As a first-generation Filipina-American, Bernadette Joy grew up with immigrant parents who instilled frugal habits in her as a way of pursuing the American dream. However, in 2016, she found herself in $300,000 of debt due to mortgages, student loans, and everyday bills, which left her feeling anxious and hopeless. Determined to change her situation, she developed a passion for personal finance and created a plan to pay off her debt in three years. Ultimately, she became a millionaire in her thirties and now runs a coaching business called Crush Your Money Goals, where she helps others make their money work for them.
Despite her newfound wealth, Bernadette maintains seven frugal habits that she refuses to quit. Firstly, she always buys the least expensive cuts of meat to save money. She looks for cheaper options, like end-cuts of beef short ribs, which may not be as attractive but are more budget-friendly. Additionally, she saves hotel vanity kits from her speaking engagements to use items like toothbrushes and toothpaste in unexpected situations. She also repurposes takeout food containers for storage, rather than throwing them away after a single use.
Bernadette is careful to use every drop of her favorite beauty products, stemming from her experience with eczema as a child. She also looks at menu prices before ordering at restaurants to make sure she chooses affordable options. By starting at the end of the menu and reading in reverse, she can enjoy premium meals without breaking the bank. She also preserves high-quality shopping bags for multiple uses and wears free T-shirts to the gym instead of purchasing expensive workout clothes.
These frugal habits are important to Bernadette because they allow her to feel less guilty spending money in areas that matter to her, such as attending K-Pop concerts and supporting local businesses. By maintaining these habits, she honors the choices her parents made to provide her with opportunities, which has helped her become a better budgeter, investor, and ultimately, a millionaire. Bernadette is the CEO of Crush Your Money Goals, a personal finance training company that helps individuals ditch debt, master their savings, and start investing. She is passionate about helping others find financial peace and shares her journey on Instagram and YouTube.
