food and housing. Let's get one thing clear Liberation is not just about what you earn. It's about what you can sustain without dependency. For generations, we've relied on external systems, government programs, healthcare institutions and corporate structures that were never truly designed for our survival, let alone our success. And while some of those systems can offer temporary support, we cannot depend on them long term. That's why, now more than ever, we must return to the wisdom of our ancestors self-reliance, collective power and spiritual innovation. True wealth is the ability to feed yourself, heal yourself and house yourself, even if the lights go out and the world stops spinning. Let's talk about how to build that wealth in practical, sacred ways. Food, grow it, share it, store it. Thank you, drive away, that's not an accident, that's policy. And we counter policy with planting. Start here Balcony or window herb gardens with basil, mint collards and tomatoes, Indoor hydroponic towers or mason jar lettuce jars. Share crops in community lots or backyards. Build garden co-ops with family and friends. Each family grows two to three items and you trade weekly Bulk buying strategies. Use membership programs, costco, sam's or local ethnic markets. Freeze your own fruits, pre-chop your veggies and prep meals to reduce waste. Learn to can, dehydrate and ferment to extend shelf life. Naturally, spiritual food practice. Bless every meal. Set up an ancestral plate each Sunday. Grow herbs like basil and rosemary, thank you. There were midwives, root workers and grandmamas with molasses and mullein in the cupboard. Now's the time to bring those traditions forward. Build your own apothecary with supernaturally you herbal blends for respiratory immunity and spiritual hygiene. Diy salves, coconut oil, beeswax, calendula and plantain, herbal tinctures for stress, passionflower, lemon balm, skullcap. Diy first aid kits should include activated charcoal, poisoning stomach detox, apple cider, vinegar, infections, inflammation, cayenne pepper, circulation and bleeding, ginger tea and turmeric blends for colds. Partner with a community herbalist or naturopath to learn how to dose and prepare formulas. Join Black herbalism groups online and share knowledge, like your life depends on it because it might Spiritual tip. Before you mix any remedy, pray over it. Use psalms, yoruba, ariki or your own words. Infuse that tea with intention Housing. Secure your shelter. The biggest wealth builder for Black families historically has been home ownership. But what if that's not possible right now? Then we get creative. Explore rent-to-own programs through local credit unions. Convert garages or sheds into backyard studios. Co-live with family to reduce costs and stack savings. Start a tiny home or container village with trusted friends and collective land ownership. Land is legacy. Land gives us the power to farm, build housing, host spiritual retreats and pass something down. Even a quarter acre can feed a family and become a sanctuary. Land strategy tips Look at USDA rural loans for 0% down financing, check tax lien sales and land auctions in smaller towns. Use platforms like Buy the Block or Blackland Ownership Facebook groups, action steps. Choose one food item to grow this week, even if it's just basil in a jar. Build a spiritual first aid kit and add one new herb. Monthly Research one to two land options within 100 miles of you. Start a folder, start a dream how to teach our kids so they never panic. We're not just preparing for survival. We're preparing our legacy to thrive, and that means educating our children early. We're preparing our legacy to thrive and that means educating our children early, often and intentionally. Money, power and opportunity should never feel like foreign concepts to them. The earlier our children are exposed to financial wisdom, the deeper it roots in their consciousness and the more naturally they step into leadership in every room they enter. Let's be real Many of us were not taught this. We learned through crisis, through loss, through embarrassment. We found out what a credit score was when it was already ruined. We learned about taxes from getting hit with a fine. We learned about savings the first time the lights were cut off. But that cycle ends now Start early. Speak real. Children are more capable than we think. You don't have to wait until they're in high school to introduce them to money. By age five, they can understand that money comes from effort. By age 10, they can budget allowance. By age 13, they can start a side hustle. Let them sit in on family finance talks. Let them count grocery money. Let them sit in on family finance talks. Let them count grocery money. Let them plan meals with a $20 budget. Give them the chance to feel empowered instead of anxious Tools for financial education. By age Ages 3 to 7, use three jars Spend, save, share. Teach them to divide any money they receive. Ages 8 to 12, open a youth savings account. Use apps like go henry, greenlight or famzu for digital guidance. Ages 13 to 17 let them manage a real debit card with limitations. Teach them about compound interest fees and scams. Ages 18 plus guide them through their first credit card, student loans, taxes and job contracts. Recommended books Raising Financially Confident Kids by Mary Hunt. I Am Net Worthy by Chris Smith Money as you Grow Free. Pdf from the CFPB Girl CEO and side hustle. Great for entrepreneurial teens. Make it a rite of passage. What if we made financial literacy part of our cultural initiation, a celebration of growing into self-responsibility? Imagine a 13th birthday where, instead of just gifts, they receive a checking account, a journal of affirmations and their first business license. That's power. Create a ceremony. Have elders give money advice. Let youth make a money goal and share it aloud. Gift them a piggy bank, a wallet or a cash envelope system. Mental and emotional awareness. Children absorb our money stress. If you're anxious about bills, they can feel it even if you don't say it. That's why it's vital to model calm, conscious conversations. Replace we're broke with. This week is a savings week. Instead of we can't afford that try, we're choosing to invest in something bigger. Normalize, saying no without shame, talking about income, investing and legacy, celebrating saving just as much as spending. Cultural