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What do Wall Street, TikTok, and pop culture all have in common? One woman: Mrs. Dow Jones. And she’s here to prove that managing your money can be as addictive as your favorite reality show… but way more empowering.
Today’s guest is Haley Sacks, aka Mrs. Dow Jones, is a self-made financial powerhouse who turned confusion into clarity and turned budgeting into a cultural movement. When she realized financial education felt like it was made by and for Wall Street bros, she set out to change that… and succeeded.
With over 1.4 million followers across platforms, partnerships with brands like Morgan Stanley and American Express, and viral courses like Start Here and Let’s Invest, Haley has become the go-to guide for millennials and Gen Z looking to step into their financial power.
Now, she’s back with her latest creation, The Money Book 2.0: a revolutionary, spreadsheet-based financial system that’s already changed over 10,000 lives and counting. It’s intuitive, secure, fun, and actually works! No clunky apps, no confusing spreadsheets, just results.
If you’ve been feeling anxious about the economy or unsure how to take control of your financial life, this episode is your toolkit. We’re digging into how to budget with confidence, why your spreadsheet might be sexier than your stock portfolio, and how to stop feeling behind when it comes to money… no matter what the headlines say.
Why So Many Women Feel Behind When It Comes to Money
Haley believes the biggest reason women feel intimidated by money is because we were simply never taught how to manage it. We’re taught to scrimp and save, to coupon and cut costs, while men are often taught to invest, ask for raises, and grow their income.
And according to Haley, his lack of early education has not only created a huge confidence gap… but it’s intentional, too.
Money has been gendered in a way that has kept many women from seeing it as a source of power. And Haley is passionate about changing that narrative. Her work is centered around making financial literacy feel not just accessible but exciting, especially for women who’ve been left out of the conversation for too long.
How to Start Taking Control When Everything Feels Uncertain
If the economy feels weird right now, you’re not imagining it. Haley says the first and most important step is building a buffer. That means creating an emergency fund: a stash of cash you keep in a high-yield savings account that’s there strictly for peace of mind.
Learning how to make a budget is not about saving for something glamorous. It’s about having a cushion in case life throws you a curveball, whether that’s a layoff, an unexpected bill, or a moment when you need to walk away from something toxic.
Most Americans can’t cover a $1,000 emergency without going into debt, and that’s why building this fund matters so much. It protects your peace and helps you avoid turning to high-interest credit cards when life gets tough.
For anyone living paycheck to paycheck, Haley gets it. When every dollar is already spoken for, the idea of saving feels laughable. But her advice is to start by looking at your numbers. Drop an anchor and take a clear-eyed look at where your money is going. You might find subscriptions you forgot about or spending patterns that no longer align with your values.
And then, instead of only focusing on cutting back, Haley encourages us to think about how we might earn a little more.
Whether that’s a side hustle, selling something online, or tapping into a skill you haven’t yet monetized, she believes that adding to your income can be more effective than obsessively trimming your expenses.
Budgeting Isn’t Boring, It’s Empowering
Budgeting doesn’t have to be restrictive or dull. In fact, Haley describes budgeting as a tool that lets you spend better, not necessarily less! It’s about choosing what you value and spending money in ways that support those priorities.
She created her signature system, The Money Book 2.0, based on the 50/30/20 rule, which divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for your future self.
Her Google Sheets-based system allows you to upload your transactions, categorize them, and see how your spending stacks up to the ideal ratio.
This system gives you clarity and guidance, but more importantly, it helps you start feeling good about your finances. You’re not just looking back at what you spent; you’re also planning forward and making empowered decisions based on your actual values.
The Easiest Way to Make Your Money Work for You
Haley and I both agreed that one of the most overlooked but powerful tools in your financial toolkit is a high-yield savings account.
I’ll be honest, I was guilty of letting my savings sit in a traditional account doing absolutely nothing. Once I moved that money to a high-yield savings account, I started seeing real results. My money was earning interest just by existing there, and it felt like the easiest financial win ever.
Haley explained that high-yield savings accounts earn you significantly more interest than traditional checking accounts and are just as safe when they’re FDIC-insured. They’re perfect for storing your emergency fund or any money you’re saving for short-term goals like travel or a business investment.
She reminded us not to stress about chasing the highest possible interest rate. Pick a good, reliable account and focus your financial energy on things that truly matter. The interest adds up, and the act of separating your savings from your checking account also reduces the temptation to spend it.
Build Awareness Before You Build Wealth
Haley shared one of her favorite exercises for anyone who wants to improve their relationship with money: start tracking your spending in your Notes app for just a couple of days. Every time you make a purchase, jot down how much it was and how it made you feel.
This simple practice reveals so much. You’ll begin to notice patterns, like whether you’re making purchases out of boredom, stress, or joy. It’s less about judgment and more about building awareness. And once you’re aware, you can make better decisions that align with your values.
She also recommends a monthly “money date” with yourself. This is a time to sit down, review your finances, categorize your spending, and set goals for the month ahead. When you do this consistently, money starts to feel like a supportive relationship, not a scary one.
It’s Time to Take Your First Step!
If you’ve been afraid to look at your finances or you’ve felt like money is something you’ll just never be good at, I hope this episode shifts something for you. Money isn’t reserved for Wall Street experts. It’s for all of us, and you are 100% capable of learning how to manage it with confidence.
Whether you’re ready to create a budget, build an emergency fund, or just understand where your money is going, the most important thing is to start.
Ready to get started, Goal Digger? Here are your first two steps: connect with Haley on Instagram and get The Money Book 2.0 to start feeling empowered, clear, and calm about your financial future!
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