If you’ve been here for a while, welcome back. And if you’re new — hi, I’m Jane, the creator behind Spicy Sunday Finance.

I’m especially excited about this week’s podcast episode because I got to chat with Miki, a beauty content creator with over 400K followers across Instagram and TikTok, who’s now ready to share a different side of her journey: personal finance.

When I first started creating personal finance content nearly five years ago, my mission was simple—to help the younger folks, especially Gen Z, understand how to manage their money with confidence. That’s why this conversation felt so meaningful. Miki is incredibly well-spoken and brings a fresh, relatable perspective that can help the next generation learn the importance of money early on.

Here is what’s in today’s newsletter:

We dive into what kind of personal finance content Miki wants to share on her page, what made her get serious about investing and what her FIRE goals are or becoming work optional, all at a young age.

I was so blown away with her wisdom and humility so I definitely got reminded of many points she shared about having that money mindset to understand the importance of money. I can’t wait for you to give it a listen!

After chatting with Miki, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about when I was her age and just beginning to create personal finance content. I saw so much of the same passion and drive I had back then like the desire to share what I was learning with younger people, and even those older than me. It also gave me a moment to reflect on why and how I became more financially literate than the average 20-year-old.

Here are three things that helped shape my financial literacy:

1. I asked questions—even when I didn’t know who else to ask.
I didn’t have financially literate people in my personal life, so I went straight to the bank. I called bank representatives and asked questions over the phone. Those conversations were the start of my money education and helped normalize talking about finances with people who actually had the knowledge.

2. I learned by doing (and by making mistakes).
There was no ChatGPT back then—so how did I learn all these complex financial concepts? Through real-life experience. I applied for a part-time job at a bank to fully immerse myself in the environment, and I tried different financial products and investing strategies so I could connect theory to real outcomes. Making mistakes was part of the process—and honestly, one of the best lessons that I can now share online so that others can avoid.

3. I talked about money constantly.
Because I was so passionate, I explained financial concepts over and over again—to clients at the bank, to friends, and eventually through launching a podcast in 2021. Repetition built confidence and the more I talked about money, the less intimidating it felt, and the more natural it became.

But why was personal finance important to me?

I initially started with one simple motivation: getting ahead of my peers. I grew up in a very competitive environment, where finding an advantage always felt necessary. When I realized just how many academically bright students were around me, I felt very discouraged. So I started asking myself what else could I be good at? What was something people my age didn’t really understand yet?

That’s when I found personal finance.

Over time, though, my “why” began to shift. What started as a search for a competitive edge slowly turned into something much deeper—a genuine passion. I had a natural interest in it, and as I learned more, I began to reflect on what money actually meant to me, not just how it set me apart.

Here are the three main reasons personal finance truly began to matter:

1. I wanted independence on my own terms.
I never wanted to feel financially dependent on anyone. The idea of being in a relationship where I felt pressured to rely on someone else for money made me deeply uncomfortable. That meant building my own income, setting my own goals, and defining my own purpose.

2. I wanted to eliminate financial anxiety.
I didn’t grow up in the most financially stable household, and I saw firsthand how stressful uncertainty around money could be. Learning personal finance gave me a way out—a sense of structure, confidence, and control that I didn’t have growing up.

3. Financial freedom became real, NOT just a concept.
It wasn’t until my late 20s that I truly understood the power of consistent saving, investing, and earning my own income. For the first time, financial freedom felt attainable. I realized that with discipline and intention, I could shape my life around my values—and create a sense of comfort and security by simply knowing how to manage my money.

Anyway, that’s all from me. Thanks so much for tuning into this week’s newsletter. Happy Holidays and I can’t wait to chat again soon 🎁🎄

If this newsletter got you motivated, I’d love for you to:

Until next time ✨

Cheers,
Jane