In The News

Women’s Money Matters Graduate Speaks on Inflation’s Impact on NBC Nightly News 

Deonne Lucaw spoke on the impact inflation has had on her finances. 

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, which builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes, connected program graduate Deonne Luacaw to NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, bringing voice to the impact inflation is having on women living on low-incomes. Lucaw shared with NBC about the burden placed on her as a single mother providing for her children due to the increased cost of necessities like utilities. 

Lucaw shared “ We are hanging on by a thread. Instead of paying the whole light bill, I may have to put something down on it, so I can get my kids the other things they need.” 

Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters said, “We appreciate Deonne’s willingness to share her experience to highlight how macroeconomic conditions and systemic inequalities are so often felt most by those living on the economic margins. In the course of our programs we hear so many women share similar experiences as they face these barriers and struggle with increasing prices and cost living.”

Women’s Money Matters provides financial wellness programs for women that include interactive expert-led workshops, one on one coaching from a trained volunteer, and small supportive peer cohorts. Women’s Money Matters connects participants to direct financial relief, community resources, and financial experts. 

Watch the NBC Spotlight here. 

# # #

About Women’s Money Matters:

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching.

Women’s Money Matters graduate Deonne shares with WBUR the financial planning skills she is utilizing from our financial wellness program to navigate this back to school season with two kids and high prices. “I had to start early, because the prices are so high,” Luacaw said. “You have to get the right deals at the right time.”

Women’s Money Matters recognizes the cost of living increases as a major challenge for women living on low-incomes, since the cost of everything from necessities to childcare to housing prices continue to increase. “According to federal data, prices were up about 7% in greater Boston in July compared to the same time last year.” 

Danielle Piskadlo, our Executive Director, shares in this article that many of our participants, “Lost wages during the pandemic, and their incomes still haven’t fully recovered and then on the heels of that, having the rising inflation and rising prices is just a whole new dynamic.” 

“We’re very cognizant of the fact that you cannot budget your way out of poverty,” Piskadlo said. “Larger barriers like the lack of housing or affordable child care… those do impact the women that are in our programs and their finances.”

In surveys our participants have cited rises in prices on utilities, gas, and groceries, as reasons making ends meet has been even more difficult than usual. 

Many thanks to Yasmin Amer for highlighting this important financial challenge that many women in our communities are facing as they work to give their kids the best back to school start possible. 

Read or listen to the article here: 

https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/09/06/education-inflation-money-budget-expensive

BOSTON – Women’s Money Matters is honored to be recognized with a Project Innovation grant from NBC. The organization issued the below statement on being named as one of four Boston organizations that have made a positive impact in Massachusetts through an innovative solution:

“Women’s Money Matters is grateful for the support and recognition of our innovative and holistic approach to financial health for women living on low-incomes. Our model for financial wellness is one of the most successful strategies for disrupting poverty because of the unique combination of small peer support groups, a comprehensive series of financial wellness workshops tailored to the needs of women, and most importantly, the one-to-one coaching relationship.”

Women interested in joining a program can learn more here. Women looking to volunteer and serve as coaches and support women in their financial journey can sign up here.

Women’s Money Matters had a great virtual Cooking for a Cause fundraiser event. We really appreciate the supporters and board members who attended this cooking course given by Chef Kim Lambrechts a 25 year veteran in the hospitality and dining industries with a large repertoire of global culinary styles.

Special thank you to board member Kate McCabe for organizing this fundraiser for Women’s Money Matters. Thank you to all of our supporters who hosted in their homes for this virtual event and all those who attended! This was an excellent opportunity to share Women’s Money Matters mission and impact with with your friends and family in a delicious and fun event, and of course to raise funds for Women’s Money Matters to empower more women financially.