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EP. 16 From Broke to Ballin': How I Took Control of My Personal Finances By Leveraging Salary Negotiations

Evie Prete Season 1 Episode 16

Have you ever looked at your paycheck, realized you’re making more money than your parents ever did, and still felt broke? That was me. 

At 22, I hit a financial rock bottom. My credit score was in the 400s, my bank account was constantly empty, and even though I was earning $50k as an engineer in San Diego, I was living paycheck to paycheck. It wasn’t until a casual comment from a white male coworker about his salary opened my eyes—I was wildly underpaid. That moment was the wake-up call I needed.

By 2015, I decided enough was enough. I went from being broke, overwhelmed, and scared of money to becoming financially empowered, negotiating higher salaries, and building a six-figure investment portfolio by 2019.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact steps I took to transform my money story, reclaim my financial power, and set myself up for long-term wealth.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

  • The wake-up call: how a 450 credit score shook me into action.
  • My 9-step game plan for turning my finances around—everything from auditing my expenses to negotiating my salary and investing consistently.
  • Why financial boundaries matter (especially with family) and how I created mine.
  • The role of mindset + financial education in overcoming money trauma and building wealth. 
  • The power of side hustles and brainstorming new streams of income.

Key Takeaways:

If you’ve ever felt ashamed of your finances or wondered how to get started on your wealth-building journey, this episode is for you.

Remember, my friend: asking for your worth is not being greedy—it’s the first step toward financial freedom.

**This episode was pulled from our archives and recorded on March 18, 2024**

Doors Are Open for Coaching:

Apply for the next round of the Self Worth Accelerator Mastermind and learn how to negotiate your worth, reclaim your peace, and stop settling for less. Doors to this transformational coaching program closing soon. Reserve your spot today. 

Until next time amigas ✨

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