If right now you are fluctuating between feeling angry, sad, and numb (in constant rotation), you are not alone.
You may be fearing for your safety, or doubting your independence as a woman. I am right there with you.
The world feels nuts. It feels unsafe.
Our whole lives we’ve lived under the belief that certain systems are in place to protect us…
➡️the education system
➡️the judicial system
➡️the political system.
Only now we know without a doubt that it’s all a joke. Maybe it’s always been a joke. Probably so.
So the biggest act of rebellion for us right now is to avoid crumbling into a ball of overwhelm onto the floor, and instead take strategic, specific action.
The single biggest act of resistance to the widespread corruption we’re seeing is to become as independent from these toxic systems as we possibly can.
❌Because no one is coming to save us.
❌No government program is going to bail us out,
❌No justice system is going to protect us.
It’s on us now to take radical responsibility for our lives as the ultimate move of sticking it to the man.
So let’s discuss 10 strategies for reclaiming your power and making yourself independent as a woman.
Don’t freak out trying to get all 10 locked down immediately. Choose 1 or 2 at a time that call to you and work up from there.
STRATEGY #1: BUILD AN EMERGENCY FUND
There’s nothing that’ll keep you tethered to a broken system like an inability to pay your bills.
Money fear is real. That’s because our society requires money for basic necessities.
Having a small chunk of change in the bank as a
“rainy day fund” is a great way to make yourself feel more secure.
✔️ Boss being disrespectful? You can quit.
✔️ Partner being abusive? You can leave.
✔️ Modern society collapsing? Retreat and make a plan.
Your emergency fund should be 3-6 months of your most basic needs.
We’re talking rent, car expenses, groceries, insurance.
If shit hits the fan you’ll cancel streaming subscriptions and quit eating at restaurants, so don’t add in those.
Your monthly emergency amount shouldn’t be that big. So calculate it, save 3 months worth, and keep it in a High Yield Savings Account.
If it feels good to have that nest egg, work your way up to 6 months.
Then rest easy knowing you have a backup plan if you need it. That’s financial independence as a woman.
By the way, if you are interested in financial freedom, be sure to grab my free Wealth Vision Workbook. 💰
STRATEGY #2: PAY OFF CREDIT CARD DEBT
This one is touchy, but you really can’t be free of a toxic society when you carry credit card debt, because it ties you down and forces you to work hard to keep making payments (even if you hate it, even if you aren’t being valued).
Credit card debt is a deliberate trap that our financial system lays for you, so don’t beat yourself up if you’ve found yourself in its sticky grasp.
✅Cancel as many subscriptions as you can,
✅Lower your impulse spending as much as possible,
✅and pay as much of the balance off as you can as quickly as you can.
It’ll feel amazing.
After you’ve paid down your debt, ask yourself if the points are worth the temptation to overspend again.
If so? Consider cutting it up. Rely on debit cards instead.
STRATEGY #3: INVEST IN NEW AVENUES
Once you’ve got your emergency fund in place and you’ve paid off credit card debt, it’s time to consider investing.
The obvious recommendation (for years) has been to invest in a tax-deferred retirement plan (like a Roth IRA in the states) which I still stand by…
BUT, in the name of independence, consider investing in alternatives as well.
You could invest in:
💰precious metals (silver coins are very affordable)
🌳farm land (my husband and I have planted an avocado orchard to one day eat and sell from)
🤓even investing in yourself (what new skills could you pay to learn that you could then sell?)
It’s not enough to just save money, to build financial independence we have to also invest our money strategically, ideally in multiple different areas of life.
A long term wealth plan means independence as a woman.
STRATEGY #4: BECOME AWARE OF WHO GETS YOUR MONEY
Next up, let’s talk about who you’re trading your money with.
➡️You work in exchange for cash
➡️and then you exchange your cash in exchange for goods or services.
Who are you giving your hard earned money (and therefore energy) to?
If you’re regularly buying from a big company whose values are not in line with your own, you are accidentally investing in things that you don’t want to see in society.
✨Purchases from etsy —> pay for dance lessons
✨Purchases from Amazon —> pays for Bezo’s new yacht
Our purchasing power is one of our strongest weapons. Use it.
STRATEGY #5: BRAINSTORM NEW EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR KIDS
Once we realize our education system sucks we can start doing something different.
We can consider homeschooling co-ops, alternative education (Waldorf, Montessori, world schooling).
The world needs critical thinkers now more than ever, and the next generation of critical thinkers will not be made in the modern public school system.
