We’ve talked about our messy lives, our messy friendships, but let’s get real about the messiest thing of all: our bank accounts.

We’ve been brave enough to talk about our boundaries and the heartbreaks of letting go. Now, we’re tackling the last great taboo—money. Today, we’re diving into My Financial Wake-Up Call & Getting Real About Money Shame.

We are more comfortable talking about our sex lives than our salaries. Think about that for a second. This silence is not accidental; it’s a breeding ground for shame, isolation, and poor financial decisions.

Money shame is the insidious feeling that your net worth equals your self-worth. It’s the pressure to "keep up appearances" on social media, buying things you can’t afford to impress people you don’t even like. It’s the fear of judgment from friends, family, or partners if they knew the truth about your debt, your savings (or lack thereof), or your spending habits.

We carry this financial mask around, pretending everything is fine, while inside, the anxiety is crushing. But here’s the truth: Financial health is a critical part of mental health. You cannot be truly free if you are constantly hiding or worrying about money.

The good news? The first step to financial freedom is the same as the first step to emotional freedom: vulnerability and honesty.

Bestie, this is the part where I get honest about the numbers. I’m sharing a story about the moment I had to face my bank account and the shame I had been carrying around my finances. It was terrifying, but it was the start of my freedom.

For years, I lived in a state of willful financial ignorance. I was great at the "style" part of Strategic Style Co.—the outward appearance of success. I had the clothes, the nice dinners, and the confidence to talk about business strategy. But behind the scenes, I was terrified to open my bank app. I treated my finances like a monster under the bed: if I didn't look at it, it couldn't hurt me.

My money shame was rooted in the feeling that I should know better. I was a smart, capable woman, but I had no idea where my money was going. I was making good money, but I was living paycheck to paycheck, constantly surprised by bills and dipping into my credit card for "emergencies" that were really just poor planning. The shame was a heavy blanket, making me feel like a fraud. I couldn't talk about my financial goals because I was too embarrassed by my financial reality.

The wake-up call was a simple email from my landlord. It wasn't even a threat, just a polite reminder that my rent payment was late. That small, harmless letter hit me like a physical blow. Late rent. Me. The successful woman. The person who talks about having her life together. The shame was so intense it made me physically ill. I realized that my financial avoidance was no longer a coping mechanism; it was a crisis.

That moment of realization was the turning point. I was tired of the anxiety. I was tired of the shame. I was tired of the monster under the bed.

My first brave step was tiny, but monumental: I downloaded a budgeting app. Not a fancy one, just a simple one that linked to my accounts. I sat down with a glass of water and forced myself to look at the numbers. It took me three hours, a few deep breaths, and one good cry. The numbers were worse than I thought, but seeing them—truly seeing them—was the most liberating thing I had done in years.

The shame died in that moment of honesty. I realized the monster wasn't the debt or the low savings; the monster was the secrecy. By shining a light on the truth, I took back my power. I finally had a map. It wasn't a perfect map, and the journey was going to be long, but I was no longer lost. I was finally on the road to financial freedom, and that, bestie, is a victory worth celebrating.

So, what’s the moral of the story, sis? You can't fix what you won't look at. The shame dies when you speak it out loud.

Here are the unwritten rules for starting your journey toward financial health:

It's time to take off the financial mask. It’s time to stop letting fear dictate your future.

Now that we’ve had this heart-to-heart, I have a little piece of homework for you. It’s simple, but powerful.

Take one small, brave step toward financial honesty this week. Open the one bank statement or credit card bill you've been avoiding. Or, schedule a 15-minute "money date" with yourself or your partner to look at the numbers.

Go be brave, bestie. Your financial freedom is waiting for you.

See you next month for another round in the Fight Club 4 Women. Until then, stay strong and stylish.