Most of us are feeling a little broke after the holiday season, but our first Hoboken Girl of the Week for 2019 can help you reach your financial goals, one money party at a time. Whether it’s getting the pay you deserve, controlling your finances, or managing your spending — Ashley Feinstein is your go-to gal for all things money. Read on to learn about her, her new book, the programs she offers, and more.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m the founder of The Fiscal Femme and the creator and author of The 30-Day Money Cleanse.
We’re out to end inequality through financial well-being. This means getting paid what we’re worth, getting women on boards and management teams and investing in women-owned businesses.
My new book, The 30-Day Money Cleanse will help you take control of your finances, manage your spending and de-stress your money for good.
Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? What keeps you motivated/ up at night?
Through my work, I’ve found that every single person struggles with money in one way or another. We have to deal with it almost every day, yet most of us don’t learn about and we don’t talk about it because it’s taboo. Us women have it worse. We have the gender pay gap, the pink tax (where the things we buy cost us more than they do for our male counterparts), we’re less likely to invest (although we’re better at it when we do!) AND we live longer so we actually need more money saved to retire. Ah!
And the repercussions of this are huge. If we are financially well (imagine a nice savings buffer in our checking or savings accounts) we can negotiate harder to be paid fairly at work. If we are financially well we can leave relationships and jobs where we’re being mistreated. We can take more risks in our careers without worrying about the financial implications. We’d see more women on boards and management teams. Did you know there are more CEOs named John than there are women CEOs of the largest 1500 companies? More diversity means more productivity, less turnover, and higher bottom lines. When women are wealthy they invest more of that wealth back into their families and communities. I could go on and on, but long story short, it’s critical for all of us that women become wealthy.
What are your goals for the new year?
For me, impact is about the number of women I can help and how much I help them. In order to increase our impact this year, my goal is to get my book in the hands of more women, further distribute the free online resources that I’ve created, and get more women enrolled in my programs.
What’s a typical day look like for you?
Because I work for myself, it’s important for me to structure my days so that I get everything I need to do done. I sometimes sneak in a bit of work in the morning before Eli wakes up, but usually, I get working around 9:00AM and finish up at 6:00PM or 6:30PM. Some days I go into the city for meetings, other days are blocked off periods for writing and creating new courses in my home office. Today I’m writing some content, heading into the city for my mastermind and to have a few meetings, and then coming back home to do some work. Then it’s dinner and hanging with the fam. Justin and I just rewatched the entire series of Friends 🙂
READ: Hoboken Girl of the Week: Andrea Oller {Associate Counsel of Ferrero USA}
Tell us the highlights of work and play.
The most rewarding part of my job is when I get to see the results of my work firsthand. When people tell me that they’ve paid off their debt, saved a bunch or are feeling much more confident around their money because of my program, it makes everything worth it.
The highlight of life is having my son Eli 🙂 He’s 17 months now!
What does a day off look like?
Most of the time you can find me hanging with my family – Eli, my hubby Justin and dog Simi. I’ll probably be at CycleBar one of the weekend mornings and love getting together with friends for a cocktail or a meal.
What advice would you give to someone trying to pursue your career path?
Get really clear and hyped about your mission and then continue to take action towards that mission. As we take action, we can learn and adjust our strategies!
Hoboken + Jersey City Favorites
What is your favorite restaurant in Hoboken?
For a celebration, I love Antique Bar and Bakery.
What is your favorite boutique in Hoboken?
I don’t really shop. I recently went to Hudson Paperie and bought a beautiful journal. I love journals and the store was so lovely.
What do you love most about Hoboken?
As well known as Hoboken is now, I still think it’s such a hidden gem. I love the views, the neighborhood feel, the greenery, and that I have more space while still living so close to NYC.
What is your favorite thing to do in Hudson County?
I love to explore and try new things so Hoboken Girl {Editor’s Note: we’re blushing!} is a really great resource for fun new things to do. When the weather is nice, I also just love walking around and exploring.
How long have you lived here?
1.5 years. We moved here right before my son was born from the Upper West Side.
What is your favorite outdoor place to spend time in the area?
Pier 13, Surf City, and Lutze Biergarten.
What is your favorite place to work out in Hudson County?
I love Jane DO and CycleBar. I’m going to try Orange Theory in JC this weekend.
Where do you go out with friends in the area?
I recently went with a friend to The Archer for cocktails and small bites and loved it.
What is something you think needs to come to Hoboken or Jersey City?
I’m a big fan of workout classes and wish there were more classes that started between 4:00PM and 5:00PM. I am my most productive in the morning so want to get right to work but want to get my workout in before our nanny leaves. I think a lot of parents would love this offering! Especially those that work for themselves.
Thanks for chatting with us, Ashley! Stay tuned to see who we feature next week <3
See More: Hoboken Girl of the Week: Melissa Ben-Ishay {of Baked By Melissa}
Want to be featured or nominate someone as an upcoming Hoboken Girl of the Week?
Email hello@hobokengirl.com about your/her story.
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