empowerment. Thank you, bankers and bosses. By blood, action steps. Host a kid wealth night. Let each child present one money idea. Create a family money mission statement and post it on the fridge. Give them a monthly money journal prompt. What does wealth mean to me this month? Spiritual wealth is the root of all abundance. Let's be honest there is no such thing as true wealth without spiritual alignment. You can have millions and still feel empty. You can hit every money goal and still walk around spiritually bankrupt. For us, as a people, prosperity is a holistic state. It touches the soul, the heart, the ancestors and the bank account, and when those things are out of balance, we feel it deeply. We have to teach and practice that wealth is not just what you earn. It's what you radiate, what you protect and what you nurture within Soul currency. What are you really spending? Money is just one form of energy. You spend your energy every day on people, problems, platforms and patterns. Ask yourself are you investing your energy in things that give you peace and purpose, or are you pouring into people in places that only leave you drained? Every budget needs a spiritual audit. Where's your energy going? What are you tithing to emotionally? Are you hoarding out of fear or circulating out of faith? Spiritual affirmation I circulate wealth with wisdom. I give and receive in balance. My soul is my most valuable asset. Energetic debt is real, just like financial debt. Spiritual debt weighs you down Every time you suppress your intuition, betray your values for a paycheck or ignore your healing path. You accrue debt and it shows up in your money Delayed payments, lost opportunities, chaos in your finances. But here's the good news Spiritual debt can be cleared with intention, prayer, ritual and truth-telling. Start with a cleansing bath with Florida water, sea salt and hyssop Journaling. What money patterns have I inherited? What am I ready to release? Setting up an ancestor altar to ask for guidance in restoring alignment? Rituals for abundance? Rituals are not superstition. They are structure for your spirit. They ground your money goals in ancestral wisdom and divine energy. Try this On Fridays light a green or gold candle. Speak your financial intentions aloud, place coins and fresh water on your altar. Give thanks in advance Bonus. Play music that elevates your vibration Jazz, soul, spirituals or 432 hertz frequencies. Meditate with money. Sit with your wallet, your bank statement or your coins. Breathe deeply. Don't judge the numbers, just speak truth. This is where I am, but not where I'll stay. I bless this account. I bless this journey. The goal is to remove shame and infuse your finances with grace. You don't manifest from anxiety. You manifest from alignment, collective abundance. Your spiritual wealth also includes your community. Are you sharing wisdom? Are you showing up for others with love? Are you creating space for joy, not just hustle your blessings. Multiply when they pass through more than one set of hands. Host spiritual wealth circles, share abundance rituals, pray over each other's businesses. This is how Black Wall Street gets rebuilt. Soul first, system second Emotional signs You're in alignment. You feel peace when you check your bank account, even if it's not where you want it. You feel proud of how you manage your income. You give without resentment and receive without guilt. Action steps Create a simple wealth altar this week A candle, a crystal like pyrite or citrine, a glass of water and an intention. Commit to one abundance ritual every Friday for the next month. Write a spiritual money mantra and repeat it daily. In conclusion, how it all ties to relationships. Let's bring it full circle. Family, because here's the truth Money without connection is just numbers, wealth without love is just noise, and all the stacking, saving and investing in the world won't mean a thing if the relationships in your life are broken, imbalanced or burdened by silence. When you align your finances with your values, your relationships naturally shift, because money isn't neutral. It carries emotion, intention, trauma and legacy. If you and your partner can't talk about money without fighting, that's not a budget issue. It's a communication wound. If you feel pressure to financially rescue everyone around you, that's not generosity, it's emotional debt. And if you hide your money habits from your loved ones out of fear or shame, that's not privacy, it's spiritual isolation. Let's heal that. Budgeting is intimacy. Sitting down with your partner, your parent or your child and laying the numbers out on the table takes courage, but it also builds trust. It says I want us to succeed together. Create a ritual around your money talks, tea, candles, music. Make it gentle, make it a regular check-in. Budgeting together should feel like goal setting, not punishment. Financial transparency is emotional safety, whether it's a friendship, a romantic relationship or a business partnership. Money boundaries matter. Learn how to say that's not in my plan right now. I want to contribute, but let's find another way. I need to take care of my own financial healing first. Clarity is kindness and your peace is not up for negotiation. Legacy is love. When you teach your family how to save, invest, budget and protect themselves, you are loving them in advance. You are planting freedom in soil. They haven't even walked on yet. You are becoming the ancestor they will one day thank so. Make it sacred. Host a wealth circle with your partner. Have money Sundays with your kids. Share your financial story with your elders. Replace secrecy with strategy. Replace shame with soul. Final reflection Ask yourself what story do I want my finances to tell about my life? What do I want my loved ones to feel when they think about how I move through this season? Write that story now. Final action steps Schedule a relationship Money reset conversation this week. Make it loving, not confrontational. Choose a shared goal with someone you care about and create a 30-day financial action plan. Speak these words over your household we are divinely provided for. We build together, we rise together Because, in the end, money isn't just about dollars. It's about devotion. It's about building homes, hearts and futures that hold us safely. Let this episode Thank you, thank you, you.