<p><em><a href="https://www.xonecole.com/money-talks/" target="_self">Money Talks</a> is an xoNecole series where we talk candidly to real women about how they spend money, their relationship with money, and how they spend it.</em></p><p>Though social media only sees a sexy influencer when you come across her Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tere_eyes/?hl=es" target="_blank"><u>Tere Tatiana</u></a> is the definition of beauty and brains, and proof that being sexy and smart can coexist in today's digital world. Born Tereion Tatiana Henry, the self-proclaimed "cornbread-fed Georgia peach" graduated summa cum laude from Claflin University with a degree in Public Relations. In 2009, admittedly thrusted herself into the balancing act of being a single mother and preparing for deployment to Afghanistan as a government contractor.</p><p>Her four businesses––Labeled Blu Collections, Labeled Blu Realty, Labeled Blu Transportation, Southern Hospitality Adult Daycare Facility––are a product of her ambition and determination to fulfill her purpose to break the stigma against women in today's society. Though she has not personally experienced it, she recognizes the struggles of <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/brittany-hennessy-influencer-build-your-brand/" target="_self">social media influencers</a> who embrace their sexuality while being respected as businesswomen and entrepreneurs. Tere told xoNecole that the only negative experience she encounters is upon first impression when people believe her brand is shallow and solely based upon the glitz and glam of the influencer lifestyle. "Once they get to know me or see the informative business information I share with my followers, they message me apologizing for misjudging me and some even want me to mentor them. It's always gratifying when I can change a person's perspective of attractive women in business," she shared.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU4OTA0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjMzMjE2MX0.UEDz-wvKZwbrGyLN3-GuLYlpD-da0WUAOM6bLZzcHNY/img.jpg?width=980" id="13a2e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e4acf7c587f84e61d53b11d2ebaf648" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Courtesy of Tere Tatiana</small></p><h5>"I feel society can do more by not shaming women for being human. Being sexy or having sex period shouldn't even be a topic of discussion when involving business. There are so many women who are smart, ambitious, tenacious, and driven, but just so happen to be sexy. Society should celebrate that."</h5><p>"To me, it's very important for women to capitalize on their own intellectual, their own education, and experience, their own swag. It also gives her a sense of ownership and accomplishment by seeing her baby through," she said referring to a woman's business, brand, or project.<br/></p><h4>In this installment of "Money Talks", xoNecole spoke with the 34-year-old serial entrepreneur and social media influencer about turning your influence into wealth, increasing your income during the COVID-19 pandemic and her journey to financial stability as a smart, sexy entrepreneur.</h4>
On how much she saves and if it’s in a high-yield savings account:
<p>"With my current budget, I have a set $2,000 <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/savings-challenges-to-try/" target="_blank">monthly savings</a> requirement for myself. It's been working pretty good so far. It's in a high-yield savings account."</p>
On her definitions of wealth and success:
<p>"To me, wealth refers to a person's monetary value perceived by others, while having success is how a person perceives themselves. Having self-fulfillment that doesn't necessarily relate to finance."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU4OTIxOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTc2ODEyN30.rE6XrPUcPpgkVX5xhFRMJ_s2uoWDJZPHOQoRHb2P5f4/img.jpg?width=980" id="b6935" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="772ded29d36fd1c569027593b6add2dd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Courtesy of Tere Tatiana
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On the lowest she’s ever felt when it came to her finances and how she overcame it:
<p>"The lowest I've ever felt was when my ex-husband, who is an officer in the military, and I didn't have $13 between the two of us to get our daughter a can of milk in 2009. Yes, we both came from very supportive families but it was the principle for me. It really triggered my mentality towards being <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/better-money-management-tips/" target="_blank">financially secure</a>. In my mind, it pushed me into leaving my daughter at four-months-old to go to Afghanistan to make fast money. I vowed I'd never have that feeling again. And thank God, I haven't.</p><p>"I channeled that negative feeling of not being able to provide for my child into building a legacy I can one day be able to pass along to her. I have pursued and secured several very lucrative streams of income, that way I'd have a better chance of maintaining financially if anything were to ever happen economically."</p>
On her biggest splurge to date:
<p>"My biggest splurge would be my 2020 Maserati truck. It has always been my dream car and I felt as though I've worked hard enough for long enough to treat myself to something nice."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU4OTIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MDE0NTM2MH0.FB95tRAf46Kef9nyZsxjdI9Hfwt6sP6CzZgJeg5l5uc/img.jpg?width=980" id="5c117" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0f845bbf5fdeb5bc9689500a8153572e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Courtesy of Tere Tatiana
<h5>"I channeled that negative feeling of not being able to provide for my child into building a legacy I can one day be able to pass along to her. I have pursued and secured several very lucrative streams of income, that way I'd have a better chance of maintaining financially if anything were to ever happen economically."</h5>
