For those of you who are new to me and Michelle is Money Hungry, I like to have conversations around money, empathy and making financial decisions that are in alignment with one’s personal beliefs. I even boycott entire states. Don’t worry, I’ve visited around 45 states and have visited the five states that I’m currently actively boycotting right now. Let’s be clear, I don’t always get it right. Like most folks there are financial gray areas where I have to ask myself is this right or wrong of me to even be involved with this at any level? In fact, right now I’m trying to decide if I will attend a conference and also a reunion this year, each being held in a different state-both unfortunately are states that I’m boycotting. I thought the following conversation about Wallet Activism would be a great one to share because every financial decision has the potential for impact.
In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please read my disclosure here.*
Listen to the Episode
Show Notes
Thank you for listening to Michelle is Money Hungry, I’m your host Michelle Jackson and I love having social equity focused financial conversations that lead with empathy. When I’m not talking money I help stuck perfectionist entrepreneurs get out of their heads and get to work on their own values driven brands through my Brand Building Lab. Go to brandbuildinglab.com for more details.
I’m excited to tell you about my first personal finance book “Not a Financial Unicorn” which is available for pre-order now. If you’re looking for inspiration, validation and ideas on how to better your financial life “Not a Financial Unicorn” is my way of motivating and validating the unsexy financial journeys that the majority of Americans have as they navigate through bridging the financial gap between financial policy, their finances and income. Pre-order your book today.
A quick reminder: Michelle is Money Hungry is for entertainment purposes only, always do your own due diligence in researching and understanding solutions related to your personal finances.
Show Notes:
- I lowkey geek out about the following guest and empathy in finance and why what we do as content creators in the space is so important.
- Tanja refers to herself now as an author but wore a number of different professional hats.
- Known for retiring at 38 wrote the book Work Optional and is moving towards something new.
- Tanja shares what her new project is “Wallet Activism”
- February 2020 was when she got the book deal.
- She’s very proud of “Work Optional” and the lens that she was able to share FIRE through
- But, where her heart is now has shifted.
- We live in the real world that doesn’t reflect reality. Tanja felt like she was holding back a piece of herself.
- Asking questions such as “Should we not be taxing Billionaires?”
- People were asking what she does with her money now that she’s financially secure and that created some deeper questions that Tanja started to ask herself:
- What is the right mindset to bring into money decisions?
- 2020 was a year where there were so many conversations around this topic.
- How did those conservations influence this book?
- The difference in CO2 emissions, racial justice, politicization of basic science
- These conversations reinforced the need for this book.
- Deeper conversations around funding, where it comes from and where does money flow and money goes
- Narrative in the personal finance space that using your money for social good is a bad thing.
- Capitalist Ethos and let the market decide vs. I AM the market
- It’s in all of our best interest to help everyone. Tanja talks about Henry Ford paying his employees more so that they could actually buy his cars too.
- We are the market and WE will decide-sometimes this will also go against “liberal dogma”
- Such as everyone eating organic and the impact that it would have.
- Social good and labor is not a new idea The Kellogg Experiment
- We have to show that social good can actually make money
- An emphasis on making choices and how showing results impacts decisions
- How do you frame this conversation as choices vs. social enterprise
- Zero waste movement and how the name can turn off people who would be interested in lowering their waste levels vs. feeling like they’ve failed.
- The deal is more important vs…everything else
- I share my wallet activism moves
- Use a carshare
- Shop locally
- How does Wallet Activism show up in Tonja’s life?
- Tanja wanted to read this book which is why she wrote it
- We’re trying to do the right thing…but, is it the right thing?
- We talk about clothing and the fast casual impact on workers and the environment
- Garment workers are actually very talented-cheap clothing falls apart because of how we treat the clothing
- What are the different ways that listeners can engage in wallet activism
- Everything is connected and it’s important to think about
- Choosing the food we eat, where we live, etc.
- Avoiding becoming a gentrifier
- How you bank and where you bank and how you donate your money
- Any time a financial decision is being made there’s an opportunity for wallet activism
- What about banking? And WHY is it so important to think about in Wallet Activism
- I ask Tanja if her past FIRE life in opposition to where she’s at now
- Tanja started a petition on Change.org requesting an option for funds that didn’t have investments in gun manufacturing, etc.
- When Tanja first started in the personal finance space it felt taboo to talk about political topics.
- Follow who Tanja follows on Twitter
- Knowing what you value will guide your own personal wallet activism, time and resources
- The importance of remembering cumulative impact of long-term actions vs. one time
- What is Tanja’s ultimate goal with Wallet Activism?
- A gateway to more action and action outside of the personal finance space. Such as running for office.
- Changing decision making processes
- Fossil fuel changes to meet our Paris Accord Agreement responsibilities
How to Find Tanja
- Twitter @our_nextlife
- Blog: Our Next Life
Latest posts by Michelle (see all)
- How Work Policies Against Black Women Birthed a Love of the Soft Life - 20 March, 2024
- How Taylor Swift’s IP Victory Could Change the Business of Music - 28 February, 2024
- Why Don’t More Personal Finance Content Creators Talk About Policy - 16 January, 2024