You work hard for your money, so how you spend, invest, or save it is your business — and it’s critically important for managing your life. Since money plays a vital role in almost everything we do, budgeting and money management tools are essential for long-term sustainability. One of the nation’s leading experts on this topic is The Budgetnista, Tiffany Aliche.
Aliche’s path to becoming “The Budgetnista” started with her passion for teaching. After 10 years as a schoolteacher, she transitioned into personal finance — a topic she was familiar with, having grown up as the daughter of a CFO father. Raised in a Nigerian household, financial literacy and negotiation were ingrained early on, with her mother being a master negotiator. This blend of professional teaching, family financial wisdom, and cultural influence laid the groundwork for Aliche’s successful personal finance brand.
The former preschool teacher has leveraged her experiences and passion into a body of work that has impacted thousands of people on how to be “good” with money. Aliche, the current host of Yahoo Finance’s “Money Glow Up,” is consistently sought after to share how people can get and stay on track with their finances.
The finance guru tapped in with AFROTECH™ to provide conference attendees with practical tips on maximizing their AFROTECH™ 2024 experience while remaining fiscally responsible.
The AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 will be held Nov. 13-16, in Houston, TX, offering attendees impactful sessions, networking, and curated social experiences. While registration, travel, and lodging are the primary costs, attendees should also budget for food, ride-sharing, local activities, and conference merchandise. Planning for these additional expenses will help keep your finances on track throughout the week.
“AFROTECH™ is like Christmas; it comes around every year,” Aliche explained. “So, you could start by opening up a high-yield savings account someplace and saving little by little. Your checking account is not a high-yield savings account. High yield typically are online banks that, because they don’t have the overhead, can pass some of that savings onto you, and right now, you’re looking on a high end of 5% or so, maybe 4% on the low end.”
In addition to saving money in this specific account, attendees can also save by stepping outside their circle and connecting with others who may be traveling to reduce costs such as housing.
“Attendees can get an Airbnb together because it’s cheaper that way,” Aliche told AFROTECH™. “Maybe the Airbnb is the cost of a nice hotel for one person, but the three or four of y’all staying in this Airbnb can cut down on those expenses. Consider driving too, depending on how far out that flight is and how expensive that is. And if you’re like me, I’m a points girl, so I put everything on my card and earn points: I don’t pay for anything. I swipe that card because I’m someone who’s going to pay it off in full every month. And so, I use those points to fly and travel.”
Getting to the conference and saving for additional expenses are essential pieces of the AFROTECH™ Conference puzzle. It’s important to consider the investment: “How will this benefit me in the long run?” This level of analysis ensures that you maximize the value of every dollar you spend.
“Sometimes you make the leap, and it’s an investment, and you just say, ‘You know what? I’m going to make this investment, and when I’m there, here are the four or five things I’m going to get done when I’m here. I’m going to meet somebody who could potentially invest in my business,’” she said. “So don’t just go willy-nilly. We do have to invest in ourselves and ensure that we’re maximizing that investment by understanding things you will make happen while there.”
AFROTECH™ has much to offer, so sticking to your budget is vital. Remember, once the conference is over, daily expenses and responsibilities will be waiting for you upon return. Sticking to a budget helps ensure that you can enjoy the conference while still having peace of mind when you get back home.
“You go with your budget to actually go and to attend the conference, but go with the budget to have fun too. If that’s the kind of thing you want to get into and hang out with, decide how much money you could set aside to do that. So it makes sense in the end because you don’t want to party yourself into [a hole], especially if you’re going because of business,” Aliche explained.
While budgeting for AFROTECH™ is vital to enjoying the experience, understanding your financial picture related to your future and passions is also key. Whether you are a tech expert, entrepreneur, or corporate baddie, being good with money is bigger than conference attendance.
“Nothing kills creativity like brokenness; ask me how I know. When you are struggling and broke, you can’t think of new ideas, grow, or scale… No, you’re thinking, I’ve got to make this money to make it work,” Aliche stated.
While there is no one-size-fits-all scenario for making AFROTECH™ 2024 financially smart, these tips can help you customize a plan that puts you in charge of all the money that goes out during conference week.
AFROTECH™ 2024 is around the corner, so don’t miss out! If you haven’t already, register now, plan your schedule, finalize your budget, and get ready for an incredible week in Houston. If you need more financial tools before conference week, join Aliche on Thursdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. ET on her “Money Glow Up” show to help you along your financial success journey for AFROTECH™ and beyond.
