by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH
This past week, I went to a free conference here in Idaho called Savvy Women & Money. Whenever I feel strained and stressed about money, I start focusing more on my finances and figuring out ways to be better friends with my money. Do you ever feel like that? That money is your frenemy? It’s great when you have it, but it super sucks when you don’t. In fact, I feel like if I had more money, I would have a really sweet life right now.
Interestingly, the week of this finance and money conference also lined up with a gratitude practice about money. And honestly, I haven’t been feeling very grateful about money right now. I’m feeling really stressed about it. I’m trying to survive, look for a job, and make money with my business—all while struggling financially.
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| One of the speakers at the Savvy Women & Money Conference was Liza Roeser, founder of "Fifty Flowers." I made this DIY bouquet there and took it home. Every time I look at the bouquet, I feel educated, empowered, and inspired about money. |
I know some people have a misconception that people are making a lot of money on unemployment. I’m sorry, but that is not reality. I’m not sure if $300 a week is “a lot of money” to them, or if they’re just uneducated about how unemployment benefits actually work. Maybe they’re thinking about the COVID stimulus days. But those days are gone, and now we’re back in reality.
I decided to do some research—or homework—before I wrote this post because I have not been feeling that great about money. In fact, the Savvy Women & Money conference made me feel like I really needed to get my shit together about money. I’ve been struggling financially since I moved to Idaho.
Last year, in 2025, having pneumonia, watching my finances fade yet again, and having a twenty-something tell me I was a loser was all I needed to make me want to lay down and give up. It sent me into a depression. I’m finally coming out of that depression, but the bills have been stacking up, and I am super stressed out.
So I turned to my old friend, Procrastination, when I started writing this post. I put off writing this post for over a week. Then I decided I wasn’t going to wait another day. One of the things I learned at the conference from our conference coach, Nicole Sherman, was a saying: “What I can do today is…” That simple phrase has helped me get a little more accomplished every day this week. This morning, I decided that what I could do today was write this post.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve watched financial shows like How to Get Rich on Netflix and The Financial Diet. And weirdly, I started to feel empowered. Because what I have done my whole life is UNHEARD OF. Most people who were in foster care don't go to college. Most people who pay their way through college drop out. They don't go on to get master's degrees, especially not after having been homeless. It takes most people 20 years to get out of poverty. It took me three. Less than 1% of 1% of people do all the things I have done. I am truly one in a million! I had no idea. The people around me knew, though. And instead of helping me, they watched me struggle.
Why? My theory is that they wanted to see me fail. They were sitting around with their free movie passes to my life, a bag of popcorn and oversized soda in hand, waiting to see what would happen next. Meanwhile, I’m over here struggling—praying to God every day that everything will be okay.
I also read The Magic of The Secret blog for today. And when I read it, I thought, “I can’t write my struggle story for this post. This woman has almost the exact same story.” The difference? Someone gifted her a car and a driver.
People did help me get a car and a driver, too—but they asked to be paid back. The blog writer said she was gifted the car because she felt gratitude. Maybe I need to show more gratitude for my drivers, the cars, and all the money I spent just to get back and forth to work.
Now, back to the conference. One woman stood up and shared her personal financial struggles. She had been semi-successful in her job, and now she was making next to no money, while her unmarried partner was making all the money. He was worried about her “bringing him down.”
Having lived through financial abuse, I saw all the red flags she didn’t see. I wanted to tell her to pack her bags, turn around, and run as fast as she could. The conference coach didn’t say that. But what she did say—and what stuck with me (this is my interpretation)—was that you have to let go of your struggle story.
For me, my struggle story is how I came to Idaho with nothing. Two suitcases, a handful of boxes, and my little dog, living in my Southwest Airlines version of an apartment. I didn’t have dishes, blankets, pillows, or a car. I watched TV on my iPad. I sat on a plastic patio bench I bought at a thrift store. I was living off my savings.
And I replay that story a lot. It’s part survivor story and part “how could anyone do that to me?” story. It’s my struggle story.
This week, I realized I have to let it go. Let me say that again: I have to let go of my struggle story. Until I do, my life stays stuck in it. My life is about it. And my finances are about it, too.
