Friend -
Alright, this one hits close to home.
A few weeks ago, I shared that my partner and I decided not to give our eldest daughter a smartphone. Instead, we “bribed” her with something we think will serve her better: $1,000 in a high-yield savings account.
And y’all… some folks scoffed at the idea. At the dollar amount. At the concept.
Let me tell you—I was peeved.
Because yes, $1,000 might not seem like a lot to some. But to millions of Americans, that amount is everything. In fact, nearly half of Americans can’t cover a $1,000 emergency expense. (Here’s the data if you need receipts.)
As a dual-income working mom, I know how fortunate we are to be able to absorb surprise costs—like a broken washing machine or a car that won’t start. But that comfort doesn’t make me immune to the realities outside my own home. It makes me more aware. More motivated. More determined.
And here’s the hard truth: the very people scoffing at the $1,000 price tag are often the ones too deep in insider politics to see that real change starts with meeting real needs.
We don’t need more out-of-touch talking points. We need progressive policies that put food on the table, keep the lights on, and provide dignity—not just in emergencies, but every day.
