rewrite this title Haley Sacks (Mrs. Dow Jones): Take Care of Future You So Present You Can 'Vibe' – NerdWallet

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It doesn’t take long scrolling through the Mrs. Dow Jones website to see that Haley Sacks got her start in comedy.

The Upright Citizens Brigade alum is snarky, but relatable. Her approach resonates for Millennials and Gen Z who traffic in the same memes, music and financial obstacles Sacks addresses in her social content.

The “zillennial finance expert,” covers a range of topics from budgeting to investing — leaning more on Beyoncé references than spreadsheets.

“A lot of the finance world uses jargon that’s intentionally confusing to keep people from growing their wealth,” Sacks says. “My content uses humor as a way to peel back the curtain — and show everyone it’s not as scary as it looks.”

I reached out to Sacks to get her perspective on how to live life well without sacrificing big goals. Here’s what she had to say.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: If someone wants to glow up financially this year, where should they start — what’s one habit you swear by?

A: A MONEY DATE! If you want to glow up financially, don’t start with restriction — start with awareness.

A money date is a set time every month that you spend on your finances. Money is a relationship, and like any good relationship, you need to spend time together.

You can do it by yourself or with your friend or partner! Log into your accounts, review your spending, check your goals, make money moves like transferring between accounts, returning packages, unsubscribing, etc., and make a goal for next month.

Q: What are your top 3 go-to tips for living well without overspending?

A: (1) Wait three days before you pay: You see something you want? Great. Don’t buy it. Add it to a “Maybe List” and set a reminder to revisit in 72 hours. By the time those three days are up, one of two things will happen: You’ll still want it and you’ll feel good about buying it. Or you’ll realize … you actually don’t care anymore. The richest thing you can do is slow down before you swipe.

(2) Talk money with your friends: Your bank account shouldn’t suffer because no one wants to say, “This is out of budget.” Most of your friends are lowkey stressed about money too — so be the one to bring it up. Align on budgets. Suggest cheaper plans. Say no when it’s not worth it.

(3) Pay yourself first: When you automate transfers to savings, investments and bills the moment your paycheck hits, you’re free to enjoy what’s left without spiraling every time you hit “Add to Cart.” Once you take care of future you, present you can vibe!

Q: What advice do you have for someone who wants to start investing but feels intimidated or like they “don’t make enough” yet?

A: Even if you’re only investing $25 a month, the habit you build today is 10x more important than the dollar amount. Why? Because you’re building the system. You’re rewiring your identity from “I’m bad with money” to “I’m an investor.” Start with a Roth IRA, invest in low-cost index funds and automate it. Remember: You don’t wait until you’re rich to start investing. You invest to get rich.

Q: There’s a group of folks who make good money but still live paycheck to paycheck. Aside from lifestyle creep, what’s the biggest challenge you see in that space?

A: A lot of high earners don’t have a plan, so their money flows in and flows right back out. No budget, no automation, no tracking.

They’re working hard, but their money isn’t working for them. It’s like having a high-powered job but never delegating — you’ll burn out and have nothing to show for it. The fix? Automate your finances so you pay yourself and your priorities first — then spend what’s left guilt-free.

Q: What’s your best money advice for someone who’s just started earning six figures but isn’t sure how to build long-term wealth?

A: Invest consistently — long-term wealth is built by buying assets, not bags. Your income is the engine. But your habits are the GPS. Without direction, you’re just burning gas.

Q: There’s often pressure on social media to look successful. How do you help people push past performative wealth and focus on real financial stability?

A: Social media loves performative wealth — it’s flashy, it’s fun and it gets likes. But real financial stability? That’s quiet, steady and invisible to most feeds.

I like to influence people to be good with money in ways they’re being pushed to not be — like how I rewear formal guest dresses to every event I go to instead of getting a new outfit each time.

Q: Your audience is geared toward women who often have a “pink tax” to contend with – our products already cost more than men’s. How do you consider this in your budgeting advice?

A: I always say: The system wasn’t built for us, so we have to outsmart it. The pink tax is real — from razors to health care to dry cleaning — so when I talk about budgeting, I emphasize realistic numbers that reflect our lived experiences.

That means padding your budget for these hidden costs, negotiating everywhere you can, asking for raises and finding ways around them.

Start by choosing gender-neutral or men’s products when possible — they’re often identical, just cheaper. Be aware of pricing differences in services like haircuts, and question them. The best way to fight the pink tax? Refuse to pay it.

Q: What financial myth or mindset do you wish more people would let go of?

A: The idea that you have to own property. Between the cost of renovations, HOA fees, etc., the return on investment is rarely as high as you think it’s going to be — you can put that money in the stock market and see WAY higher returns.

Q: Your work emphasizes empowering women to take control of their money. What systemic or cultural barriers are you most passionate about breaking down through your content?

A: Women are so often taught how to budget, scrimp, and save their money — but never taught how to grow their wealth. I want to teach women that they can’t just save their way to getting rich by giving them the confidence and tools to get in the markets.

Q: What’s a “bougie” purchase you’ve made that was totally worth it — and how did you plan for it financially?

A: My trip to Greece! I began budgeting for this trip as soon as I had it planned and figured out what would be paid for with points vs. what I would be spending on. It was so worth the money. I spent around $5K. And I made amazing memories with zero guilt.