Listen, I was slow to board the TikTok train, but I eventually had to hop on. I mean, you can't help but get sucked into watching the ridiculous dances and hilarious skits, whether you have an account or you see them on your Instagram feed. I especially love the ones that are super-relatable, include useful hacks or how-tos, and cover issues we all deal with—particularly those related to money.
These top 10 Tiktok stars are Black women who are great at teaching all of us how to get, keep, and increase our coins. Ain't nothing funny about being broke, but their videos will either help you forget about that rent laughing at your bank account balance or give you some tips you can actually use to defeat your money problems for good. (And hey, sis, if you really love TikToks and want to see more of these, share and comment below. We might just make this a recurring feature.)
1.Melissa of Millennial In Debt
@millennialindebt Intro post: I paid off 102,000 in student loans in 5 years. Then one month later I closed on my first home! 😱 ##personalfinance ##freshprince ##fyp
♬ original sound - Millennial In Debt
She got rid of more than $100,000 in debt and closed on her first home, all on a teacher's salary. The founder of Millennial in Debt calls herself the "Beyonce of Personal Finance" and helps millennials get a handle on their money via her YouTube channel, webinars, and coaching sessions. Yep. Say no more.
2.Carmen of Make Real Cents
Yet another TikTok that tries and convicts my poor overspending, Amazon Prime-loving, just-buy-it, spendaholic self. Carmen is also founder of Budget Better, a resource for people to find ways to make budgeting a priority, and she provides info via her social sites on investing and financial fitness.
3.Tonya Rapley of My Fab Finance
She's an OG money expert, entrepreneur, and founder of My Fab Finance, an education and lifestyle platform that helps millennials reach their personal finance goals. Tonya Rapley has been in the game helping thousands via workshops, speaking engagements, and coaching for more than a decade. Her TikToks (and many of her IG Reels) break down topics like debt reduction and budgeting in a way that puts simplicity and credibility at the forefront.
4.Bola of Clever Girl Finance
@clevergirlfinance Simplify your finances by keeping your bills organized!##learnontiktok ##tiktokpartner ##personalfinance
♬ GOTTA GO - Benny Boy
Clever Girl Finance gives you quick hits on hacks for the usual adult chores (like handling bills), and Bola addresses topics many of us struggle with on the daily. You'll feel a tad less guilty and more empowered to make some changes watching her fun and peaceful videos.
5.Clarissa AKA "The Budget Queen"
@budgetqueen_blog One of the biggest myths I’ve heard about budgeting. 🔗Click the link in my bio to get the FREE Worksheet. ##budgeting ##budgettips ##moneytoks #
♬ Berleezy thats some bs - kay
You know that favorite cousin or auntie who will snatch your debit card away after a day of shopping or invite you to her house for a meal afterward so you won't eat out for the fifth time in a week? Clarissa is that woman. Her keep-it-real videos are hilariously informative and make the thought of the dreaded b-word a lot less, well, dreadful.
6.Dannie of Pennies to Wealth
@penniestowealth The steps I took to become debt free when married. ##moneytiktok ##debtfreejourney ##debtfreecommunity ##personalfinance ##budgeting
♬ Steven Universe - L.Dre
Sis was able to conquer $130,000 in debt, and we all know Uncle Sam (or Sallie Mae) doesn't play about that money owed. Dannie offers financial fitness coaching via her platform, Pennies to Wealth, and she's full of resources to get your money right. Her videos are cute, quick and to the point, but cover major impact.
7.Nika of Debt Free Gonna Be
@debtfreegonnabe My budget be so fed up with me 🤣##debtfreejourney ##financetiktok ##debtfreecommunity ##budgeting ##moneytoks ##groupchat
♬ original sound - Nika
I swear the video above perfectly depicts the love-hate relationship my budget and I have had over the years. Nika also offers, through her platform, worksheets, step-by-step tips, and other useful downloadable resources to address budgeting and debt-reduction for all of us who need that extra push in the organization department.
