For my Latinas and women of color who swear they’re bad with money — this one’s for you.
Let me guess. Someone has told you — or maybe you’ve told yourself — that you’re just not good at saving. Maybe you’ve always thought saving came naturally to everyone else — just not you. Here’s the truth: you already know how to save. You’ve been doing it for years. You just haven’t been calling it that.
Let’s talk about it.
Un San, La Tanda — Proof You Already Know How to Save
If you grew up in a Caribbean or Latin household, you already know this. It’s called la sociedad, susu, la tanda, la vaca, a money club. The names change. The concept doesn’t.
A group of people comes together, and each agrees to contribute a set amount every week or month. Everyone gets assigned a number. When your number is up, you get the whole pot.
That’s it. That’s saving.
If there are 10 people putting in $500 a month, whoever’s number one walks away with $5,000 in month one. Whoever’s number ten waits — but they get their $5,000 too. And everyone in between does the same.
Now here’s what I want you to notice: nobody misses that $500. Why? Because it doesn’t feel optional. You owe it to la señora running the pool and to the group. That social accountability — the fact that other people are counting on you — makes it automatic. You already know how to save when a system is in place. We just need to build that system for you.
Buy Now, Pay Later Is Just Saving in Reverse
Stay with me here.
When you use Klarna or Affirm, here’s what happens: you get the thing first. The shoes, the furniture, the whatever-it-is. And then you pay it off in installments — small, manageable chunks that get pulled automatically from your account, almost like a bill.
You don’t miss it because it feels like a bill.
Now flip it and reverse it.
What if, instead of paying toward something you already have, you paid toward something you want? Same amount. Same automatic debit. But now it’s going into a high-yield savings account (HYSA) building toward a goal — a trip, a new laptop, an emergency fund, something that’s entirely yours. The only real difference is the order: buy now, pay later gives you the thing first; saving gives you the thing fully paid for when you’re ready. Same discipline, different sequence. As a bonus, your money will earn interest and grow in the HYSA.
This is called a sinking fund — a dedicated savings bucket for a specific goal. If you’re not sure where to start, this guide breaks down exactly how sinking funds work and how to set yours up. And if the idea of a “savings goal” feels too abstract because you’re more of a spontaneous person, that’s okay too. You can have a sinking fund for random stuff you might want. Seriously. Call it your “treat yourself” fund, your “I saw it, I want it, I got it” fund.
The point is: you honor how you’re wired, instead of fighting it.
The Real Reason Saving Feels Hard
Here’s the thing nobody talks about. When you’re paying Affirm, it feels non-negotiable. When you’re paying into la sociedad, it feels non-negotiable. But when you’re “just saving” — putting money into your own account, for yourself — it suddenly feels optional.
The money is sitting there. You can see it. And if something comes up, well… it’s right there.
That’s not a discipline problem. That’s a structure problem.
When saving is treated like a bill — automatic, expected, non-negotiable — it gets done. When you treat it like something you do “with whatever’s left over,” it rarely does. Because there’s rarely anything left over. One of the best ways to fix this is to automate your finances so that saving happens before you ever have a chance to spend it.
The women in la sociedad aren’t more disciplined than you. They just built a system where discipline isn’t required. You already know how to save inside that kind of structure — now it’s about recreating it for yourself.
What This Could Look Like for You
You don’t have to overhaul your entire financial life. Here are a few ways to take what you already know and shift it slightly:
If you’re a sociedad/susu person: Automate a transfer to a high-yield savings account on payday and treat it exactly like your contribution to the pool. You can even name the account after your goal to keep you motivated.
If you’re a buy now, pay later person: Before your next purchase, ask yourself — could I set up a sinking fund for this instead? Same amount, same timeline — but no one to pay back at the end.
If you’re spontaneous and hate rigid goals: Set up a “treat yourself” sinking fund for life’s random moments. That way, you’re not derailed every time something shiny appears.
You don’t need to become a different person to build wealth. You need a system that works with who you already are — someone who shows up for community, who honors her commitments, who figures out how to get what she needs.
You’ve always known how to do that.
Now let’s just point it in a new direction.
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