where finance meets real life

About Me

Welcome to The Finance Scout!

I’m Figen, the mind behind this blog and your scout to mastering personal finance. My mission is to help you take control of your financial future through practical advice, insightful tips, and actionable strategies.

My Journey

I have an Undergraduate Degree in English and minor in Economics from Rutgers University. I studied Economics, Accounting and Finance at the graduate level. I was even enrolled in a PhD program in finance but dropped out after completing all the coursework. I worked at the Bank of New York, a mutual fund company and Goldman Sachs as a consultant to name a few. I taught accounting and economics. Through all of these roles, I have learned the do’s and don’ts of finance. But I have found that it all boils down to this one simple fact…even if you are an expert in finance…we all have biases and it’s not going to be a perfect journey. But you can alleviate the stresses of finance by being aware of the biases (by reading my blog posts that highlight research in this area and my own experiences) and having a roadmap that aids you in your journey (budget template, financial planner, financial diary).

What Drives Me

My interest in personal finance started when I was fifteen years old, and I opened a Christmas Book savings account. I don’t know if they still have this type of account at banks. I had a part-time job in high school, and I needed to cash my checks at the local bank. When I went in to cash my check one day, I saw a sign about Christmas savings accounts and that’s how it all started. Over the years, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of financial management firsthand and have made it my mission to share the lessons I've learned along the way.

Why This Blog?

I created the Finance Scout to provide a space where you can find relatable, easy-to-understand dialogue about finance. Here, I will try to break down complex concepts into actionable steps, ensuring that you have the tools and knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions for yourself.

Let’s Connect

I believe that financial empowerment comes from community and shared knowledge. I’m excited to hear from you—whether you have a question, a story to share, or just want to connect. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, or contact me directly.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you find the resources here as valuable as I’ve found them in my own journey.

Warm regards,


FINANCE AS A WAY OF LIFE

Financial Planner

The benefits of using a daily Financial Planner is that it will organize all of your thoughts in one place and if you check into it daily, you will hold yourself accountable and track your progress.

It all begins with the first step. Once you decide that you want to do something different and start investing in you future. Just write it down on a blank piece of paper. It doesn’t have to be my planner or budgeting template. You could do it on you own! But I find that it helps to write things down somewhere and check into your notes daily.

books

If like me you like to delve more deeply into topics. Take a look at these recommendations.

budget template

Your progress will likely be slow. Its like compound interest, with time it will grow exponentially. A budget template will help keep you on track and give you a roadmap to grow your wealth. 1441656