The Minimalist Approach to Money with Tie B
Quench Finance: How was money viewed in your childhood? Did your family talk about it?
Tie B: Money was viewed as something earned throughout my childhood. I got it when I’d lose a tooth or whenever I got good grades in school. Retrospectively, money wasn’t something I necessarily thought about nor was it a dedicated topic of conversation in my household. While my family never discussed money with me, I vividly remember the saying, “money doesn’t grow on trees” whenever I’d ask for something outrageously expensive. Privileged to say, I never wanted or needed anything which made the conversation of money nonexistent.
My mother is an accountant and business owner. Most of my family members are entrepreneurs. I spent my summers in Kentucky and Alabama with Aunts and Uncles who owned a grocery store and printing company. My grandmother opened my first savings account as a birthday gift when I was 7 years old. She and my mother would deposit money into the account every pay period until I was old enough to have the account solely in my name. I got my first job when I was a junior in high school; not because I had to, but because all my friends had after-school jobs and I wanted to hang out with them. Ironically, the idea of working a 9–5 while also having a side hustle was how I learned the value of money — there’s always more to be made and saving is key.
QF: Have any of your beliefs about money changed in adulthood?
TB: Coming into adulthood, my beliefs about money have changed drastically. As a child, I learned the value of saving. Instead of spending money on snacks at the gas station, I’d save my allowance for movie nights with my friends. As a young adult, I blew money fast. Granted, I worked two jobs and had little to no time to enjoy it, but I had all the things a young college student with her own apartment and car could ask for. Now, a Black womxn in corporate America, I understand how money operates and ways to make it work for me. I may not have been exposed to the functionality of money (outside of work) as a kid, but my eagerness to learn led me to finance classes during my free time where I learned about credit health, Roth and IRA accounts. I’ve come to appreciate money not for what it buys me but for the quality of life it grants me.
QF: What about in 2020 specifically?
TB: My greatest lesson about money comes from seeing capitalism at work. Money grants you a quality of life that no money, or not enough of it, cannot. I grew up in the city of Detroit where you [needed to] drive 15–20 miles to another city just to find a decent grocery store with optimal produce options. We [still] pay more for quality food, while food is a necessity of life. 2020 has not changed my beliefs about money rather, reaffirmed things I already knew while encouraging me to do better. As we face a global pandemic with COVID-19 cases rising and falling, I think of people who have lost their jobs, their homes, who are unable to support themselves or their families, and doing any and everything to make ends meet. This sad reality reminds me of the value of saving (with a goal), the impact of multiple streams of income, and the significance of investing.
QF: If you could give your younger self advice about money, what would it be?
TB: I would go back to that time I got that refund check and say, “Noooooo!” Seriously though, the advice I would give my younger self about money would be to save what you need, invest what you can, and live with what you have. This means saving with a goal — having an emergency or travel fund. This means assets — investing in medium to low-risk stock or owning property. This also means quality — treating yourself to the things you desire to be happy.
QF: Who are your fave money leaders like blogs, vlogs, & podcasts?
Honestly, I don’t have any money leaders I follow. Although, I am a fan of the podcast “Two Black Guys with Good Credit.” I learned financial literacy through trial and error and having honest conversations about money with people I trust. When I wanted to improve my credit, I scoured the internet on how. When I wanted to learn how to make my money work for me, I took finance classes. When I need to rework my budget, my accountant mother assists me. When I have questions about investing, I utilize my network. My favorite money leaders are people who look like me, who can understand and relate to me, and who want the best for me. I wish I were super into money management and finance… I’m just not, but I refuse to be broke.
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Tieanna Burton (Tie B. she/hers/hers) is a blaq (black & queer) Detroiter and the creator and narrator of thebiqueer (BQ), a digital space and collective of stories dedicated to the celebration of Black queer culture. Tie B.’s enthusiasm for community building is illustrated through writing and equitable educational practices. She is a graduate of Alabama State University and the University of North Carolina, Wilmington where she holds a Bachelor of English and Master of Liberal Studies with a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies. Building off her educational career, Tie has continuously worked to create space for Black and Brown voices of the queer community. BQ is an extension of that passion and work. It’s where lived experience meets critical reflection, providing community for folx inclined to embrace every facet of their identity — learning and engaging along the way. Being seen, heard, and felt is a form of intimacy that BQ encourages through their collection of stories, interviews, resources, and events. For authentic representations of Black queer life, BQ is where you will find it.
