Money Talks 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.
As the co-owner and Marketing-Logistics Director of Atlanta's own Transformations Beauty Studio with her twin sister Derricka, Erricka Traylor is sure to know a thing or two about money management and financial wellness. After losing nearly everything after an engagement gone wrong, the Atlanta native had to learn the hard way through experience that having everything tied to someone you aren't bonded to by marriage is not always the ideal route to take.
Following financial hardship and the ultimate heartbreak, Transformations Beauty Studio was born and thus a monthly six-figure income followed. "I save 35 percent of my income each month. In order to save this, I set a weekly budget for spending. Use my calendar to view any travel and about my spending as needed so that I hit my goal," Traylor shared with xoNecole. Though she saves with a high-yield savings account, she told xoNecole that she opts to use CapitalOne. "They are known for taking care of their existing customers. Most banks give you a great rate coming in but it drops after six months."
Courtesy of UMGMT Strategic Communications & Public Relations
In this installment of "Money Talks", xoNecole spoke with Traylor about purchasing a brand new car on a random Tuesday without consulting anyone, the simplicity of her savings goals and the importance of her multiple income streams.
On her definitions of wealth and success:
"Wealth, to me, is defined as having balance in my life. What I mean by that is having excellent health, freedom when it comes to spending, using my time wisely, and most importantly, leaving a legacy for my family. I define success as facing your biggest challenge or fear and overcoming it. Success is going after your goals and never giving up, no matter how hard things get. Success is also about making a better choice in life and leading by example."
On the lowest she’s ever felt when it came to her finances and how she overcame it:
"The lowest I ever felt about my finances was after a breakup. I was in a long-term relationship, and we had tied a lot of finances up together. After the breakup, I lost out on a lot of my savings and assets. I felt low because I didn't make sure that I would be financially OK if we decided to split. It made me feel low and upset with myself because I knew better. Unfortunately, at that time, I didn't do the right thing to secure myself. I overcame it by going back to the basics. Watching my spending, saving money and investing money in a business that will help me increase my revenue. The most critical component was I changed my mindset. I no longer felt upset and low. I felt empowered to do it right this time around for myself."
On her biggest splurge to date:
"My biggest splurge was purchasing a new car. It was the first car I purchased without anyone's money or input. I purchased my car on a random Tuesday. I was over my current car and just ready for a change. My previous car was goldfish tan and it wasn't a car that I really wanted. I was so determined to get me a new car that day. I literally pulled up to the dealership with no appointment two hours before they closed. I already knew which car I wanted and color. When I spent the $32,000 on my car, I was nervous but I also felt good at the same time. It was my mark of financial growth and independence. I was able to see that I can and will accomplish goals if I stay focused on the goal and plan. I was so happy."
Courtesy of Milan Mobley
"When I spent the $32,000 on my car, I was nervous but I also felt good at the same time. It was my mark of financial growth and independence. I was able to see that I can and will accomplish goals if I stay focused on the goal and plan. I was so happy."
On whether she’s a spender or a saver:
"I consider myself a saver nowadays. When I was younger, I was a spender! I trained my mind to start to think of my future, [to] think of my family and what I can provide them with. I gave myself small goals and advanced over time. Now it's just routine."
On the importance of investing:
"To me, investment is essential. I invest conservatively in stock. I have restricted stock, preferred stock, brokerage CD. I also invest in the business to help grow my income and savings. My business investments are hiring the right people. For each new person added, we spend money on training, payroll, marketing etc. Investing in my company marketing and advertising is also a strategic investment that I use to gain more revenue."
On her savings goals and what retirement looks like to her:
"My saving goal is simple. Save enough money to have financial freedom before and after retirement. Retirement for me is on track and closely watched."
On her budgeting must-haves:
"My must-haves are housing, utilities, entertainment, groceries, transportation, self-pampering. I use Mint to help guide me with my personal finances. The system is easy and it keeps me on track with my goals and budget. I also write things down the old fashioned way. The first thing I do is take my savings percentage and put it towards my savings. Then I write out my essential bills for the month and subtract it from my monthly income. I then write out my other finances like entertainment, etc and go from there. I also add to an emergency account for small emergencies. I do this every month to keep things right and tight."
