8 Ways to Become a Money-Smart Latina

Woman counting money bills

Money and Latina women? It's about way more than just bank accounts and budgets. We're talking about a whole history of being pushed to the side, burdens passed down through generations, and all the ways things can be unfair depending on who you are. It's not just what happens to you today, but what your family went through before you. That can lead to a very complicated relationship with money due to generational trauma, which means you’re not as smart with it as you could be. The good news is there’s always room for learning! Here are 8 easy things you can do to become smarter with your money:


Automate as much as possible

a woman sitting at a table paying her billsPhoto by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

We probably don’t have to even tell you this, but financial management can get very chaotic. That’s why not having a plan can lead to more issues than not. One easy thing you can do to help you stay on track with recurring bill payments, savings, and loan repayments is to automate as much as possible. The less you have to manually do yourself, the better you’ll be able to stick to a plan and a budget.

Consider making smart investments

woman in teal t-shirt sitting beside woman in suit jacketPhoto by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

While savings accounts are low-risk, they often don't keep up with inflation. Investing can potentially grow your money over time and that’s one of the most important things to do. It’s essential to educate yourself on the investment options available to you and understand the risks before you jump into it. Consulting with a financial advisor will always be a good move. Also, there are plenty of Latina financial advisors in the game who can understand your perspective better, so they’re worth looking into.

Save unexpected cash that falls into your lap

a woman holding a jar with savings written on itPhoto by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Got a tax refund, inheritance, or birthday money from your abuelita? Instead of spending it right away, consider saving or investing it, or using it to pay down debt. Even 10 extra dollars here and there can make a difference in your long-term goals, so fight the temptation to spend it on short-term whims if you can’t afford it.

Focus on paying off high-interest debt first

Woman in front of laptop organizing her finances

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

If you're managing multiple debts, always prioritize the one with the highest interest rate. Make minimum payments on your other debts and channel extra funds towards the high-interest debt. Once it’s paid off, move to the next highest debt you have, and so on. This strategy minimizes overall interest payments and it can also make you feel very accomplished. It’s nearly impossible to pay all your debt at once, so taking it one thing at a time will do wonders for your sanity.

Track your spending

a woman sitting at a table using a laptop computerPhoto by Microsoft 365 on Unsplash

Expenses tracking is one of the most overlooked things on the road to becoming smarter with your money. This is a very simple thing to do and it’s essential because it will allow you to assess how you’re spending your money. Seeing exactly where your paycheck goes can reveal patterns that you can improve on. Not to mention it will show you what expenses need to be cut down or cut off if you ever hope to make any headway with your finances.

Constantly educate yourself

a woman sitting at a table using a laptop computer

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Finance will only get easier as long as you commit to understanding more and more of it every day. There are endless resources at your fingertips and most of them are free on the internet. There’s no excuse to learn basic financial concepts, explore strategies, and stay informed about the financial options available to you. The more you educate yourself, the less intimidating your financial decisions will be.

Create a budget and stick to it

Woman counting money to create a budget

Photo by Karolina Kaboompics on Pexels

If you don’t set a budget for yourself, what are you doing? It’s an essential step to financial success and you simply can’t go on without one. Budgets are fairly easy to create, you just have to keep track of your income and expenses. Your expenses should be categorized into essentials like rent and groceries, and non-essentials like eating out and entertainment. There are many budgeting apps and even Excel templates you can use for this, but you have to stick to it.

Set clear financial goals for yourself

Woman sitting on a chair, looking at camera, while money bills fall around her

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels

Whether it's buying a home, starting a business, or building an emergency fund, having clear financial goals helps you stay focused. Break down these goals into smaller, manageable steps and set deadlines to keep yourself accountable. Having clear, meaningful goals makes it easier to stick to your budget. Whether you're saving for a vacation, a house, retirement, or even a personal treat like a new tattoo or a special edition book, knowing what you’re working towards can help you resist impulsive spending and keep your head in the game.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.