Let’s be real: traditional SSI can help you survive — but it’s not built for you to thrive. If you rely on SSI, you already know there’s a hard cap: - You can’t have more than $2,000 in your bank account, or you risk losing your check. - You can’t earn too much or save too much. But here’s the good news — there are legal, smart ways to stack your paper, build savings, start investing, and eventually walk away from SSI completely. 🧭 Step 1: Understand the Rules — So You Can Work Around Them. SSI doesn’t punish you for being smart — it punishes you for not knowing the rules. You can’t just pile money into your checking account. But you can use certain “safe money zones” that don’t count against your $2,000 limit. Here’s what’s allowed: 1. ABLE Account – Think of it as a legal savings bucket for people on SSI. 2. PASS Plan (Plan to Achieve Self-Support) – This lets you set money aside for a specific goal (like starting a business, getting a certification, or buying work equipment). 3. Pooled or Special-Needs Trust – If you expect a big check (like a settlement, inheritance, or backpay), you can park it in a trust. ⚙️ Step 2: Set Your Plan — SSI is the Launchpad, Not the Landing. You’ve got to move from dependency to development. Here’s the process in plain steps: 1. Meet with a Benefits Planner or WIPA Counselor. 2. Open an ABLE Account. 3. Create a Work or Business Goal. 4. Use a PASS Plan to Fund That Goal. 5. Keep Every Receipt. 💼 Step 3: Start Making and Keeping More Money When you begin earning, you don’t instantly lose SSI. SSI uses a formula that gradually reduces your payment, not cuts it off. You can still come out ahead. - First $85 of earned income each month is ignored. - After that, only half of what you earn counts against your benefit. - Example: You earn $500 → SSI only counts $207.50 → You keep part of your SSI and your earned money. So the play is:👉 Earn smart. Save legal. Stack quietly. 🚀 Step 4: Use the “SSI Exit Strategy”

Here’s the realest money move I can give you: Start investing now. Not next year. Not when your money's “right.” Not when life calms down. NOW. Waiting on the "perfect time" is how people stay stuck. If you’re serious about building long-term wealth — especially if you didn’t grow up with a financial safety net — you’ve got to make your money work for you, not just because of you. One of the simplest, most powerful ways to start? Investing in an S&P 500 index fund like Vanguard’s VOO. 🧠 What’s VOO and Why Does It Matter? VOO is Vanguard’s version of an S&P 500 index fund. That means it gives you instant access to the 500 largest companies in America — from Apple and Microsoft to Home Depot and Nike — without having to pick individual stocks. Here’s why I like it (and personally invest in it): - Diversification: You’re not betting on one company — you’re owning a slice of 500. - Low Fees: VOO has a super low expense ratio (0.03%) — which means more of your money stays invested. - Consistent Growth: Historically, the S&P 500 has returned about 8–10% annually over the long term. This isn’t about “getting rich quick. ”It’s about getting rich wisely. And slowly. And securely. 🪜 Step-by-Step: How to Start Investing in VOO on Fidelity: Let me walk you through exactly how to get started on Fidelity — the platform I’ve used for years. (Again, this is NOT an ad. I’m not sponsored. Just sharing what works for me.) 🔐 Already have a Fidelity account? Skip to Step 4. 🔹 Step 1: Go to fidelity and create an account

The Federal Reserve just lowered interest rates for the first time in a while. That means it’s now cheaper to borrow money (for things like mortgages, car loans, or business loans), but it also means your savings accounts and CDs may pay you less. The Fed made this move because the job market is slowing down, and they want to give the economy a boost. They’re walking a tightrope: lowering rates too much could cause prices (inflation) to rise again, but leaving rates too high could push more people out of work. For you, this is a moment to be strategic. Lower rates can be an opportunity — or a trap — depending on how you move. Here are some money moves to consider right now: - ✅ Shop around for better loan terms: If you have a car loan, student loan, or credit card debt, see if refinancing or transferring to a lower-rate option saves you money. - ✅ Check your mortgage: If you’re a homeowner, it may be worth running the numbers on refinancing — even a small drop in your rate can save thousands over time. - ✅ Be careful with new debt: Just because borrowing is cheaper doesn’t mean you should load up on credit cards or unnecessary loans. - ✅ Revisit your savings plan: If your bank lowers your interest rate, consider moving money into high-yield accounts, money market funds, or even starting to invest. - ✅ Think like an investor: Lower rates can push stocks and real estate up. This might be the right time to look at putting more into your long-term investment plan, but stick to what fits your SSI framework — don’t chase trends.

Before you can build wealth, you’ve got to stop the leaks. For a lot of us—especially those rebuilding after incarceration or growing up with financial instability—spending became a way to feel in control, to feel good (even if just for a moment), or to cope with stress and trauma. That’s called emotional spending (or retail therapy), and it’s real. But it’s also costly. The truth is, you can’t out-earn what you won’t manage. If you don’t know where your money is going, it’s already gone.Tracking your spending isn’t just about budgets—it’s about awareness, discipline, and reclaiming your power. This week, we shift from emotional spending to intentional spending. Challenge: Track everything you spend for the next 7 days—every swipe, every cash purchase, every recurring charge. 📌 Why? Because clarity = power. You can’t change what you won’t confront. Ways to track: - 📱 Use a free app like Mint, Rocket Money, or Goodbudget - 🗒️ Use your Notes app or a simple spreadsheet - ✍🏽 Go old-school with pen and paper End of week goal: Spot your money leaks, name your patterns, and own your numbers. 💬 Drop a 💰 below if you’re in—and share your biggest spending category at the end of the week!