Name: Tonya Ladipo
Your Beat: Contributor
How You are a Frugal Feminista: As a therapist I’m always encouraging people to take care of all of themselves including finances. Learning to save money helps us be able to spend it in areas that are important to us. I’ve been reading the original Frugal Feminista (aka Kara Stevens) and learning from her. I’m still a work in progress!
Best Frugal Feminista Moment: My most recent decision to use Tresse Noire for hair care is my best moment. I save so much time (they come to my house and I work on my computer) and energy. As an introvert I get to be quiet and don’t have to navigate the happenings at salons.
Your 5-year Plan for World Domination: In 5 years I want to have helped more women live the lives they were designed to live. I want to help them uncover the layers of junk that holds them back from being who they are meant to be in this world.
Juiciest Piece of Advice Ever Received: Better to ask for forgiveness than permission (thanks mom!)
Your Shero: This is a tough one because I have 4! My grandmother, the first fierce and brave woman I know. My mom for raising me right. My 7 year old daughters, the next fiercest, bravest people I know. I’m better because of these four women/girls.
Name: Alex Thomas
Your Beat: Community Manager
How You are a Frugal Feminista: I wear many hats in regard to my career, one of which is styling fabulous women! I empower my clients and the women in my life to revamp and re-chic the items in their closet! Hidden gems may come in the form of items sitting way in the back of your closet you forgot about!
Best Frugal Feminista Moment: My best Frugal Feminista moment was receiving a pair of Guiseppe Zanotti heels from a stylist friend cleaning out her closet! Talk about super score – Zanotti’s can run you a nice $1,000 so to receive a free pair…#pleaseandthankyou
Your 5-year Plan for World Domination Includes (but Is not limited to): In 5 years, I will be dominating the beauty, style and VA world! My personal brand will be a household name and I will be working with #mavenpreneurs around the globe!
The Juiciest Piece of Advice Ever Received: You will only go as far as you believe you will!
Your Shero: My Shero is my mom!! She has always believed in me…she and I talk weekly (sometimes daily). I always wanted to be like my mom: She is beautiful, confident and has an electric personality! She raised 3 children and never made excuses….she instilled in me the value of working hard and doing my very best work!
Name: T. Espinoza Your Beat: Blurring the lines between frugal and fabulous!
How You are a Frugal Feminista: As a wife and mother of two, I know firsthand about wanting to look and feel good, but having the need to spend less and stay on budget. Saving money is my superpower and I use it to help other women to discover the joy of looking like a million bucks, without the million dollar budget (seriously, I live for this stuff!).
Best Frugal Feminista Moment: There are so many! I recently scooped up a Trina Turk coat (retails for about $550) for $15! I like to see myself as the Indiana Jones of saving money. If there is a deal to be found, I will find it!
Your 5-year Plan for World Domination Includes (but Is not limited to): I’d love to continue sharing my money saving Spidey sense with others and maybe open up a fabulous thrift/consignment shop of my own.
The Juiciest Piece of Advice Ever Received: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss. It’s not exactly advice, but it’s a great reminder that what is unique about you is your biggest asset and should be celebrated.
Your Shero: I come from a family of MANY strong women so I am blessed to have a bunch of Sheroes in my mother and sisters.
Name: Aisha Taylor
Your Beat: Economic Empowerment, Financial Literacy, and Wealth Mindset
How You Are A Frugal Feminista: I am a Frugal Feminista because I am committed to serving the community, living life frugally, and encouraging other women to step into their power. I educate women to know their worth, understand their value, and own their economic future.
Best Frugal Feminista Moment: My best Frugal Feminista moment is starting FNPhenomenal (Frugal –n- Phenomenal), because this gives me a vehicle to touch the lives of so many women and also do the personal work necessary to grow into the person that God wants me to be. I struggled with the decision to share my struggles with self-confidence and self-worth and how it impacted how I managed my money. However, my honestly has given other women the courage to face their own feelings of inadequacy, and give them the permission to embrace what makes them phenomenal. It’s nothing more rewarding than to hear people say, “Thank you. This has changed my life.”
Your 5-year Plan For World Domination Includes (But Is Not Limited To): In 5 years I want to positively impact 1 million women’s lives either directly or indirectly by teaching them how to live their dreams and become phenomenal & financially free. I believe that if women can focus on what brings them true holistic happiness vs. the superficial stuff that society tells us that we should value, we would be happier and more willing to unapologetically pursue our authentic purpose in life.
The Juiciest Piece of Advice Ever Received: When the average person dies, only 10 people cry and the weather determines the number of people who actually attend the burial. This means that the weather will determine if the people who liked you enough to cry will actually attend the final burial.
Once I heard that and meditated on it, I asked myself, “If most people won’t cry at the end of my life, then why live my life for their approval?” This knowledge was so liberating as I pursued my passion to teach financial empowerment.
Guilty Pleasure: I have to admit it! I love Game of Thrones and Scandal! I don’t watch a lot of tv, however I will definitely be in front of my tv so I can watch Game of Thrones and Scandal as it airs. My love of Scandal is so serious that I created a weekly Scandal twitter chat as one of the activities that I do with FNPhenomenal!
Name: Christina K Lattimore
Your Beat: Mental health, Mental Wellness & Self-Care
How You are a Frugal Feminista: I believe that investing in yourself is the best investment anyone can make. Invest wisely in your physical and mental well-being. Self-care is the best way to minimize out-of-pocket health expenses.
Best Frugal Feminista Moment: Investing in a therapist. Although I had health insurance, there was an out-of pocket expense for my weekly visits. I knew I wouldn’t hesitate to spend it on my physical health, and my mental health was just as important.
Your 5-year Plan For World Domination Includes (but is not limited to): I will increase mental health & mental illness awareness through Speak Away the Stigma. I am in the process of establishing Speak Away the Stigma as a non-profit.
The Juiciest Piece of Advice Ever Received: Break the rules, they’re just for show.
Your Shero: My sister. She always supports me, unconditionally, however she can.
