You are in your debutante season if:

You don’t have a budget.

You have less than 30% of your income left over after all bills and essentials (food, transportation, basic personal care) have been paid.

In this stage, your main focus is:

Creating a money system.

Learning about your relationship with money.

Increasing your surplus to at least 30%

Here’s where you can start in your first month inside SSS:

Module 1 - Strengthen Your Surplus Mindset

Module 2 - Uncover Your 30% Surplus

Challenge: 30% Surplus in 30 Days Challenge

Key metrics to track

Surplus Percent.

Monthly Expenses.

Milestones to complete this season:

• Set your 12-month money goals in the Richest Year Roadmap.
• Create a zero based budget using your Surplus Stack System for three consecutive months.
• Build a buffer for your bills account.
• Identify your spending triggers.
• Identify your money scripts.
• Create and use a Wishlist to pause impulse buys.
• Identify and cut or downgrade at least three recurring expenses.
• Set your bi-weekly Money Date routine and post one action in Money Move Monday each cycle.
• Maintain a consistent 30% surplus for three consecutive months.

Graduate when:

You maintain 30 percent surplus for three months.

You are in your Baroness season if:

You have a 30% surplus.

You have created a money system.

You have debt (excluding your mortgage).

You do not have a fully funded emergency fund.

In this stage, your main focus is:

Paying down your consumer debt to zero.

Build a fully emergency fund.

Here’s where you can start in your first month inside SSS:

Module 1: Strengthen Your Surplus Mindset

Module 3: Reach 3 Months in Surplus Savings

Module 4: Pay Off All Consumer Debt

Challenge: Debt Detox Challenge

Key metrics to track:

Emergency fund balance and months of coverage.

Consumer debt balances.

Credit score.

Credit utilization percent.

Debt payoff date.

Milestones to complete this season:

• Choose your debt payoff plan.
• Add extra debt payments to your monthly budget.
• Refinance or consolidate your loans.
• Negotiate interest rates/fees with lenders.
• Keep utilization ≤ 30% per card and overall.
• Pay off a credit card.
• Maintain a zero balance on at least one credit card for three consecutive months.
• Build your Emergency Fund to 3 months of survival expenses.
• Create sinking funds for near-term goals.

Graduate when:

All consumer debt is paid off and your emergency fund equals 3 months of expenses.

You are in your Viscountess season if:

You are in your Viscountess season if:

You have a 30% Surplus.

You have a money system.

You have zero debt.

You have a fully funded emergency fund.

You have less than one year of your annual income in investments.

Primary Goal:

Increase your personal investments to match one year of your annual income.

Here’s where you can start in your first month inside SSS:

Module 1: Strengthen Your Surplus Mindset

Module 5: Land one year of your annual income in investments

Challenge: Invest Your First $1,000, Save One Paycheck Challenge and Maxed Out Challenge

Key metrics to track

Monthly invested amount.

Total contributed this year.

Lifetime contribution limits for TFSA, RRSP and FHSA.

Risk Core and Asset allocation.

Net worth growth.

Milestones to complete this season

• Open a brokerage account.
• Calculate your retirement numbers.
• Calculate your risk score and asset allocation.
• Map out your first 100K portfolio.
• Choose your ETFs.
• Invest your first $1,000.
• Create your rebalancing rules.
• Track contributions in the Richest Year Roadmap and share monthly progress.
• Invest your first $100,000.

Graduate when:

Your total invested contributions equal one year of your current salary.

You are in your Duchess season if:

You have a 30% Surplus.

You have a money system.

You have zero debt.

You have a fully funded emergency fund.

You have one year of your annual income in investments or $100,000 (whichever is less).

You are working towards financial independence.

Primary Goal:

Secure financial independence and invest for your kids.

Here’s where you can start in your first month inside SSS:

Module 1: Strengthen Your Surplus Mindset.

Module 5: Land one year of your annual income in investments.

Module 6: Utilize Your Surplus for Your Kid's Future.

Module 7: Secure Your Financial Independence.

Key metrics to track:

FI number

CoastFI Number

Years to FI based on contribution rate

Monthly Dividends

Milestones to complete this season

• Calculate your FI number and set a contribution plan to reach it.
• Open an RESP for children where applicable,
• Complete Estate Planning - Wills, Life Insurance, POA, beneficiaries, estate basics,
• Design Work-Optional plan,
• Achieve FI,
• Retire or become work optional,

Graduate when:

You have a have reached FI!