An interview with The Budgetnista

Transcribed by Jimmysodope 

(Instagram @budgetnista)

 

James Frazier — My favorite thing about financial experts is that they
weren’t always financial experts. They often experience a fall from
grace then eventually reach a breaking point. Their stories remind us
that we won’t always get it right but we can learn and grow to make
the most out of unexpected changes. Tiffany Aliche knows this as well
as anyone. I had a conversation with The Budgetnista about her new
book titled “Get Good With Money” and what’s changed since the release
of her literary debut, “The One Week Budget”.

Tiffany Aliche — I’ll give an example. Literally, the book came out 10
years ago. 2011. And a friend of mine just bought a camera and he was
like what are you doing. I’m like nothing and he was like bring your
book to Barnes and Nobles. I said ok. Got to Barnes and Nobles. Got
dressed in the bathroom. Asked my friend who did makeup to do my
makeup in the bathroom. Put my book on the shelf and proceeded to do a
photoshoot. The manager comes over and was like you can’t do that.
Take this book off the shelf girl! Now yesterday I go to the bookstore
and my book is on the shelf. In that same section. So that’s how life
is different. It’s like the things I wished for are actually
happening.

JF — More than one million books are published in the United States
every year. That’s about. 2,700 new titles per day. I asked Tiffany
what made it so important for the world to receive “Get Good With
Money” now?

TA — Well I mean I think we all know pandemic, quarantine, job loss,
people worried about losing their homes. I wrote this book in the
beginning of all that. And into all of that because I saw how many
people were struggling. Especially our people. And I thought where’s a
guide. A simple easy to read and navigate guide that takes you from
the beginning of your financial journey through till the end.

JF — The national low-income housing coalition reported that 30–40
million people may have been evicted from their homes by the end of
2020. As of February 2021, there were 4.2 million more unemployed
people than in February 2020, which is a month before the pandemic
began. With stats like these, Get Good With Money couldn’t have
arrived at a better time.

JF — The ten steps to financial wholeness are budgeting, savings,
debt, credit, learning to earn. Then the next layers are investing,
insurance, net worth, your money team or financial professionals, and
estate planning. I thought no matter where you are in life, folks need
help getting to the next level. So I created financial wholeness and I
organized these steps to build upon each other. I thought if people
reached 100% financial wholeness which is just when these ten
components come together to create your most solid financial
foundation where you can build anything you want on that foundation.
You can reach any of your goals on that foundation.

JF — The Budgetnista apparently has a vision for the world but i
sensed special kinda love for Newark.

TA — Well I was born here in Saint Michaels Hospital. Then I was
raised partially in Roselle, NJ. And then I spent a lot of my
childhood in Westfield, NJ. Then as an adult, I came back here to
Newark. I started first by teaching. Taught here like I said for just
about 10 years and then I moved here. I think Newark is a diamond in
the rough. I think a lot of people have a lot to say about Newark but
let them cherry blossoms pop then all y’all in our park. Let the
museum have something and I can’t even get parking at the museum.
Bussing out to Weequahic. People have so much to say until they want
to use Newark for its resources. So I feel protective over Newark like
a big cousin.

JF — As the world reopens there will be an abundance of opportunities
for families to bounce back but it definitely starts at home. It
starts in the mind. Tiffany explains why it’s so important for our
community to absorb Get Good With Money.

TA — Going through it alone for example is like going through therapy.
You might be able to work through your childhood trauma on your own
but maybe that takes you 10 years and with therapy, it could have
taken you 10 months. Instead of trying to figure out things on your
own, that’s why guides like this are written. Someone told me this
ain’t no financial book Tiffany. This is like a memoir because I share
my story of how I messed all my finances up and how I fixed it. A
guide because it’s step by step this is how you achieve financial
wholeness and self-help because along the way I’m coaching you to
greatness. And so yea I think Get Good With Money at
getgoodwithmoney.com is the best present I can leave you with.

– I’m James Frazier, in Newark.

School in the Future

Written and transcribed by Jimmysodope

Imagine waking up early on a Monday morning and somehow you’re 7 years old. You brush you teeth, put on your favorite shirt, then you log onto to your 1st class of the day. Still sleepy. Some how your teacher managed to get you excited about, math? Both hands raised, she calls you solve a problem no-one else could figure out. As you open your mouth to give your answer, which is 100% correct by the way, and your WiFi fails. This is the reality of children everywhere experiencing school in the future. I asked 3rd grader Zamir Frazier what’s the biggest difference in his school experience…

Zamir Frazier – Well for instance we’re all on computers. Also now we need internet just to talk. Sometimes it’s bad, sometimes it’s good.

JSD – Although remote learning is impossible without WiFi, parents have more things to keep in mind for their scholars to be prosperous. Janel Rochez, the mother of a 1st grader shared her concerns

Janel Rochez – Remaining consistent, making sure the work gets done. It’s so easy to fall to behind. It’s not intentional but it can happen very easily. Making sure the space is quiet. Making sure the WiFi doesn’t go out. Making sure she remains engaged. You know she’s still a little kid and we’re asking them to do things we’ve never asked children to do before.

JSD – The school building, a once taken for granted resource is now missed by students teachers and parents alike. Director Tyree Barnes of Great Oaks Legacy Charter school gives insight to his observations.

Tyree Barnes – Some students have really struggled through the remote learning. Some students have also excelled in terms of having less distractions. It’s just me, my auntie, my grandma, my mom, or my dad or whomever. We’re just sitting at here at home in front of the computer and I’ve seen an increase in academic performance.

JSD – Evidence shows that peer learning creates greater confidence and independence in learning, deeper understanding and improved grades for both peer` leaders and theirs students.

Tyree Barnes – Social interaction is a key element of the learning. Right. Children learn best from other child. With that being kinda diminished at this time during the pandemic. That makes education a little more challenging.

JSD – School in the future has its obstacles but Director Barnes is confident that dedicated educators with a compassionate and optimistic approach can make a world of a difference.

Tyree Barnes – I know sometimes from the outside lookin in it seems like math and books and reading, yes those things are important but at the core of the work that we do, we build relationships. I think its largely been dependent on the facilitators energy. But to get our teachers and adults in the energy of being engaging and creative and fun loving and high spirited despite all the challenges that are happening. That is trickled down to, or impacting the scholar.

JSD – The team at Great Oaks Charter School is innovating the way educators interact with scholars to ensure togetherness in these times of physical separation.

Tyree Barnes – You know one of the things I’m really proud of my staff is that we’ve created spaces where students can kind of disengage from the academic so to speak. And just have community time with each other. Whether we’re watching cartoons and having breakfast together or having a discussion that’s less focused on the curriculum we need to get through for the year. But to build community with each other.

JSD – I got update from our 3rd grader Zamir and he ensured me that his wife is intact and game his predictions of what school will look like in the future…

Zamir Frazier – School would be space camp. And we would get to do things like be in zero gravity.

JSD – Students learning in space camp may be up for debate, but with dedicated instructors on the front lines, school in the future has well, a bright future. No matter how committed the educational system is to innovation, parents still should be as active as possible to give their child the maximum potential to succeed. For a list of resources such as tips to create a work f low for your scholar and free or low-cost wifi, visit www.projectreadynj.com

Hear the article via WBGO here! https://www.wbgo.org/show/wbgo-journal/2021-03-06/challenging-times-for-online-learning-in-newark