From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37

<p>From saving $20,000 on a $2,000 salary to making work optional while raising two young boys, Dawn Fiona Cher—better known online as <em>SG Budget Babe</em>—has spent the last decade helping others take back control of their money and mindset. A mom, author, Director of Government Affairs , and financial educator, Dawn continues to work in both corporate and content creation—not because she has to, but because it fuels her purpose.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, I sit down with Dawn to talk about what it really takes to grow your wealth while juggling motherhood, ambition, and a life you actually want to live. She shares the turning point that made her chase financial freedom harder than ever (hint: it happened mid-breastfeeding), the unglamorous truth of building a side hustle, and how she successfully negotiated for flexibility at work <em>after</em> proving her worth.</p><p><br></p><p>Dawn opens up about how her own childhood struggles with money shaped her, why time-blocking (not 5AM routines) keeps her grounded, and the life lessons she’s deliberately modeling for her kids. Her practical, no-nonsense wisdom is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about balance—it’s about clarity, discipline, and alignment.</p><p><br></p><p>In this energizing conversation, we explored:</p><p>📈 How Dawn reached financial independence in slightly over a decade (and still works by choice)</p><p>👶 The raw truth about managing work while mothering two young kids</p><p>🧠 Why “imposter syndrome” is actually a signpost—not a dead end</p><p>🗂️ How she schedules her chaotic week using time-blocking, not rigidity</p><p>💡 What it means to be visible, credible, and irreplaceable at work</p><p>✍️ Her journey from corporate employee to trusted voice in finance—and what’s next</p><p><br></p><p>Checkout:</p><p>💻 Dawn’s 7-Day Investing Challenge (Discount code: MIW) →<a href="https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIW" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIW</a></p><p><br></p><p>📘 <em>Take Back Control of Your Money</em> by Dawn Fiona Cher → <a href="https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075</a></p><p><br></p><p>🎤Sarah’s interview with Dawn on The Financial Coconut: I Left My Job to Care for My Family - Was It Wort