We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jasmine Taylor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jasmine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Baddies and Budgets didn’t start as a business idea—it was born out of my personal need to change my financial situation. I was broke, drowning in debt, fresh out of college, and struggling to find a way forward. On top of that, I was responsible for raising my niece after the passing of my sister. I knew I wanted more for both of us—a stable, secure future—but I had no idea where to begin.

Determined to get on the right track, I began researching different budgeting methods. I tried several approaches, but none really stuck until I discovered cash stuffing. Something about physically managing my money clicked—it felt real, tangible, and gave me control in a way other methods hadn’t. To keep myself accountable, I started documenting my journey online, sharing my successes and struggles.

To my surprise, I wasn’t alone. So many people connected with my story and were dealing with the same financial challenges. I realized that what I was building wasn’t just helping me—it was creating a space for others to feel empowered and seen. That’s when it clicked: this was bigger than me.

I took the stimulus check I received that year and invested it into building what is now Baddies and Budgets LLC. It started as a leap of faith, fueled by the desire to overcome my own challenges and help others do the same. Seeing how many people resonated with my journey, I knew I was onto something worthwhile. It wasn’t just about budgeting; it was about giving people the tools and confidence to take control of their money—and their lives.

Jasmine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Jasmine, a 33-year-old from Amarillo, Texas, born and raised in this small town. I’m the founder of Baddies and Budgets, a brand with a mission to empower women of color to take control of their finances. Our purpose is rooted in building an inclusive community that values support, transparency, and financial literacy. Through relatable content, practical budgeting tools, and inspirational savings challenges, we help women feel confident managing their money so they can thrive financially.

Our brand promise is simple: we always provide honest, judgment-free money advice from the heart. Baddies and Budgets exists to meet women where they are, offering not just tips but actionable tools for budgeting, saving, and investing. We understand that financial struggles look different for everyone, especially in communities of color, and our goal is to make financial literacy accessible and achievable.

What sets Baddies and Budgets apart is our commitment to raw transparency. As the founder, I openly share my real-life financial wins and struggles, creating an authentic connection with our audience. This isn’t just another personal finance brand; it’s a space led by someone who understands the unique challenges women of color face—because I’ve been through them too.

Unlike intimidating money experts, we make financial literacy fun, engaging, and attainable through creative methods like cash stuffing and savings challenges. Our focus is on leading with empathy rather than expertise, so our community feels empowered, not overwhelmed.

We offer a variety of personal finance products designed to help women take control of their money and achieve their goals. From budgeting binders, savings challenges, and planners to tools for debt payoff, student loan repayment, and saving for homes, cars, children, or vacations, our products are tailored for real-life situations.

At the heart of Baddies and Budgets is financial literacy for women of color—delivered by someone who looks like them and truly understands their journey. We don’t just sell products; we provide a community and resources for women to level up their financial knowledge and rewrite their financial story.

I am most proud of the impact we are able to provide. There are hundreds of women in our community who started their financial journey back when I did, and when they share their wins and success stories, I am ELATED! It makes me so proud that I was able to pay a part in their journey to financial freedom. I am proud that I can be me and still make an impact in this world.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In order to grow my business, I had to unlearn both a scarcity mindset and a sense of lack. Growing up poor teaches you to hold on to every dollar, fearing that more money may never come. But to grow and scale a business, you have to be willing to invest—sometimes that means spending significant amounts without immediate results. It requires looking beyond fear and believing that the money will come back.

There’s a saying: “Scared money don’t make money,” and I’ve learned to live by that. Trusting myself and the data has been a game changer. Now, I can confidently spend more money on equipment or products than I ever made in a year before, knowing that both I and my business are capable of generating a return on that investment. Letting go of fear and scarcity allowed me to shift from surviving to thriving—and that’s been essential in scaling Baddies and Budgets.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve had to be resilient from day one. When the stimulus checks came through, I had countless pressing needs, but I knew that if I wasn’t willing to bet on myself, no one else would. Growing up poor, I didn’t have access to much, so I started my business right out of my bedroom. As things began to grow, I expanded into a small storage unit, then a larger one, and eventually into a small office space.

There were times when the temperature hit 105 degrees and others when it dropped to 20 degrees with snow on the ground, but I showed up every single day. Whether I was packing orders, shooting content, or hosting LIVE sales, I committed to doing whatever it took to make it work. Without a lot of capital, I knew I had to leverage my time and energy. I spent countless hours on YouTube, Google, and Skillshare learning the skills I needed to build and run a growing business.

Today, we operate out of a warehouse that I own, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far I’ve come. I didn’t have family to lean on, a large friend group to support me, or much outside help—but in spite of it all, I’ve built a multi-seven-figure business. This journey has taught me that resilience isn’t about having everything lined up perfectly—it’s about showing up, learning as you go, and refusing to quit, no matter the obstacles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.baddiesandbudgets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baddiesnbudgets/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baddiesandbudgetsllc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/baddiesnbudgets
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LHgvwkmlJ0wZnUFqp63Dw
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/budgetingplanners/

Image Credits

These are my images