Tiffany Aliche has explored nearly every avenue with her finances. By the time she turned 26, she had managed to save $40,000—exceeding her yearly earnings as an educator. However, she also found herself with $87,000 in debt at one stage. Following a total financial collapse during the Great Recession, she confronted the daunting challenge of reconstructing her financial situation from the ground up.
For Aliche, the aim was not to amass wealth. Instead, she sought to organize her finances. Yet, sometimes, a calling arises that cannot be overlooked. Witnessing Aliche take charge of her finances, individuals began seeking her guidance to achieve similar outcomes. Before long, she was mentoring women globally in personal finance matters, including saving money and home purchasing, through her Live Richer Challenge, a series of acclaimed online courses. This was the turning point when she earned the title “The Budgetnista,” becoming a well-known podcaster and social media influencer.
Now that Aliche is thriving financially, she is broadening her mission. In her recent book, Get Good With Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole, she shares the essential principles for mastering personal finance—regardless of one’s current life situation.
To gain insight into her journey, we asked Aliche what motivated her to compose Get Good With Money and what it takes to develop a fierce financial mindset.
Q: What prompted you to establish your business, The Budgetnista?
Having a father who worked as a chief financial officer and accountant, my sisters and I were educated about financial matters from a young age. Consequently, I felt at ease discussing my finances openly with college classmates, roommates, teachers, and parents.
Initially, I never envisioned it becoming my profession. However, everything changed with the onset of the Great Recession. I lost my teaching position due to funding cuts at my school, and while I was working through my debt, requests for financial assistance began to pour in from friends and acquaintances. This was the inception of The Budgetnista, leading me to collaborate with various organizations and educational institutions.
Q: What strategies did you use to tackle the emotional aspects of debt and enhance your financial situation?
It was incredibly challenging. Financial matters are largely tied to emotions and mental health, and I was overwhelmed with shame. To move past that, I confided in someone about the financial turmoil I was experiencing—my best friend, Linda. After concealing my struggles from friends and family, I finally broke down and revealed everything to her. Her reply was, “That’s it? Many people go through financial difficulties. It’s not the end of the world. You didn’t do anything irreparable.”
As I became more open about my financial situation, I began to feel more empowered. I recognized that I had the knowledge to eliminate debt, budget effectively, and save.
This is one of the main reasons I authored Get Good With Money. So many individuals grappling with finances often continue to face challenges due to the shame that accompanies their struggles. It’s crucial for people to discover a safe environment to express their fears.
Q: Would you consider this book your greatest achievement?
Absolutely. This book represents the culmination of my life’s efforts, as I have long sought to decode the complexities of money management.
People earn a living, but what comes next? How do you guide someone who is uncertain about managing their finances? This is precisely what Get Good With Money addresses. It serves as a practical, step-by-step guide to mastering personal finance basics, including budgeting, saving, managing debt, understanding credit, and increasing earnings. The book then assists you in constructing other financial pillars—such as investing, insurance, net worth calculations, assembling a financial team, and estate planning. It’s a comprehensive roadmap to achieving what I term financial wholeness.
Q: Some specialists emphasize financial freedom. Why did you opt for a focus on financial wholeness instead?
For most individuals, financial freedom is not the ultimate solution. Not everyone will be able to accumulate a vast sum of money that allows them to retire early. This notion applies to a limited demographic; that’s when I had my epiphany. Financial wholeness is accessible to everyone. It’s about ensuring all ten aspects of your financial life synergize for your best advantage.
Q: In what ways did your teaching experience contribute to your book writing?
Having taught preschoolers, I acquired the skill to educate from an empathetic perspective. Financial education can often feel intimidating, similar to the apprehension a young child feels when starting preschool. Thus, I was immediately aware of how to alleviate readers’ anxieties in this book. I utilized my strengths as an educator to ensure that individuals felt safe, unjudged, and not isolated during their learning process.
Q: Discussions surrounding salaries and personal debt are often rare. How did it feel for you to disclose your financial struggles?
At this point, I’ve grown accustomed to discussing what once caused me a great deal of shame. I embrace sharing these experiences because if I managed to learn from my mistakes and still achieve financial wholeness, others can too. I understand how some may feel it’s easy for me to claim this. However, I’ve encountered numerous significant financial missteps—foreclosure, falling victim to credit card fraud, excessive student loan debt. I lost everything and had to rebuild from zero. Therefore, I genuinely enjoy sharing these lessons and teaching from a standpoint of empathy and insight.
Q: In your book, you assert that there are no small financial choices. What led you to this realization?
This understanding developed when I was around 9 or 10 years old. It was during that time I made my first deliberate financial choice. With my birthday approaching, instead of selecting the purple Barbie bike I desired, I opted for a large blue bike. It turned out to be so big that I continued to ride it throughout middle and high school. Even thirty years later, that decision holds significance. The bike is stored in my parents’ garage, and my dad used it for exercise only a few years ago.
Everyone carries around their own version of a blue bike, whether beneficial or detrimental. Is it your decision to subscribe to every streaming service? Or perhaps the choice to not learn how to style your hair? Those seemingly minor financial decisions, like my blue bike, can follow you for a lifetime. Every choice you make counts and compounds over time.
Q: Are there still financial objectives that you are pursuing?
Absolutely! That’s the beauty of financial wholeness. It’s not a one-time fix. For instance, at 27, I held a $300,000 insurance policy and owned a $220,000 condo. If anything were to happen to me, that policy would have taken care of my mortgage and debts. Fast forward to 41-year-old Tiffany? I now have a stepdaughter, a husband, nieces, and nephews to think about. I also run a few businesses. To properly cover all these aspects, my insurance policy needs to be adjusted to a seven-figure amount.
I have achieved financial wholeness today. However, as I age, my understanding of financial wholeness will inevitably evolve.
Q: Are you considering writing another book?
Personally, I believe that writing should happen when you have something valuable to share. If a sequel feels necessary, I will certainly pursue that. Perhaps I will delve deeper into certain areas covered in Get Good With Money. Or I may explore topics related to business. Ultimately, it hinges on the value I can contribute to others.
Q: What message do you hope readers will derive from this book?
Financial wholeness is attainable by all. Even if you never achieve millionaire status, you can still manage your finances effectively. A fulfilling financial life can be characterized by peace, security, and abundance.
