The Club

Now that’s a new position…

What is THE BILLION DOLLAR GIRLS CLUB?

THE BILLION DOLLAR GIRLS CLUB aka “THE BDG CLUB” is a collective of women around the world committed to improving their relationship with their money and working together to become financially independent.   The mission of the club is to INSPIRE, MOTIVATE and EDUCATE women to create a billion dollars in cumulative net worth and savings!ª

Whoa a BILLION DOLLARS! That’s a lot of money.  Why not $1 million, wouldn’t that be easier?

For those of you who are skeptical and think a billion dollars is a big number, allow me to challenge you to reconsider.  Here’s the math: There are ~150M women and girls in the United States.  If only 1M of the 150M saves an additional $1,000 over their lifetime I have reached my $1,000,000,000 goal! That is less than 1% of the nation and if we expand the club globally that percentage gets even smaller.

Secondly, I don’t believe in dreaming small.  I believe that if you are going to take the time and energy to dream at all, why not dream wild, grandiose and audacious dreams??  Plus, millionaires are so 1980 (think Gordon Gekko from the movie Wall Street) don’t you think?  Today its all about BILLIONAIRES – and (collectively) we can become just that.

Why a blog specifically for women?

The need for targeted financial education for women is resoundingly clear as we face a host of unique social realities that impact our spending habits and earning potential.  For one, women only make 77 cents of every dollar that their male counterparts make and have only half the personal savings. [1] Women also are more likely to “opt out” of work to raise children, further impacting their earning potential.  Five of eight women rely on a husband’s work records to receive their Social Security benefits and for almost three of eight, those benefits represent 90% of their total income.

Women on average also tend to live longer than men.  That, plus the fact that the divorce rate in our country has risen significantly over the years, means more women than ever before are being required to be solely responsible for their financial well being. Unfortunately, more women are also living out their senior years alone and in poverty.  In fact, about 85% of women die alone and currently, more than half of all women over age 75 who don’t have a spouse are living in poverty. [2]

Yea, I know, we still have decades before we have to think about being that lady with the cats sitting in our rocking chair watching the soaps but why not take small steps today to ensure that you can live out your life just the way you like?   In my vision, there are no cats or rocking chairs, but there are lots of beaches, sun and hearty laughs with good friends.

Ok, I’m game. How do I join?

Anyone can join the club.  All you have to do is subscribe to this blog, read the oath below out loud regularly (the more the better) and complete the 10-step program outlined in the forthcoming book.

THE BILLION DOLLAR GIRLS CLUB MANIFESTO:

I believe that I possess the power to be as wealthy and as prosperous as I desire.

I am committed to becoming financially independent so that I can take care of my needs with or without Prince Charming.

I see money as a means to an end, not an end in itself. And that end is, ultimately, security and peace of mind, for me and my family.

I am deserving of a career that fairly compensates me for my efforts and a life free of debt and stress.

I love myself enough to stop making excuses for not being wealthy and to start making my relationship with my money a priority.

I am committed to doing the work needed to overcome the cultural and psychological barriers to my wealth starting today.

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If there are parts of the oath that you don’t believe in your heart of hearts, ask yourself WHY? Then drop me a note letting me know your thoughts.

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[1] Ibid and http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2008.pdf.

[2] National Underwriter Life & Health, 109(41): 16, October 31, 2005

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