Hey Mama, You've woken up in the morning to the sound of your baby rousing. It feels like you've barely had your eyes shut, never mind actually slept and rested through the night. You feel so exhausted, like you have nothing left in you. The little life next to you needs to be fed again and it takes up all you have to give. You wonder, how can I do it all?

Getting downstairs, the doorbell goes. It's the postman. Amidst the letters you see a bill. Your heart sinks. Amidst the noise, the tiredness, a home that needs you to lead in it, the weight of that unopened bill and what extra load it will add feels like it's crushing down on you.

I know that feeling. At my worst financial point, I was close to £40,000 in debt. Bad choices, poor spending, two weddings, visas, and debt just snowballing. I used to dread looking at my credit card and loan balances. I felt the pressure build every single day. If you can relate to this feeling, you are not alone.

So this February, I want to invite you to show your financial life a little love, and a lot of grace.

It's easy to avoid the numbers, to outsource the worry, to let someone else handle it. But that's how we lose ourselves. This month, I'm challenging you to take control of your family's finances and get involved.

Starting with five simple questions. If you don't already know the answers, find them out:

• How much money do you/your household earn per month?
• What are your outgoings?
• Do you have savings? If so, where and how much?
• Do you have debt? If so, where and how much?
• What is your net worth? (Everything you own minus everything you owe)

If we're going to remove the weight and the worry from our finances and start to take back control, which we'll explore more in the coming letters, the first step is to know exactly where you are.

No shame, no shade, just grace and a sprinkling of love.

Because money doesn't have to be overwhelming or scary. It doesn't need to be something to avoid. It can be what it is, a tool that we enjoy and that brings us choice, opportunity and freedom.

This February, let's reframe what money means to us. Let's start by getting clear about it and where we are with it.

Mama, you juggle so much. You do so much. You are already running on empty, and while it may feel easier now to avoid this topic, your future self, and your family, will thank you for breaking the pattern and doing something differently.

Let today be a new day. A day to get clear.

With love always,
💛 Emma

P.S. As always, I'd love to hear what landed with you in this letter. Hit reply and let me know. I read all responses.