Recently, my daughter came to me asking to learn more about fashion design.
They don't offer a course like this at her school, but a friend told me about a really cool option called OutSchool.
So we enrolled her into Intro to Fashion Design, and she had a great time meeting online each week with her live instructor and classmates. completing projects, and learning more about a subject she was very passionate about.
OutSchool is a completely different way to learn, one that's built around your child, not someone else's framework.
They offer over 100,000 live, small group classes on everything from course subjects to really niche, unique topics.
Learning is project-based and interactive, so your kids get to build real-world skills they'll carry with them into the future.
OutSchool is a great option for families who do non-traditional schooling or who just want to supplement their kid's education with unique topics in an online but live classroom setting.
If you want to try OutSchool, you can get your family's first month for only $1 for a limited time when you use my link, outschool.com forward slash bedtime.
We loved OutSchool and highly recommend it.
This new membership exclusive discount is only available when you go through our link and use code BEDTIME.
Growing up, I remember the day I got my first paycheck.
It felt so empowering to be able to earn my own money, start paying for some of my own expenses, and save what was left.
I appreciated the lessons my parents taught me about being financially smart.
Now that I'm a parent, I want my kids to learn these same lessons, and Acorns Early can help make that happen.
Acorns Early was super simple to set up with my kids.
I installed the app, a debit card came in the mail, and then my kids used the app to track their chores, get paid, and track their own earnings.
Then when it comes time to spend, they feel very grown up using the Acorns Relief customizable debit card, all with me still in control thanks to spending limits and real-time notifications.
Ready to teach your kids the smart way to earn, save and spend?
Get your first month on us when you go to acornsearly.com forward slash bedtime history. or download the Acorns Early app.
That's one month free at acornsearly.com forward slash bedtime history.
Acorns Early Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard International.
Free trial for new subscribers only. Subscription fees starting from $5 per month and less cancelled.
Terms apply at acornsearly.com forward slash early terms.
Madam C.J. Walker was born in 1867, just a few years after slavery ended in the United States.
Her real name was Sarah Breedlove, and she was born into a poor family in Louisiana.
Life was tough. She was the first in her family to be born free, but she lost her parents when she was young and had to start working at a very early age.
She washed clothes and cleaned houses to make money.
Even though she had very little, She saved what she could and paid close attention to how people ran their businesses.
As she got older, she began to struggle with hair loss, which was common at the time because people didn't have access to good hygiene or hair products.
Instead of just being upset about it, Sarah decided to do something.
She began experimenting with different ingredients and eventually created a special formula that helped her hair grow.
She started using it, saw great results and realized she might be able to help others too.
That's where her journey as Madam C.J. Walker really began.
She changed her name, created her own line of hair care products, and started selling them door to door.
She didn't have a lot of money to begin with, but she invested in her idea.
She used what little she had to buy ingredients and packaging.
She also invested time talking to customers, giving demonstrations, and teaching other women how to use her products.
She wasn't just a businesswoman, she was a teacher, a mentor, and a leader.
Madam C.J. Walker believed that success meant more than just making money for herself.
As her business began to grow, she saw an opportunity to help other women grow too.
She knew what it felt like to struggle and wanted to lift others up alongside her.
So she started hiring women from her community and beyond, teaching them how to sell her hair care products.
She called them Walker Agents. These women didn't just sell shampoo and creams, they learned how to manage money, speak confidently, and run their own small businesses.
Madam Walker gave them the tools to become independent, strong, and successful in their own right.
She also held training sessions and conventions where hundreds of Walker agents gathered to learn, celebrate, and support each other.
She gave awards to the best sellers and encouraged women to give back to their communities.
Madam Walker wasn't just growing a company, she was creating a movement.
By sharing her knowledge and opening doors for others, she helped thousands of women believe in themselves and build better futures.
Madam Walker was careful with her money.
She didn't waste it on things she didn't need.
She used it to build her company, create new products, and train more people.
She saved, planned, and reinvested, and over time Her small idea grew into one of the most successful businesses in America.
She became one of the first self-made millionaires in the country, and she did it by serving others, using her money wisely, and believing in herself.
She also believed deeply in giving back.
As her wealth and success grew, Madam C.J.
Walker didn't forget where she came from or the struggles she faced.
She donated money to schools so more young people, especially black children, could get an education and have better opportunities.
She supported charities that helped the poor, and she gave to organizations fighting for civil rights and justice.
To her, being successful meant having the ability to help others rise as well.
Madam Walker believed that money should be used for more than just personal gain.
She saw it as a tool for building stronger communities and lifting people up.
Whether it was through education, job creation, or supporting causes that mattered, she made sure her money had a purpose.
That's an important part of being financially smart, not just saving and growing money, but also using it to make the world a better place.
Madam C.J. Walker's story is a perfect example of how someone with a small idea and big determination can plant a seed and grow it into something powerful.
She used what she had, her time, her energy, her savings, and she invested it in something she believed in.
She showed that with hard work, smart choices, and a strong heart, anything is possible.
If you're ready to help your family grow their money the smart way, check out our awesome sponsor, Acorns Early.
You can get your first month free by visiting acornsearly.com forward slash bedtime history.
That's acornsearly.com forward slash bedtime history.
Check out the link in the show notes.
