EPISODE · Dec 10, 2025 · 49 MIN
From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37
from Make It Work · host Sarah Wong
From saving $20,000 on a $2,000 salary to making work optional while raising two young boys, Dawn Fiona Cher—better known online as SG Budget Babe—has spent the last decade helping others take back control of their money and mindset. A mom, author, Director of Government Affairs , and financial educator, Dawn continues to work in both corporate and content creation—not because she has to, but because it fuels her purpose.In this episode, I sit down with Dawn to talk about what it really takes to grow your wealth while juggling motherhood, ambition, and a life you actually want to live. She shares the turning point that made her chase financial freedom harder than ever (hint: it happened mid-breastfeeding), the unglamorous truth of building a side hustle, and how she successfully negotiated for flexibility at work after proving her worth.Dawn opens up about how her own childhood struggles with money shaped her, why time-blocking (not 5AM routines) keeps her grounded, and the life lessons she’s deliberately modeling for her kids. Her practical, no-nonsense wisdom is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about balance—it’s about clarity, discipline, and alignment.In this energizing conversation, we explored:📈 How Dawn reached financial independence in slightly over a decade (and still works by choice)👶 The raw truth about managing work while mothering two young kids🧠 Why “imposter syndrome” is actually a signpost—not a dead end🗂️ How she schedules her chaotic week using time-blocking, not rigidity💡 What it means to be visible, credible, and irreplaceable at work✍️ Her journey from corporate employee to trusted voice in finance—and what’s nextCheckout:💻 Dawn’s 7-Day Investing Challenge (Discount code: MIW) →https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIW📘 Take Back Control of Your Money by Dawn Fiona Cher → https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075🎤Sarah’s interview with Dawn on The Financial Coconut: I Left My Job to Care for My Family - Was It Worth It? [W&S 144]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6p3G4lZjBk&list=PLpo30qPT9yc6yAyrtqz7506sfiYaorR8Z&index=6—-----------------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Intro01:07 Meet SG Budget Babe: PI, Mom, Finfluencer02:08 From $2K Salary to Financial Freedom05:39 How She Actually Juggles It All13:26 The Call That Changed Everything25:50 How She Earned Trust at Work26:26 Are You Invisible at Work?31:06 How She Negotiated Flexibility34:09 The Rule Behind Her Side Hustle Growth42:31 How She’s Raising Money-Smart Kids—-----------------------------------------------Connect with Dawn here:👋 Website: https://sgbudgetbabe.com/👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionacher/👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgbudgetbabe/Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/🎵 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be📥Email: [email protected] our free Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community to find a group of like-minded mommas: https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity—-------------------------------#WorkingMom #FinancialFreedom #SGbudgetbabe #CareerTips #InvestingForBeginners #ProductivityForMoms #MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenWhoLead #SideHustleSuccess
What this episode covers
From saving $20,000 on a $2,000 salary to making work optional while raising two young boys, Dawn Fiona Cher—better known online as SG Budget Babe—has spent the last decade helping others take back control of their money and mindset. A mom, author, Director of Government Affairs , and financial educator, Dawn continues to work in both corporate and content creation—not because she has to, but because it fuels her purpose.In this episode, I sit down with Dawn to talk about what it really takes to grow your wealth while juggling motherhood, ambition, and a life you actually want to live. She shares the turning point that made her chase financial freedom harder than ever (hint: it happened mid-breastfeeding), the unglamorous truth of building a side hustle, and how she successfully negotiated for flexibility at work after proving her worth.Dawn opens up about how her own childhood struggles with money shaped her, why time-blocking (not 5AM routines) keeps her grounded, and the life lessons she’s deliberately modeling for her kids. Her practical, no-nonsense wisdom is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about balance—it’s about clarity, discipline, and alignment.In this energizing conversation, we explored:📈 How Dawn reached financial independence in slightly over a decade (and still works by choice)👶 The raw truth about managing work while mothering two young kids🧠 Why “imposter syndrome” is actually a signpost—not a dead end🗂️ How she schedules her chaotic week using time-blocking, not rigidity💡 What it means to be visible, credible, and irreplaceable at work✍️ Her journey from corporate employee to trusted voice in finance—and what’s nextCheckout:💻 Dawn’s 7-Day Investing Challenge (Discount code: MIW) →https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIW📘 Take Back Control of Your Money by Dawn Fiona Cher → https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075🎤Sarah’s interview with Dawn on The Financial Coconut: I Left My Job to Care for My Family - Was It Worth It? [W&S 144]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6p3G4lZjBk&list=PLpo30qPT9yc6yAyrtqz7506sfiYaorR8Z&index=6—-----------------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Intro01:07 Meet SG Budget Babe: PI, Mom, Finfluencer02:08 From $2K Salary to Financial Freedom05:39 How She Actually Juggles It All13:26 The Call That Changed Everything25:50 How She Earned Trust at Work26:26 Are You Invisible at Work?31:06 How She Negotiated Flexibility34:09 The Rule Behind Her Side Hustle Growth42:31 How She’s Raising Money-Smart Kids—-----------------------------------------------Connect with Dawn here:👋 Website: https://sgbudgetbabe.com/👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionacher/👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgbudgetbabe/Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/🎵 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be📥Email: [email protected] our free Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community to find a group of like-minded mommas: https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity—-------------------------------#WorkingMom #FinancialFreedom #SGbudgetbabe #CareerTips #InvestingForBeginners #ProductivityForMoms #MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenWhoLead #SideHustleSuccess
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From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37
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