Making Saving $100k in 3.5 Years Possible With Bola Sokunbi | HMM 113
“Manage what you have even when you have a little because it will grow over time.”
This was advice that Bola Sokunbi received from her father. With that along with what she learned from her mom had a huge impact on how she manages her finances to this day.
Like all of us, she has made her own money mistakes but grew from them and was inspired to become a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI)!
What you’ll learn about in today’s episode:
- Why Bola’s mom was her family’s financial backup plan and what she learned from this
- How she saved $100k in 3.5 years on a $50k annual salary
- The two-step process she applies to tracking her money
How Bola Grew Up Around Money
Bola is originally from Nigeria, and both her parents traveled a lot when she was a child. Bola mentions she didn’t come from a family that came from credit—they believed in paying cash for everything. Because of this, her parents looked at their money more closely because they didn’t have any loans or debt to leverage.
The best money advice she received was from her father. Bola’s dad taught her about being “penny wise” — according to her father, people who have a lot of money tend to manage it less. Growing up, she also observed the differences between men and women and how they manage money. She would see what happened to her parent’s friends who went through a divorce or death—and then the woman was stuck, confused, and stressed. Her mom didn’t want to be stuck and taught her to be financially independent and responsible.
After college and having twins, Bola decided she wanted to do something that has an impact and difference in the world that matters. She brainstormed, and everything came back to educating and coaching women in personal finance because as she started to make the transition, she began to see the same things with her mother’s friends happening with her friends. As women, it’s important to take charge of our finances.
Proudest Money Moment: Saving $100K on a $50K Salary
Even if you only have a dollar, don’t think it doesn’t count. Save that dollar; it’ll add up. Bola took the advice from her father about being “penny wise” and applied that to her average-paying job after college. She saved and saved and accrued the money over time—three and a half years to be exact. It’s no surprise that she admits her best quality is saving on the show! Saving has become a habit for Bola. Every time she gets money, she puts some of it aside and saves. She has to have the buffer and know that her money is there for the future. Bola knew if she could do this when she was making $54,000 a year—she could do anything—it was the “ah-ha!” moment for her.
Two-Step Money Tracking Process
- Check daily. Bola only keeps money that she knows she has to spend in her checking account.
- Know where your money is going. Bola checks her bank account before she spends and after she spends. She looks at receipts and questions if it was a good purchase.
Her Money Matters because…
Having financial freedom is the gateway to living life on your own terms.
Links and Resources:
Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach**
Penny App – Personal Finance Coach
**Please note the link is an affiliate link so I may receive a small commission if you purchase**
I want to hear from you! What was your favorite takeaway from this episode? Please come on over to our community and share with us there.
You can join our community (and receive our weekly newsletters) by grabbing The Daily Dinero Ritual!
Abrazos + Much Love,
P.S. THANK YOU for listening!
Enjoy The Show?
Be sure to never miss an episode:
- Subscribe, Rate and Review the show in iTunes. (It’s easy here’s how)
- Subscribe via Stitcher
- Subscribe via RSS
Share with a friend by using the social media icons below.
Send us feedback via email to support@jenhemphill.com or click here to leave a voicemail.