When it came to money, my world was small. I grew up hearing “get a real job,” work hard, save, spend less, and be grateful for any overtime. So that’s what I did. I worked myself tired for years and still didn’t feel financially safe. Where I’m from, working 2–3 jobs was normal. Nobody taught me about budgeting, investing, taxes, pay stubs, or 401(k)s. My go-to excuse was always “No one ever taught me this,” and it was true. Then the pandemic hit, I met people who didn't have work "real jobs" and they had a healthier view about money. In fact, they talked about it openly. That changed everything. It opened my eyes to how money actually works and how much control I could have once I understood it. Now, I'm not financial advisor, but I am someone who had to learn all of this the long way. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by money because it's confusing. I don' t blame you. I'm here to break it down so you know how money works and learn ways on how to put your money to work.