LaShara Lashawn

We have been in January for about 3 months feels like lol Nah I really enjoy January not only is it my Birthday month that I share with some phenomenal leaders, artist, organizations, friends and family but it’s the beginning of the year! Many people make new resolutions and it’s still that cold cuddly weather. Now another event that I’m going to dive into is that it is TAX SEASON! Now this may make some of you cringe, feel excitement or if you were anything like me, you couldn’t care less.

In past years I really didn’t care about taxes especially when I had to file them on my own. I didn’t make that much, I had and still don’t have any dependents, the government wasn’t tripping off me and my lil coins so I’d file in like August (no I was never penalized). However, during the pandemic that surely lit a fire under me because I hadn’t filed for almost two years and in order to get that “Stimmyanna” I had to file. You better believe I filed with the quickness, I wasn’t about to be left out or overlooked by the government. Here we are it’s 2022 and I am starting- well I always have had an interest in money, developing a better relationship with money, cleaning up my credit and the like. Within the last 2 year Iv increased my credit over 100+ points but it can’t stop there.

I recently received my W2s as most do around this time and I was very happy at the amount that I brought in this past year. For some reason I felt led to look up a bunch of data about the average income of black women in the United States and from there I searched according to age, ethnicity, and gender. I was blown away at the numbers, seeing that a lot of people my age are not making a lot at all and then the seniors (65+) how are they making it? I feel like this was a wake up call for me to do even better. The questions that came to my mind as I sat at my desk were, what’s next? Would this job be able to carry me comfortably to the next level and phase of my life? I want to travel, get married and have children. This income is coo now but how will I be able to live off of this when I am 50?

Millennials tend to get bashed a lot for lacking job security as we move from job to job, not wanting to accept what has always been but one thing I see as my peers is that times are no longer as they once were. Companies don’t care to invest much in their employees, inflation is beating all of our asses so yeah we have to go where the money is. In my case anytime I got a new job I always made sure to be making more than the last and within the last 2 years my income has jumped ALOT not to mention I have a second part time job and I started Too Juiced LLC. I am currently finishing a coaching certificate which will be my jewel. I will take time to make those more consistent streams of income, it’s really going to take some work.

One thing about me is that I am going to get it! I will find a way. I try to think ahead, and I now feel confident about having money I am more open to asking for help and just having the conversation about finances. So what does my W2s say about me? I am earning more than the average black man and women in my age bracket in the U.S. but my net worth is still very significantly low. Not to mention the pay gap between men and women, women tend to make .81 cents for every dollar men make. With a peak earning age which is lower than men. Then another pay gap for black women and men compared to our white counterparts. Black women earn 61 cents for every dollar that their White male counterparts are paid, according to the National Women’s Law Center’s analysis of 2018 Census Bureau data. That calculates to $946,120 in lost wages!!! black women ages 25-54 years old average about 40k WTF… Think on that for a minute. I’m not even going to go into classism and where that puts me well against US stats is different compared to Bay Area stats but basically we are are some well dressed poor people living from check to check. It is what it is but I want greater!

We are striving for abundance and blessings and black girl luxury over here! So I have to get on it and fast. I want to learn more about stocks and investing, my mindset was that I didn’t make enough money to even think about such risk when it came to playing in the stock market. It’s not like I have a close friend or relative that wouldn’t mind helping me free of charge. I really don’t like paying for somethings but as I have been told before, I have to start investing in myself. My goal is to double my income, If I can make what I made last year doing less work then why not go for it. My continued thought has been what do I need to do to increase my income? So it is time to start looking deeper into my options. It is suggested that to increase a woman’s income we can get another degree *rolls eyes* aka get into more debt, major in fields that pay more like STEM, negotiate for better pay and obtain a BA degree before having children.

It has been said that men tend to feel attached/ identify with their jobs as an extension of who they are. I have never felt like that about any job because if I am let go or the company folds that doesn’t mean that I am not of value. However being that until June 2020 I had always been employed but even for those 6 months which was thee best time of my adult life so far there was a slight pressure to find a job and gain security. Though this job I have is actually great, I enjoy it Iv met some great people but for how long will it sustain me, if it closed right now what would I do? Literally yesterday my ED ask if I would remain employed with this organization for 20+ years like some of the other Eds. My response was “I like it here and as long as the pay can keep up with the cost of living, remain competitive and I can grow sure I’ll stay on for now.”

That response was partly true. I would stay as long as I was being paid well but I also know that the type of person I am. If none of my businesses jump off and something comes a long that it more beneficial, if its radio or marketing then I am out! I think every organization should know that most people feel this way. I am projected to make more than I did last year which is good because its only January and I already know my bag is going to increase and I will be filling my taxes very soon cause Ima need them coins no and the government might wanna bless ya girl.

I want to submit to you if you haven’t already started thinking about your finances it’s a good time to start. Create a budget, look at what you bring in and what you have going out and to what exactly. Start thinking about life insurance and building a portfolio.

Now I almost forgot!

My mind even went to dating.

As I looked at my income which I am looking at like a report card, it’s like yelling at me! This is your worth for the year. Now, would I date someone who made less? Should I require any potential suitor to make more and how would I feel about that. Am I a good prospect? does my income say that I am a gold digger? or I am only after money? Might someone think I’m better due to the amount I have brought in… i hope not. I have had men tell me how much they earned which was nice but then I didn’t put to much emphasis on income requirements but I’m sorry today is different.

Today’s price is not yesterday’s price.

Talk to me folks this is a new thought for me, have you been here before??