21 Savage Talks Financial Literacy

• Rapper 21 Savage has been vocal and transparent about his lack of financial literacy when growing up.
• From working with financial empowerment programs to making music about money, such as Bank Account, 21 Savage has given us insight into his journey of gaining financial knowledge.
• Knowing your numbers and having access to economic resources is vital to becoming financially empowered.

Rapper 21 Savage is not playing about his money and financial empowerment. From interviews to his music, 21 Savage continues to speak about his lack of financial literacy growing up, learning more about money in adulthood, and the changes he is making to grow his money. 

You may have been jamming to his hit song, Bank Account. On the other hand, you may have watched his interview with Vogue, in which he speaks about why he isn't buying jewelry anymore. Whether you have done one, both, or neither as of yet, following 21 Savage's lead of increasing our financial knowledge is worth the journey.

"Growing up, I knew almost nothing about bank accounts."

- 21 Savage

With a net worth in the millions, it would be nice to have the same amount of money as 21 Savage in our bank account. However, you don't have to have all the extra zeroes on your paycheck to feel financially empowered. Regardless of if you are making four, fix, or six figures per year, the key to financial growth is financial confidence.

Three key components to becoming financially confident are knowing where you are financially, planning for the future, and creating an emergency fund to handle the challenges that come up. More so, two ways to feel more empowered about your money are to know your numbers and know your resources.

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Know Your Numbers

Your financial situation won't improve if you don't know how you are doing in some key areas. Three of those key areas are budget, debt, and savings. In order to know your numbers, you need to check in on your finances and ask yourself these questions:

• Are my expenses higher than my income?
• How many months of pay are in my savings account?
• How long will it take to pay off my debt?

Knowing your numbers allows you to improve your financial stability because if you understand what you are doing well on, you can double down on those things. But, on the contrary, knowing your numbers also allows you to see your weak points, and therefore, you can then make a plan for those areas where you need to improve. 

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Recommended Read: 3 Real Reasons That You Run Out of Money Each Month. 



"[Now], I realize how empowering it is to control your money." 

- 21 Savage

Know Your Resources

You need to know where to go when you need help. If you have a money problem or question, always look to see if there are resources to assist you. For example, many communities have resume and job search counselors, utility payment assistance, and courses to help you prepare for homeownership. In addition, many cities across the country are adding centers where you can meet with a financial coach for free and work on your money. 

Aunt Bertha helps you search for community and state programs in your area. You can search by zip code and choose from categories like education, work, and legal. 

Main Image: Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock​​