I wish I could wave a wand and improve the American school system. I wish I could storm the Capitol and make a change at the governmental level.
But for now my greatest act of resistance is raising my daughters to think for themselves so one day we might have a generation of young people who have creative solutions to offer to society.
STRATEGY #6: REFRAME “BLUE COLLAR” JOBS AS LUCRATIVE
In this crazy AI age, the most prestigious jobs are going to become outsourced to computers.
This shouldn’t scare us, this should inspire us to pivot our previous way of thinking.
We’ve all seen that video of the medical school student crying when AI diagnosed his friend’s rare cancer in seconds right?
You know what skills will be worth tons?
💰Plumbing
💰Roofing
💰Framing
💰Breadmaking.
These are the jobs that our children will be able to earn a living with.
Let’s normalize getting our kids’ hands dirty. Planting gardens, making bread, fixing car engines.
The way to wealth in the future is going to look different and we should prepare our kids for it. 💪🏼
STRATEGY #7: NORMALIZE COLLEGE-FREE LIFE PATHS
I am fairly certain my daughters won’t go to college.
For one thing, you can learn anything online today. That wasn’t the case 15 years ago, and I’d bet it’ll be even more the case in another 15 years.
Universities (at least American ones) have been gouging families for ages, setting loose generations of students into the workplace saddled with massive debt, and making stupid money while they’re at it. 😡
Anyone else have PTSD from student loan debt?
Unless my daughters wholeheartedly desire a career that requires a license (Architect, CPA, Nurse), college probably won’t be necessary.
I’ve started wrapping my mind around that already. It’s the end of an era, and it’s bittersweet.
I’d rather send my kids to trade school, or arrange an apprenticeship with someone to learn some unique skill that will allow them to work in a field aligned with their passions without $100k+ in student loan debt.
STRATEGY #8: DON’T CUT YOURSELF OFF FROM JOY
Now let’s get to the rainbow and unicorns part of the list. 🌈🦄
I don’t know about you, but when sh*t hits the fan, I go way overboard into “efficiency” mode.
✅I make lists,
✅I make plans, and…
➡️I very easily cut fun out of my to-do list because it feels like a distraction.
I’m here telling you that you don’t have to fix everything on this list overnight.
Take baby steps, save money, reframe your thinking, yes.
But make time for joy. 🙃
A massive act of rebellion in this insane moment of history is to not let the bastards get us completely down.
Laugh, sing, dance, paint, cuddle. As resistance. As a saving grace to our nervous systems.
STRATEGY #9: CREATE SOMETHING, ANYTHING
When you’re nervous system isn’t in flight or fight mode, do your soul a massive favor and create ANYTHING even if it’s cringe, even if it’s “bad”.
Take the time to create ANYTHING.
💗Write a song or poem
🎨paint a picture or a wall
💻start a blog or band
✍🏼write a book or newspaper article.
Create literally anything.
Put down your phone, look at the beautiful people around you, and make some form of art. Even if it’s cringe, even if it’s shitty.
Create because you can. Create because you must.
STRATEGY #10: SUPPORT GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARE VALUES WITH YOU
Lastly, an amazing act of rebellion against the systems of oppression is to use your hard earned money to grow something better.
Think about your core values – according to your deepest beliefs, what would make society genuinely better?
1️⃣Find a grassroots organization whose mission is in line with your values
2️⃣Vet them on charitynavigator.org to make sure they’re being transparent and ethical
3️⃣Consider offering them financial support (or volunteer your time)
Where your focus goes, energy flows.
Don’t just focus on the shitty stuff, look for the beauty too. Support it, invest in it, and be a part of helping it to grow. 🌱
There are moments in history that leave us speechless, sometimes in a very bad way.
We’re in one of those moments.
Now more than ever we have to take responsibility for our lives, so we can be independent enough to help rebuild things intentionally after the whole thing burns to the ground.
I’m not suggesting giving up or tapping out, but you can’t start a fire from inside the house. 🔥
Untangle yourself from the claws of society and let’s ready ourselves for a brighter tomorrow.
Never lose hope that it’s coming.
xx Bri
PS: If you aren’t familiar with the Candlelight Collective, we’re a group of like-minded women building magical lives and financial freedom our way without hustle culture or grinding on a hamster wheel.
Let’s be friends.
PPS: If you like free stuff, check out my 10 day morning journaling freebie. See what you think. ✨🕯️