Hey Rich Bitch,

What if building wealth didn't have to feel so heavy?

This week, we're talking about the financial advice nobody gives you: do less. Focus on the few things that actually move the needle. Automate the rest. And give yourself permission to stop drowning in apps, advice, and guilt.

Let's simplify.

—The Project Rich Bitch Team

I made $20,000 less than I should have for two years.

Not because I wasn’t qualified. Not because I didn’t work hard. Because when they promoted me, I said yes to the title and forgot to negotiate the salary that came with it.

I was so grateful to be chosen that I didn’t think I could ask for more. Classic mistake.

When I finally left for a new role—making significantly more—I realized something that still makes me cringe: I’d been underpaying myself the whole time. Not just in salary, but in how I thought about my worth.

Here’s what I learned at that new job: the people who get paid what they’re worth don’t have some secret confidence I was missing. They just ask. And then they wait.

No apologies. No justifications. Just: “Based on the scope of this role and what I bring, I’m targeting $X.”

The hard part isn’t the ask. It’s believing you deserve to ask in the first place.

This week’s theme—Wealth Without the Weight—is about that. The moment you stop carrying the burden of doing everything perfectly and start focusing on the few things that actually move the needle.

Because here’s the truth: building wealth shouldn’t feel like drowning in advice, apps, and guilt. It should feel like breathing room.

~ Dana

You don’t need to do everything.

Most financial advice makes you feel like you’re failing if you’re not tracking every expense, optimizing every investment, and reading every market update. That’s exhausting. And it’s not how wealth actually gets built.

The 80/20 Rule says this: 20% of your actions create 80% of your results.

For wealth-building, that means three things: 1. Automate your savings. Even $50 a week adds up to $2,600 a year. Set it and forget it. 2. Negotiate one bill. Call your internet provider, insurance company, or credit card. Ask for a lower rate. You’ll be shocked how often it works. 3. Invest in one index fund. You don’t need a complex portfolio. Start with a low-cost S&P 500 index fund and let compound interest do the work.

That’s it. Three actions. Not thirty.

The key takeaway? Wealth-building doesn’t require perfection. It requires consistency in a few high-impact areas.

Stop trying to do it all. Start doing the right things.

Let’s talk about decision fatigue.

Every time you have to decide whether to save, invest, or pay a bill, you’re burning mental energy. And when you’re tired, stressed, or distracted, you make the easy choice—not the smart one.

The solution? Automate your financial life so wealth-building happens in the background.

Here’s your three-step system:

Step 1: Automate Savings Set up an automatic transfer from checking to savings every payday. Even if it’s $25. The amount doesn’t matter as much as the habit. You won’t miss what you don’t see.

Step 2: Automate Investments If you have a 401(k), max out the company match (that’s free money). If you don’t, open a Roth IRA or brokerage account and schedule automatic contributions. Weekly, biweekly, monthly—whatever matches your paycheck rhythm.

Step 3: Automate Bills Set up autopay for rent, utilities, insurance, and credit cards (pay the full balance, not the minimum). You’ll never pay a late fee again. And you’ll free up brain space for things that actually matter.

Why this works: Automation removes the emotional weight from money decisions. You’re not relying on willpower. You’re relying on systems.

And systems don’t get tired.

Speaking of automating your financial life—when’s the last time you shopped your car insurance? If you own your home and have a clean driving record, you’re probably overpaying. Here’s a tool that makes comparison shopping actually easy.

Owning a home gets you equity, a place that’s all yours, and now, better auto insurance rates. Drivers who own their home, own multiple cars, and have a clean driving record can save big by comparing insurance rates. And now, with EverQuote, that process is easier than ever.

EverQuote is a smart insurance marketplace built for people like you. We simplify the entire process:

You deserve great coverage without the headache.

Click to get started!

Real talk: luxury isn’t about spending recklessly. It’s about spending intentionally on what brings you joy.

Too many women feel guilty every time they buy something nice for themselves. That guilt? It’s a tax on your happiness. And you don’t have to pay it.

Here’s how to build guilt-free luxury into your budget:

Create a monthly “luxury fund.” This is money you set aside specifically for things that make you feel good—spa days, designer bags, fine dining, weekend getaways, whatever lights you up.

The amount doesn’t matter. $50, $200, $500—it’s your call. What matters is that it’s planned, budgeted, and guilt-free.

When you spend from this fund, you’re not being irresponsible. You’re honoring the life you’re building.

Because what’s the point of building wealth if you can’t enjoy it?

This week’s recommendation: Speaking of wellness investments—I’ve been hearing great things about Mela Vitamins. They’re formulated specifically for melanated women, which matters more than most supplement companies want to admit. If you’re already investing in your health, you might as well use products designed for your body.

Check out Mela Vitamins here →

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If you don’t know Tiffany Aliche—also known as The Budgetnista—you need to.

Tiffany didn’t start out as a financial expert. She was a preschool teacher who lost everything in the 2008 recession. Broke, in debt, and living with her parents, she could’ve given up.

Instead, she got curious.

She started teaching herself about money—not from textbooks, but from trial, error, and asking better questions. And then she did something most financial educators don’t: she made it simple.

Her Live Richer Challenge became a movement. Not because it was complicated. Because it wasn’t.

Every week, participants focus on one financial action. Just one. Automate savings. Check your credit report. Negotiate a bill. Build an emergency fund.

No overwhelm. No shame. Just progress.

That approach has helped millions of women—especially Black women—take control of their money without feeling like they need a finance degree to do it.

Tiffany proved that wealth-building doesn’t have to feel heavy. It just has to feel doable.

And that’s exactly what we’re about here.

Learn more about Tiffany and The Budgetnista →

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