On unhealthy money habits and mindsets:
"Some unhealthy mindsets that I had to let go of were shopping all the time for clothing [and] not sticking to my savings goal. Also cutting down on eating out so much. My mindset changed and then my bank account grew and my will power got healthy."
On the worst money-related decision she’s ever made:
"The worst money-related decision I made was tying all my money and assets with someone just because I was in a relationship with them. This was a very bad decision that I made at the time. I didn't do the right thing with my money. It's like I just gave it away in a sense. I made costly business decisions and didn't think about the consequences that I may face. I learned a valuable lesson to read over every contract, review the pros and cons, and think about the what ifs. If I had done this, it would have saved my 10s of thousands of dollars."
On her intentions behind multiple streams of revenue:
"My streams of revenue are product revenue, salon revenue, [and] spa revenue. I started each one at different times during my career. One reason why was because I had to build up my income. Each one of my new business revenue helps start the next one. It was important to me to start another stream because, number one, I wanted to grow my business as much as possible and, number two, I wanted to grow my income. Having these different streams of income taught me to be more flexible, organized and it gives me a sense of security In finances."
Courtesy of Milan Mobley
"My streams of revenue are product revenue, salon revenue, and spa revenue. Having these different streams of income taught me to be more flexible, organized and it gives me a sense of security In finances."
On her money mantra:
"I am worthy of all the richness I desire."
On her budget breakdown:
Rent/mortgage?
"$1,600 mortgage."
Eating out/ordering in?
"$200/month."
Gas/car note?
"No car note, but gas is probably $150 a month."
Personal expenses?
"Maybe $200 per month."
For more information on Erica, follow her on Instagram and The Body Transformer's Studio official Instagram account.
Featured photos courtesy of UMGMT Strategic Communications & Public Relations
RELATED
So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
Featured image by xoStaff
Luckily, there are some things that you can do to either speed up the healing process of a cold or make having one more bearable than usual. Things that are affordable, all-natural, and easy to incorporate into your daily routine.
Are you ready to know how to nip a damn cold in the bud…before you even get one?
Here ya go.
1. Fire Cider
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Two drinks that I am gonna drink all the way down, each and every fall season, are hot chocolate and apple cider (that’s warmed up). So, when I read about something called “fire cider,” it absolutely caught my attention. If you’re not familiar with it, fire cider is a homemade drink that consists of things like apple cider vinegar, herbs and other ingredients that are specifically designed to boost your immune system.
I won’t lie to you — since some of the traditional recipes contain things like onion and garlic (sulfur has potent medicinal properties) and sometimes even hot peppers (which help to clear up congestion) — although fire cider might not be your favorite as far as your palate is concerned, the viruses (because there are reportedly somewhere around 200 of ‘em) that cause colds will lose a lot of their impact if you drink this; and that makes it worth a shot — well, swallow. Some fire cider recipes can be found here, here and here.
2. Probiotics
A few years ago, I wrote an article for the platform entitled, “80% Of Your Immunity Is In Your Gut. Take Care Of It Like This.” — and that alone should explain why and how a probiotic can help to prevent colds and make it easier to get over them. The reality is that a healthy gut is what helps to monitor how your immune system reacts and responds to harmful pathogens that may try and get into your system, including ones that cause the common cold.
And since probiotics feed your gut with “good bacteria,” this gives your gut the ability to be better (and quicker) at fighting off the bad. So yeah, take a probiotic — all of the time and definitely while you have a cold. It helps.
3. Peppermint (or Eucalyptus) Oil
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Although I rarely get sick (praise the Lord!), when I do catch a cold, I think what I hate the most is not being able to comfortably breathe. Well, something that is proven to help with that is peppermint essential oil. That’s because it contains properties that act as a natural decongestant as well as a fever reducer. Another essential oil that can hook you up in this department is eucalyptus oil. It’s bomb because it helps to soothe a nagging cough, it can clear up chest congestion and ultimately makes it easier to breathe.