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| Investing in yourself is the greatest ROI you can have. |
I haven't fully accepted that I am someone who can now provide all the things I once didn’t have. But the truth is, I am doing it one step at a time. I have two sets of plates, bowls, and glasses. I have blankets. I have pillows. I have a television. I have furniture that isn’t cold, hard plastic. I have plenty of clothes. I still have my dog. And I have money to buy food.
I don’t have savings anymore, and my once very small investment account is now empty. But I am able to cover at least some of the four walls - food, utilities, transportation, and housing. And yes, having more money would solve a lot of my problems right now. People always say money doesn’t solve problems, but in my case, it actually would.
If I had money to buy a car, I wouldn’t have to worry about transportation. If I had money to pay my bills, I wouldn’t be stressing about bills. If I had some safety-net money, I could grow or scale my business—or at least buy myself some time so I wouldn’t have to take low-level jobs just to survive.
How much money do I need? Realistically, to get caught up on bills, buy a car, and have enough to live on for a few months, I’d say $30,000. I’m not trying to be extravagant. I’m being honest about what it would take to meet the goals I have right now.
What’s my plan to get this money? I don’t know yet. But another thing we talked about at the conference was “Trust the Process.” And I know that works, because I’ve used The Magic Check process several times before—and it worked every single time!
The first thing I did today, before writing this post, was reread The Magic of The Secret blog. It reminded me that to bring more money into your life, you have to feel gratitude for money.
Like a lot of people, I have a love-hate relationship with money. So before I started writing this morning, I walked through my living room and showed gratitude for everything in it that cost money—including the food I feed my dog.
Everything in your home exists because of money. The clothes you’re wearing. The food you eat. The lights in your house. The entertainment you enjoy. The sports you watch. The television you own. All of it is because of money.
Even “free” activities are paid for by someone else’s money. For example, several sponsors paid for over 700 women to attend a conference about finance and money—for free. Lunch was provided. We left with great resources, education, and cool stuff. I now have meetings this week because of that conference—maybe even networking opportunities for my business.
So I’m giving you an assignment today. It sounds hard, but it’s easier than you think.
Write down 100 things you have because of money, and show gratitude for the money that helped you receive them. Even if something was a gift, it still came from money. Try doing this exercise every day this week and see if it changes how you feel about money.
Also, get your Magic Check here: https://www.thesecret.tv/the-magic-check/. Download it, fill it out, and write exactly how much you want and what you’ll use it for. Then feel gratitude for already having that money. I don’t know how I’m going to get it—but I’m going to trust the process and believe it will come.
The Thing I Am Most Grateful for Today
I am grateful for all the financial resources at my disposal, and for the knowledge I have about them and how to access them.
10 Things I Am Grateful for Today
I am grateful for the money I received for this laptop. Friends gifted me money after my laptop froze, and I’ve been using this one for years.
I am grateful for the money to buy my living room table. It’s super chic and trendy, and I love it. I found it at a thrift store, and it’s the exact table I would have chosen even if I had every option available.
I am grateful for the money to buy my end table. I bought it online from a local seller, and she actually redesigned it herself. I’m still friends with her on social media.
I am grateful for all the brands that have sent me products for free. I receive their products, and in exchange, I promote them.
I am grateful for the money I had to buy groceries. Having food to nourish my body and give me energy reduces my stress.
I am grateful for the money I received for Ubers. I didn’t take them for fun—I took them out of necessity. Because of that help, I didn’t miss work.
I am grateful for the money I received for all the items I needed to start over. That money helped me move past the hardest part of my struggle story and gave me a semblance of normal.
I am grateful for all the cars I’ve owned and the money I paid for them. I’m grateful for mechanics who charged me less, gifted me their time, and helped keep me going. I’m grateful for the money I spent on gas to get where I needed to go.
I am grateful for the money my area spends on public transportation. In 2026, a round-trip bus ticket costs me $2.50 a day. You can’t even buy a burger for that.
I am grateful for the money I’ve received for housing. Friends and organizations have come together over the past few years to help keep a roof over my head. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Inspired by The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, this gratitude practice has been adapted into a self-paced 28 Days of Gratitude course for readers who want a simple structure without pressure. An optional guided journal, Bragging About You, is available for deeper reflection.
👉 Learn more about the 28 Days of Gratitude course
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