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On whether she’s a spender or a saver:
<p>"I am a woman (laughs) so I would consider myself a spender by nature. I had to train myself to become <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/success-self-discipline/" target="_blank">more disciplined</a>, which was extremely hard. Honestly, I could probably do better."</p>
On the importance of investing:
<p>"It's very necessary to invest. My motto in business and life in general: Everything is a flow. Nothing can come in if nothing comes out! You have to sow seeds. If for nothing else, making residual income. A lot of millionaires become millionaires or multi-millionaires from making <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/passive-income-earning-potential/" target="_blank">residual income</a>. I've invested hundreds of thousands in different business ventures, as well as into myself and my brand. I also invest in stock, I purchased some Facebook stock when they first went public, as well as Bitcoin."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU4OTIxNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODk1MzgwOX0.Z6yx8idpAEpDu9BUMyOQxzUpSuGXlVKVumf22f2TRKQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="58e1b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c0507ceed5619ba6ccbcb21f5a788e56" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Courtesy of Tere Tatiana
<h5>"Everything is a flow. Nothing can come in if nothing comes out! You have to sow seeds. If for nothing else, making residual income. A lot of millionaires become millionaires or multi-millionaires from making residual income. I've invested hundreds of thousands in different business ventures, as well as into myself and my brand."</h5>
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On her savings goals and what retirement looks like to her:
<p>"I would like to become even more financially literate in moving and <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/i-quit-my-job-travel-the-world/" target="_blank">saving money</a>. At this point in my life, it's hard for me to fathom retirement. I feel as though I'm one of those people who always have to have their hands into something."</p>
On her budgeting must-haves:
<p>"My budget must-haves would be cosmetics (hair, makeup, nails), tuitions, paying myself first, and food! (laughs) I'm definitely a foodie."</p>
On her intentions behind multiple streams of revenue:
<p>"My streams of revenue are from my trucking, real estate, and adult daycare facility. I also still make over six figures yearly with my job as a government contractor. I'm also in the works of developing a virtual trucking course for those looking to get into the trucking industry.</p><p>"Having multiple streams of income is very necessary! In today's unstable economy, entrepreneurs must remain fluid in order to survive. Plus, it's common knowledge that <a href="https://dividendrealestate.com/7incomestreams/" target="_blank">most millionaires have at least seven streams of income</a>."</p>
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<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU4OTIxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMjAwNzMyOX0.tUKQaH7mHhHUG2QsPpQW8cUBW2x3zdWAXNbopESPkTo/img.jpg?width=980" id="a5f31" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="35554a3f219787dfd24b1e4085045fef" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Courtesy of Tere Tatiana
<h5>"Having multiple streams of income is very necessary! In today's unstable economy, entrepreneurs must remain fluid in order to survive. Plus, it's common knowledge that most millionaires have at least seven streams of income."</h5>
On unhealthy money habits and mindsets:
<p>"I had a <em>really</em> big problem with having the attitude of 'I'll make it right back!'. I'm so accustomed to making and being around fast money. Even as a child, my mother was a popular hairdresser from my hometown, so I've seen fast money my entire life. I [overcame it when] I saw [that] I got more accomplished. I actually began to 'see' my money and how it was working for me. I became more financially stable. I was even able to show others how to adopt the same <a href="https://www.xonecole.com/how-to-break-free-from-a-broke-mindset-attract-abundance/" data-linked-post="2583027172" target="_blank">mindset</a>."</p>
On her money mantra:
<p>"I actually have two: 1) 'I am unapologetic about my desire to live a rich life', and 2) 'Money flows to me with ease and grace'."</p>
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On the craziest thing she’s ever done for money:
<p>"(Laughs) Looking back at it, I wouldn't necessarily consider it desperate, although I felt like it was at the time, but I was an exotic dancer in college. I wasn't desperate but I've definitely always had money on my mind. I've always wanted to be independent. My intentions were definitely in a good place, just misguided."</p>
On the worst money-related decision she’s ever made:
<p>"I would have to say going into my adult daycare business without a direct plan. It started as a group home, then evolved into a residential, then finally an adult daycare over the course of four years. Although this is a very lucrative industry, the investment and overhead was a bit of a blow to my financial plan––I would do more research next time."</p>
On her budget breakdown:
<p><strong>How much do you spend on rent?</strong> $2,500</p><p><strong>Eating out/ordering in? </strong>$1,000</p><p><strong>Gas/car note</strong>? $2,000</p><p><strong>Personal expenses? </strong>$6,000</p><h4>For more Tere, follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teawithtere/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram.</a></h4>
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<p><em>Featured image courtesy of Tere Tatiana.</em><br/></p>