So, before turning in at night, either mix a few drops of one (or both) of these oils with a carrier oil like grapeseed, avocado or jojoba, warm it up for 10 seconds in the microwave and apply it to the sides of your nose or on your best or back. Or put the oil in a diffuser. It can quickly ease cold-related symptoms while also making it so much easier for you to rest (which is something else your body needs to get over a cold; more on that in a sec).
4. Zinc Lozenges
Zinc is a mineral that helps to keep your immune system healthy and strong — and since a weakened immunity is directly connected to having more colds (2-4 a year is considered to be “normal,” by the way), it’s always a good idea to have some zinc in your body. As it relates to colds, specifically, aside from the fact that zinc can help you from catching one to begin with, there are also studies which say that sucking on zinc lozenges can help to shorten the timespan of a cold as well.
To be fair, some people have said that zinc lozenges make them feel nauseated; however, everything has its pros and cons and so, how would you know if you’re one of these folks unless you try it? Oh, and while we are on this topic, there are also zinc supplements and foods that are high in zinc (like red meat, lentils, hemp seeds, cashews and quinoa) if you want to try and get more zinc into your system that way (although lozenges are gonna be your best bet on the shortening tip; just sayin’).
5. Foods Rich in Vitamin C
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Speaking of foods that can fight a cold, out of all of what you’ve read here, probably what you are quite familiar with is the fact that vitamin C and colds are mortal enemies. In fact, one pretty significant study says that by taking one gram of vitamin C a day during a cold, you can reduce the severity of your symptoms by as much as 15 percent.
That’s because vitamin C is packed with antioxidants, it helps to reduce bodily inflammation and it helps to strengthen your immunity too. Foods that are full of vitamin C include chili and yellow peppers, kale, kiwi, papaya, broccoli, kale and citrus fruits.
6. Elderberry Tea
If you’re someone who likes to put preserves on your biscuits or toast, have you ever tried one that is made from elderberries (recipe here)? It’s actually pretty good — and good for you because elderberries are high in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. And that is why they are great whenever you are trying to hurry up and get over a cold because they also contain properties that are literally antiviral — and since a cold is a virus…well, there you have it.
One of the best ways to get elderberries into your system? Elderberry tea. If you add honey to it, honey can help to shorten symptoms like a stuffy nose, sore throat and cough by 1-2 days. Very cool.
7. REST
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Did you know that even one day of not getting the sleep that you need to weaken your immune system and increase bodily inflammation at the same time too? That’s because one of the benefits of a good night’s rest is it rejuvenates and recharges your system, so that your immunity can work at its optimal level.
Not only that but, according to science, if you already have a cold, getting plenty of rest can benefit you on a few different levels as well. First, your cytokines (proteins that boost your immunity) are released when you sleep.
Second, your body temperature elevates enough to kill some of the bacteria and viruses that are making you sick. Finally, sleep provides you with the energy that you need in order to get through the day while you are healing from your sickness. So, if you want to get through your cold ASAP, be intentional about getting as much rest as you possibly can.
BONUS: A Humidifier
When you get a chance, please check out “10 Really Good Reasons To Get Yourself A Humidifier This Fall”. There really are all kinds of solid reasons to invest in a humidifier around this time of the year — and one of them is to make getting through the cold (and flu) season so much easier for you. Since humidifiers bring moisture into the air, that can help to loosen up congestion, soothe an irritated throat, decrease coughing, help with the healing process of respiratory infections and it can help you to sleep better — so that you can get past your cold sooner.
So, if you don’t already have a humidifier, cop one ASAP. Your future colds will absolutely hate that you did. LOL. For a list of some highly recommended humidifiers that are currently on the market, click here.
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Featured image by Casper1774 Studio/Shutterstock