I often think back to a time in my life when I was digging through couch cushions looking for enough money to order takeout. Not because I didn't have access to money…but because I had already spent it.
Every dollar. Every credit card limit. Every option…and if you had looked at my life from the outside, you probably wouldn't have thought anything was wrong.
I was living in Los Angeles. I was in college. I had the clothes, the social life, and the experiences I wanted, but behind the scenes, my finances were completely out of control.
In this episode, I'm sharing the story of how taking control of my money didn't just change my finances, it changed my life. We'll talk about the wake-up call that forced me to stop avoiding my reality, the mindset shifts that helped me regain control, and the unexpected ways financial stability created more peace, confidence, and freedom.
Because if your money feels like it's running your life right now, I want you to know that it doesn't have to stay that way.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The spending habits that led me into financial chaos in my early twenties
- How credit cards allowed me to maintain a lifestyle I couldn't actually afford
- The wake-up call that forced me to take responsibility for my finances
- Why gaining control of your money starts with awareness, not restriction
- How budgeting helped me stop reacting and start making intentional decisions
- The connection between money management and mental peace
- Why financial control creates options, flexibility, and confidence
- The shift from living for today to building for the future
- Why making more money alone doesn't solve financial problems
- The first steps you can take to regain control of your finances
This episode is especially helpful if you:
- Feel like you're making money but never getting ahead
- Struggle with overspending or impulse spending
- Feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed about your finances
- Want more control over your money and financial decisions
- Are working toward financial freedom but aren't sure where to start
- Feel like your money is running your life instead of supporting it
Why this matters:
A lot of people believe financial freedom starts when they make more money, but often, financial freedom starts when they gain control of the money they already have.
Because without control, more income simply creates more opportunities to repeat the same patterns. Control isn't about restriction. It's about awareness. It's about understanding what's coming in, what's going out, and making decisions that align with the life you want to build.
When you gain control of your money, something bigger starts to happen. You stop living in constant reaction mode. You stop avoiding your accounts. You stop feeling like every unexpected expense is a crisis. Over time, you create something that many women are truly looking for: peace.
Not because everything is perfect, but because you know where you stand and where you're going. That's where financial freedom begins.
Timestamps:
- [02:13] Raya shares how she fully leaned into the "LA lifestyle", even though she didn't have the funds to support it.
- [05:18] Not paying rent on time led to an almost-eviction. This is the catalyst that forced Raya to change her money habits.
- [10:07] The biggest shifts that came from proper money management were more personal than financial. For example, Raya gained a level of peace she didn't even know was missing.
- [13:45] You can make good money and still feel stuck if you don't have control. It's not about how much you make, it's what you do with what you make.
Resources Mentioned:
Episode #1: Big City Spender to City Girl Saver: How City Girl Savings Came to Be
Request a free money call with Raya
City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio
Financial Focus Coaching Program
If you've ever felt like your finances are creating more stress than peace, this episode is your reminder that change doesn't happen all at once.
It starts with awareness. It starts with one honest look at your numbers. It starts with one intentional decision to stop avoiding and start paying attention.
You don't have to wait for a financial breaking point to take control of your money. You can start building that control (and the freedom that comes with it) today.
You are not behind—you are building. Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.
