In a conversation with WBFO, Michelle Singletary displayed two dominant traits: the easy, charismatic demeanor that has helped her become a nationally-syndicated financial writer and a passionate distaste for wasting money.
"So many of us spend money and we don't even realize it." said Singletary, who will be at the WNED-TV studios Thursday for NPR's "Family Matters."
The personal finance event also features NPR's David Greene and Sonari Glinton and financial expert Louis Barajas.
"I was born a penny pincher. It's my gifting," Singletary explained.
"I believe everyone is born with a gifting and I learned a lot of what I know from my grandmother, "Big Momma," who never made more than $13,000 a year. Yet, I watched this woman who took in five grandchildren, didn't accept welfare, and she was able to save and feed us and keep a roof over our heads with just practically nothing."
Those lessons have inspired her to continue that tradition.
"If she can do that, certainly as I progress I can do that, too, and I can teach others what she taught me, which is to live below your means, which is to despise debt."
