You’re Not Behind—You’re on Your Way

An email landed in my inbox recently. The sender asked to remain anonymous, but their words spoke volumes—and echoed something I believe a lot of people feel deep down:

Dear Chris,
I'm in my late 30s and I’m embarrassed to admit—I don’t have much money saved up. No big nest egg. No emergency fund. I’ve got a steady job, and I pay my bills, but that’s about it. I feel like I’m way behind, and I don’t know where to start. Any advice?
—Feeling Broke in Alaska

To the one who wrote this—thank you. Your honesty is a gift. You spoke not just for yourself, but for so many others who feel the same and haven’t yet found the words. You may feel broke, but let me tell you something clearly: you are not broken. And you are not behind.

You’re in the perfect place to start.

You don’t build wealth by looking back.

You build it by looking forward—starting now. One clear step at a time. Here’s how:

1. Change your story.
You are not behind—you’re becoming. Stop measuring your life by someone else’s timeline. You don’t need a pile of cash. You need a moment of clarity and a single decision. This is that moment.

2. Start with $5.
Open a separate savings account and put in five dollars. Yes—just five. Not to get rich overnight, but to prove to yourself that you can. Then do it again next week. And the week after. Wealth doesn’t begin with money—it begins with intention.

3. Pay yourself first.
Set up an automatic transfer, even if it’s $10 a week. Before the bills. Before the extras. Before anything else. Protect a piece of what you earn and watch what happens.

4. Learn. Every. Day.
Books. Podcasts. Conversations. Financial education is free—staying in the dark is what costs you. Feed your mind. Strengthen your financial muscles. You’re not starting from zero—you’re starting from awareness.

5. Think like an investor.
Don’t wait for a windfall. Start with a plan. I’ve seen people take modest savings and turn them into a down payment—and a down payment into a life of freedom. You don’t need a fortune to start—you just need to start seeing your future like it’s worth building.

Let me say it again:

You don’t need to be rich to begin.
You need to begin to become rich.

And never forget this:

You are not your bank account.

Your worth isn’t measured in savings or digits. It’s measured in your effort, your growth, and your commitment to a better tomorrow.

The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago.
The second-best time? Today.

So, to Feeling Broke in Alaska—and to anyone else who’s ever felt stuck or late to the game—keep going. You’ve already done the hardest part: you asked for help.

That’s not a sign of weakness.
That’s how strength begins.

Onward and upward,
Chris