8.Bitch I'm Budgeting
@bitchimbudgeting Having debt aint it!! ##greenscreen ##neneleaks ##debtfreejourney ##moneytips ##personalfinance
♬ original sound - Randy Perry
The great thing about following this journey is that she's dead set in the middle of it, so you'll feel like you have a friend who's pretty much going through some of the same money issues as you are. She's a special education teacher whose goal is to get rid of $19,000 in debt by the end of 2021. Go 'head sis! We're right there with you!
9.Cinneah of Flynanced
If the name doesn't do it, the travel hacks for saving money will. I love flying out affordably while still having an upgraded experience, and her TikToks don't fail when giving the tea on how to do just that. Her platform also empowers millennials to build wealth through travel.
10.Coupon Queen T
@couponqueent I Am NOT A HOARDER. Freaky girl coupon remix ##fyp ##couponqueent ##stockpile ##WIP ##myhobby
♬ original sound - Coupon Queen T
Who doesn't like the euphoric feeling of walking out of a store with 10 bags of groceries that only set you back 20 bucks? I mean, who? Who? I swear this woman's videos might have you literally holding up the line at your favorite market just to make sure all the discounts were taken off properly, and with no shame to boot. She's a wife and mother who literally takes couponing to a whole 'nother level.
Read more money mindset conversations in xoNecole's "Money Talks" series here.
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
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Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Colman Domingo’s Career Advice Is A Reminder That Our Words Shape Our Reality
When it comes to life, we are always here for a good reminder to shift our mindsets, and Colman Domingo just gave us one we didn't know we needed.
In a resurfaced clip from an appearance at NewFest shared as a repost via Micheaux Film Festival, the Emmy award winner dropped a gem on how he has navigated his decades-spanning career in Hollywood. The gem in question? Well, Colman has never identified with "struggle" in his career. Let that sit.
Colman Domingo On Not Claiming Struggle
"I’ve never said that this career was tough. I’ve never said it was difficult. I’ve never said it was hard," Colman said. "Other people would say that—‘oh, you're in a very difficult industry. It's very hard to get work and book work.’ I’m like, I’ve never believed that."
Instead of allowing himself to be defined by other people's projections about their perceptions of what the industry is or was, Colman dared to believe differently even if his reality was playing catch up with his dreams:
"Like Maya Angelou said words are things. And if you believe that, then that's actually what it is. Actually I've just never believed it. Someone told me some years ago, they said, 'I remember you were, you're a struggling actor.' I'm like, 'I don't.'"
"I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living..."
He continued:
"Even when I was bartending and hustling and not having opportunities or anything, I never believed that I was struggling because I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living and creating and being curious."
Colman’s philosophy of attaching to living instead of struggle has blossomed into an enduring career. He first made his mark on stage in acclaimed Broadway productions before transitioning to the screen, where his star began to rise in the 2010s following his role as Victor Strand in Fear The Walking Dead. From there, his presence only grew, landing memorable supporting roles in If Beale Street Could Talk, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and the hit series Euphoria.
In more recent years, Colman has stepped fully into the spotlight with standout leading performances in Rustin and Sing Sing, both of which earned him widespread critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations for Best Actor.
With all that said, Colman's advice is no doubt powerful, especially for those who are chasing their dreams, building something from the ground up, or have question marks about what's next in their careers. Words shape our realities, and how we speak about our journeys even in passing matters.
Words Create Our Reality & Colman Is Living Proof
"I tell young people that. To remember the words that you say about yourself and your career are true. So, I choose to make it full of light and love and it's interesting and every day I'm going to learn something new even if it looks like I don't have what I want but it's important to be in the moment... you really build on the moments moment to moment.
"And you're looking back at your career as I've been in it for what 33 years and you're like, 'Wow, that's what I've been doing.' And I've stayed strong to that so I think that is truly my advice."
Let this be your sign to give your path a reframe. When the path you're on feels uncertain, the journey is still unfolding. Like Colman said: "I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living."
That's a Black king right there.
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