Louis Barajas explains how phrases like "money is round, mijo" and "si Dios quiere" passed down in Latino families create invisible limits on financial mobility. Previous generations taught hard work but not saving, investing, or credit building. The next generation can rewrite this story through budgeting, emergency funds, and intentional planning.
Let me ask you something. Growing up, what did money sound like in your house? Because in a lot of Latino homes, it sounded like this, hay vivila vida. You only live once. Or money is round, mijo. It comes and it goes. Or don't save it. The government's just going to take it away. And I get it. I really do that when money showed up, it wasn't about planning, right? It was about surviving. It was about helping family, paying the bills that were due. And finally, if we had any, a little bit of breathing room. Now, that was an irresponsibility. That was just a generation doing the best that they could with what they had. But here's what got passed down with it, right? We learned how to work hard, but no one can take that away from us. But what we did not learn was how to save for emergencies or invest for retirement, or build credit on purpose, or say no to today so tomorrow could be easier. Nobody taught us that. And then there were the words. The ones that felt normal, the ones that felt familiar and sometimes even comforting. And that's for rich people, not for gente como sotos is what I hear. Or we'll never get ahead anyway. That's just how it is. Or everyone's in debt, or money always causes problems. Better not to have too much or just be grateful for what you have. And finally, the big one. Si Dios quere. That's the last one. The faith is beautiful. But sometimes, si di osqueere became a reason to never make a plan. And. And those words said with love, said at the dinner table, said by people who sacrificed everything for us. Well, those words quietly became the ceiling we couldn't see. But here's what I want you to hear today. If it was learned, it could be unlearned. If it was passed down, it can stop with us. You are not your parents financial story. You are the next chapter. And that chapter can look really different. Not better than them. They were warriors, but freer than they ever got to be, right? We have more options, more stability, more peace is what we want. You deserve it and so do your kids. Now click the link in my bio to be part of our Latino Finances concorazon movement. Because this is how we change the narrative together. What final messages did you grow up hearing? Drop it in the comments. Let's talk about it. Familiar.
