the dumbest 'for Dummies' book I've seen
the problem with most finance advice (and my corner bedroom filming hacks)
This week I'm sharing why most personal finance books are overwhelming us into financial paralysis, plus my exact creator setup that helped me build a part-time brand without fancy equipment.
I went from consumer debt and permanent overdrafts to 5-figure investments within 5 years of my corporate job—it wasn’t being smart or lucky that got me there. It was a bunch of effort and the will to keep going, and I want to pass the baton on.
Plus: the real wealth strategy everyone's missing, how someone fixed their TMJ with ChatGPT, and a must-read on social spending pressure.
In this issue:
Is personal finance for dummies really the answer?
This week I walked past Personal Finance for Dummies in WHSmith.
I picked it up out of curiosity as I loved these dummy books when I was younger — but after quickly scanning the chapter list, I was SO overwhelmed.
There were chapters on estate planning, complex tax breakdowns, BANKRUPTCY, and stock picking strategies.
This is what someone who might’ve been curious to learn more about would’ve bought??? No wonder so many of us freeze when it comes to money.
(No hate to the author btw… this book was just way too comprehensive)
I left the store thinking I could make something non-pretentious, non-patronising and 10000x better than this.
If there’s one thing I nailed while in my corporate job, it was my money routine and how to be super efficient with it when you have a steady salary.
I started my job with consumer debt, a seemingly permanent overdraft and an inability to save (investing wasn’t even on my RADAR)—and within 5 years I’d managed to get 5 figures invested and build up savings. Importantly, none of the social media money I made factored into my ability to do this.
I think anyone can copy me to do the same because I don’t think I’m more special, smarter or luckier than anyone else.
I want to make something BETTER than personal finance for dummies.
Help me make it something that actually helps you— if you fill this out, reply back and let me know. I'll send you a wee something as a thank you! Appreciate you!!!
How would you prefer to learn and stay accountable?
To make sure you don't buy something and let it collect dust, tell me how you best learn.
Cohort: live weekly calls going over each module (small group)
Templates, checklists + weekly/monthly calls to chat about the course in depth
Breaking down my exact creator setup
If (like me tbh) you’re someone that thinks you need all the gear before you have an idea: stop... PLEASE. You absolutely don’t need the fancy equipment before taking action on an idea you have. Especially if that idea is content creation.
One of the drums I will never stop banging is how effective a part-time personal brand is. Not just being an influencer, but having a part-time content side-hustle alongside your main hustle.
Posting on social media allowed me to pivot my career (in a major way), won me a freaking professional award, and generated very decent money. It was a hell of a lot better than taking surveys or signing up to walk dogs (none of which are bad, but are a significant commitment for not as much reward).
You don’t need to post online forever, or go viral, or share every detail of your life. I think you should consistently, strategically post → grow authority → charge for that authority → leverage your brand: to either get jobs you actually want or start businesses and do what I did.
Unfortunately a lot of people stop because they don’t have a ‘good’ camera. Or a ‘good’ mic. Or a nice home to film in. And honestly I get it, having filmed in a small corner of a 4m2 bedroom for years:
Links I’ve been obsessed with this week:
Did you know I have a podcast with my creator friend and bestie Farah? This week we talked about how hobbies are the real wealth strategy you need
Someone fixed their TMJ with ChatGPT and I cannot get over it
Are you someone who’s pressured to spend because of what everyone else is spending on? This article is taking up 50% of my brain space this week
Have a great week!
Devamsha xo