hot take: you're not ~bad~ with money
capitalism just sucks ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When I tell people that I write about personal finance, the most common response that I hear is, “Oh, great! I need to talk to you, I’m really bad with money.”
I used to think the same way, too, shuffling uncomfortably during any conversation that involved a dollar sign. Everything changed when I wrote an article about the definition of financial abuse.
Some signs of financially abusive behavior are:
Demanding the victim ask for permission every time they need money (Capitalism creates inequitable access to resources and credit)
Hiding large amounts of money or resources from the victim (The 1% hoards their wealth and dodges income transparency)
Limiting the victim’s ability to work by taking away resources (We feel trapped in jobs that we hate to create passive income for our landlords), just to name a few
I realized that capitalism is a financially abusive system that forces us — and the many queer, trans, and BIPOC generations that came before us — to make impossible choices under the illusion of scarcity.
Saying that you’re bad with money is internalized capitalism, a.k.a. impostor syndrome. The compassionate truth is you have a bad relationship with money.
Capitalism teaches us that our net worth defines our worthiness to access basic resources like housing stability, food security, and work-life liberation1.
What if financial wellness was our first line of defense against capitalism? What if arming ourselves with an emergency savings fund emboldens us to fight harder for economic justice?
With Queer & Trans Wealth, I want to help you achieve right-sized relationship with capitalism, using practical personal finance and simple mindset shifts. Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. <3
Here are a few ways to support my work:
Send Leo to SXSW ‘23! I have an opportunity to speak on a panel about the intersection of student loans, financial trauma, and mental health — but I need YOUR help to get there! Please take a few minutes to create an account and vote for our panel using this link.
I now offer writing coaching. For writers of all trades, I’m available to help you finish your writing projects. Here’s a link to set up a time to meet with me.
I also offer 1-1 financial/career coaching for queer & trans folx. If you need help with basic budgeting, creating a business plan, or figuring out your next moves, set up a time to meet with me.
You may gift financial/career coaching sessions to a friend by sending me the $150 session fee on Venmo (@leo_aquino81) with your friend’s name and email address in the memo. Please make sure you set your
Buy me a coffee. Ok, I’m caffeine-free, but all proceeds will go towards my next green juice.
Work-life liberation: a way of working that protects time sovereignty, promotes healthy boundaries, and advocates for the well-being of workers, created by wellness activist and author Heather Archer