I’ve been in my optimize and chill era lately. Still clocking long hours at the firm—grind doesn’t stop—but my evenings? Reserved for two sacred things: hitting my macros and tightening up my money game.
I used to think “freedom” meant quitting your job, going off-grid, maybe becoming one of those digital nomads with a ring light and a standing desk in Bali. But lately, I’ve been obsessed with a quieter kind of freedom—financial optionality. Not necessarily walking away, but knowing I could if I wanted to. That kind of security hits different. It changes how you walk into meetings. It changes how you sleep at night.
Behind the scenes, my finances are on autopilot. Transfers slide into my emergency fund without me thinking about it, and a little percentage gets skimmed off the top into what I lovingly call my “Freedom Fund.” That baby’s sitting at $8,200 now. It didn’t get there overnight—most of it came from staying consistent, redirecting small wins (refunds, freelance checks, skipped weekends out) into something that actually builds. I’m considering putting part of it into a bond ladder—nothing flashy, just a slow and steady way to grow while I figure out my next move. Though not too sure about that now haha. It’s giving “calm compound gains,” which is honestly my 2025 aesthetic.
Every Sunday, I do what I call Money & Matcha—my version of church. I sit down with my tea and:
- Check in on my weekly budget
- Skim through my investments (I try not to doom-scroll market dips)
- Move any leftover money into my Roth IRA or travel fund
- And yes, scroll Zillow like it’s Instagram. A girl can look, okay?
I like structure. It keeps me grounded. The same way I hit legs on Mondays and track protein like it’s a part-time job, I treat my finances with that same consistency. You don’t build glutes from vibes, and you don’t build wealth from impulse buys. Regimentation isn’t restrictive—it’s the thing that buys me room to breathe.
But March, man. March had jokes.
First, I went to a Black Mirror-themed birthday party (complete with AI bartenders and ambient dystopia), and now I can’t stop thinking about how tech and money are getting way too cozy. Facial recognition tipping jars? No thank you. Then the price of my go-to oat milk jumped because of new tariffs. Tariffs! That’s not something I usually pay attention to, but here we are. A few dollars more at the grocery store, and suddenly global trade policy feels very personal.
Meanwhile, the office was in full March Madness mode—brackets, trash talk, bonus pools. I don’t care much for basketball, but I do love a well-organized spreadsheet. So, I made my own bracket:
The Bracket of Big Financial Moves.
I had matchups like:
- Max out my Roth IRA vs. invest in a personal development course
- Open an HSA vs. contribute more to my 401(k)
- Buy into a friend’s business idea vs. pay down student loan interest faster
I treated it like a real game. Thought through the pros, cons, short-term tradeoffs, and long-term gains. The winner? Automating extra payments to my student loans and setting aside $500 for a solo retreat weekend to clear my head, recharge, and journal about my five-year plan. Financial progress and mental clarity? That’s girl math in motion.
I also skipped Coachella this year—by choice. Not because I couldn’t swing it, but because I’m saving for something bigger. Something that feels like Stacy 2.0. A sabbatical. A career pivot. Maybe even buying a little flat in Portugal. I don’t know exactly what the move is yet, but I know I want the option to say yes when it shows up. Coachella will always be there anyways right?
So for now, I’m letting my money work in the background while I keep playing the long game. I’ll keep lifting. I’ll keep tracking. I’ll keep automating. Because when you build the right habits, freedom stops being some distant fantasy—and starts looking like the life you’re already creating.