The Clever Girls Know Podcast With Bola Sokunbi – Details, episodes & analysis

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

In this episode of the Clever Girls Know Podcast listener interview series, I'm sitting down with one of you—our community—to talk about what it really looks like to start from scratch and stay consistent.

I'm interviewing Nancy Ceus-Decoteau, an aspiring educator and entrepreneur who began her financial journey during the pandemic in 2020. What started with discovering Clever Girl Finance and using free worksheets turned into a complete mindset shift around money.

Since then, Nancy has launched her own childcare business, is working toward her bachelor's degree to become a teacher, and is actively building a foundation for long-term financial freedom. Her story is a reminder that wealth-building doesn't start with perfection—it starts with a decision to do better, one step at a time.

What Nancy Discussed

• How she started her financial journey during the pandemic in 2020
• Feeling unprepared with money and deciding to take budgeting seriously
• Discovering Clever Girl Finance and using free worksheets to organize her finances
• Building her first budget and creating a clear financial plan
• Gaining confidence through learning, reading, and applying financial concepts
• Starting her childcare business and stepping into entrepreneurship
• Developing discipline and responsibility with money as a business owner
• Navigating challenges with saving and staying consistent
• Balancing school, business, and financial goals at the same time
• Staying committed to long-term financial freedom despite setbacks
• Defining what financial freedom looks like for her future
• Advice for others who are just beginning their financial journey

 

How to Keep Up With Nancy

• Follow on Instagram: @nancy_poo92
• Follow her business journey: @nurturedbynd

 

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here:
https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books

❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

Life has been life-ing lately… and my wallet felt it! From planned car expenses to unexpected damage costs, I had thousands of dollars hit all at once. But instead of stressing, I leaned on my systems, my savings, and my mindset, and stayed on track.

 In this live, I'm sharing:

• What happened (real numbers, real life)
• How my emergency fund showed up for me
• Why I still kept saving (yes, even now!)
• A mindset check-in from Chapter 1 of Clever Girl Millionaire
• How to stay grounded when life throws financial surprises your way

If you've ever felt like unexpected expenses derail your progress, this is for you. You're not off track. You're learning how to navigate real life with your money.

 

Savings binder mentioned: 

• https://amzn.to/477mSWT

 

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here:
https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books

❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

Let me share a money mistake that still stings to talk about.

Before building Clever Girl Finance, writing books, and becoming a millionaire, I made a mistake that cost me 40% of my retirement savings overnight. Yes, 40%!

I'm sharing the story of how I accidentally triggered taxes and penalties on my 401(k) after leaving a job, the lesson I learned the hard way, and what I would do differently today.

If you're changing jobs or thinking about cashing out a 401(k), this is something you need to understand before making a move.

What I share:

• The 401(k) rollover mistake that cost me thousands
  
  
• Why cashing out your retirement account can be extremely expensive
  
  
• The difference between a 401(k) rollover and a payout
  
  
• How to avoid early withdrawal penalties and taxes
  
  
• What to do with your 401(k) when leaving a job

Money mistakes happen to everyone, even financial experts. What matters most is how you learn from them and rebuild.

I share this story in Chapter 6 of my new book Clever Girl Millionaire, where I talk about real-life financial mistakes, lessons learned, and how resilience plays a role in building long-term wealth.

If you've ever made a financial mistake, know this: your story isn't over. You can learn, recover, and keep building.

 

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here:
https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Subscribe to the Clever Girl Finance newsletter for weekly motivation! clevergirlfinance.com/subscribe

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books

❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

Norly was born in Brooklyn, NY and family is from Haiti. She taught middle school English for three years before becoming a securities attorney. She loves to work out, travel and talk about personal finance with family and friends! WHAT NORLY DISCUSSED: 1. The concept of parallel planning for retirement and how are she and your mom embarking on this journey together 2. When she decided she wanted to retire early (FIRE) and her 3. The key financial strategies she's employing for her early retirement plans AND MUCH MORE ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

Let's discuss the best reasons to leave a job and what to consider before you quit. You may want to quit your job for personal reasons, while other times, it might be related to the job itself. Here are 7 common signs whether or not you should quit your job and how best to go about it! ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

On today's episode of the podcast, Shanae Brown shares how asking for help at work got her a raise! Shanae is a NYC-based leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and passionate speaker who's had a stellar career in Human Resources. With nearly a decade of HR experience, Shanae has worked with top business leaders in the Financial Services, Music, and Tech industries. Leveraging her expertise in talent development, psychology, and passion for personal growth, she founded No Cream In This Coffee, a groundbreaking career development company dedicated to creating better work experiences and workplaces for Black women. WHAT SHANAE DISCUSSED: 1. How she overcame self-doubt and concerns about seeking guidance, especially amid organizational changes. 2. How her identity as a Black woman influenced her approach to seeking help and self-advocacy in the workplace. 3. Key strategies and advice for women facing corporate challenges. AND MUCH MORE HOW TO KEEP UP WITH SHANAE: - Via her website: https://www.nocreaminthiscoffee.com/ - On Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nocreaminthiscoffee/ - On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theshanaebrown/ ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

Learn 7 key tips to help you negotiate credit card debt and navigate the negotiation process! ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

Do you ever look back on certain money decisions you've made in the past and think, "My gosh… how could I have been so careless?!" The shame and humiliation feel real — and the more you think about it, the more embarrassed you become. In times like these, you may be experiencing a cycle of shame around money. Learning how to break this cycle and heal your relationship with money can help you shed your disappointment and chart a path forward. ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

Learn how to stop wasting money on food and maximize your grocery budget! Explore 19 effective ways to grocery shop on a budget! ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

Molly Stillman is the host of the "Can I Laugh on Your Shoulder?" podcast,a sought-after speaker and author of the book, "If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For" The lifestyle blog she started in 2007, Still Being Molly, is a community for women who love ethical style, clean beauty, parenting, funny stories, and serving in their communities. Her deep passion lies in inspiring women to know they were created on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose. Molly was on was on episode 47 sharing her debt pay off story and episode 114 talking about the emotions that come from being in debt and also featured in the first Clever Girl Finance book. She lives with her husband John, children Lilly and Amos, and various and sundry animals on a small farm in Durham, North Carolina. She loves Jesus a whole lot, drinks too much Diet Coke, and eats a lot of Chipotle burritos. WHAT MOLLY DISCUSSED: * The emotional journey and impact of her losing her mother at a young age. * How she managed an unexpected inheritance of $245,485 and the financial decisions that led to substantial debt. * How using humor as a coping mechanism during tough times influenced her career in comedy and personal growth. * The turning point that helped her move away from depression * Advice for someone facing tough times and feeling lost or hopeless. * How she realized the potential for growth and purpose in her own struggles and setbacks AND MUCH MORE HOW TO KEEP UP WITH MOLLY: - Via her website: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com - All social media: @stillbeingmolly ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance