What Reni Wants You to Understand About Building Wealth

There’s a certain kind of honesty that comes with talking about money,  the kind that makes people either lean in or completely shut down.

For Reni, widely known as Ready the Resource and the voice behind Don’t Go Broke Trying, that honesty has become her life’s work.

In this episode of See The World With…, we sit with Reni to better understand money,  how she’s built her wealth, grown her community, and what it really means to get good with your finances.

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Hi Reni, can you please introduce yourself?

Reni:
Okay, I’m Reni, also known as Reni the Resource. I’m a financial literacy educator and content creator.

I teach people about investing in the stock market, budgeting, and saving. My whole goal is to help people get good with their money. I want people to know they don’t have to suffer or struggle to build wealth. You can live a great life while also building wealth.

I also talk about value-based spending and related topics.

What sparked your interest in personal finance and talking about it publicly? What made you decide, “Yes, I’m going to become a finance educator”?

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Reni:
I’ve always been interested in money because my dad is very interested in money. He’s a lawyer, but when he moved to England from Nigeria, he realised he knew nothing about money in the Western world.

So he made it a point to learn. He read books, attended seminars, and started investing about 30 years ago. When he had my sister and me, he said we wouldn’t have to go through what he went through. He would teach us about money early.

So I learned about money from a young age. Then, when I turned 18, I started investing in the stock market. That was my first real step into it.

I wasn’t making much money, but it was a way to put my money somewhere and let it grow. I invested in some really great stocks, and by the time I was 23, I had enough to buy my first house.

That was in 2020. I posted my keys on social media. I had maybe 2,000–3,000 followers at the time, mostly friends, and people started asking questions.

They wanted me to walk them through it step by step. I’m someone who likes to share information freely, so I said, "Okay, should I make a YouTube video or post about it?"

I started with a YouTube video, and it grew from there. Since then, I’ve been educating women, especially, on financial literacy.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about money that you wish everybody knew? 

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Reni:
I think the most important lesson is that it’s more important to start than to know everything before you begin.

A lot of people feel like they need $1,000 or $10,000 before they start investing. But you can start with as little as $25.

It’s better to build the habit of investing regularly than to wait until you have a large amount. By that time, you might not even know how to manage it.

So just start where you are. You don’t need to be an expert.

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I know you live in Canada and mostly deal with CAD. Do you save or invest in multiple currencies? How do you decide?

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Reni:
I save in CAD, but I invest in U.S. stocks.

The U.S. dollar is stronger than the Canadian dollar, and I’ve seen better returns investing in the U.S. Even though converting your money can feel painful, when you get your returns, it’s worth it.

So I primarily invest in the U.S.

Now to personal finance — budgeting and planning. Do you use apps, spreadsheets, or pen and paper?

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Reni:
I use an Excel spreadsheet. I travel a lot, so I need something I can access anywhere.

I budget weekly. Every week, I track what I’ve spent so I’m aware of my spending.

That said, I don’t necessarily need to budget anymore because I’ve automated my savings and investments. I can only spend what’s left in my account.

But I still track everything because I like to stay on top of things.

I haven’t automated mine yet; I should. I just manually move money when I get paid.

Reni:
A lot of people don’t automate because they like control. Some also have fluctuating income, so automation doesn’t always work for them.

What’s an unpopular opinion you have about money or building wealth?

Reni:
Your primary residence is not an investment.

A lot of people don’t like hearing that, but especially in Canada, you’re taking on a large mortgage and paying it off over decades, while also maintaining the house.

So it’s more of a liability than an investment. It’s important for comfort, but not necessarily for wealth-building.

What’s the biggest money myth you’ve had to debunk?

Reni:
You need a lot of money to start investing. You really don’t.

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You also have an African audience. What are the most common challenges they face?

Reni:
First, earnings,  a lot of people aren’t earning enough.

Second, the desire for quick money. People want fast returns, and that leads them into scams.

Third, instability. It’s hard to plan when things are constantly changing.

And then there’s the black tax (supporting family and others).

I always remind people that their country is not their only market. You can earn globally.

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How do you manage international payments?

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Reni:
I use Pesa. It’s reliable, has good rates, and it’s easy to use for sending money internationally.

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What’s the smartest money move you’ve made in the past year?

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Reni:
Scaling my business. Increasing my income has allowed me to invest more, save more, and enjoy more.

What’s one financial habit you would teach anyone?

Reni:
Pay yourself first.

Save or invest before you spend. Whatever is left is what you can use.

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Lastly, what money trends should we be paying attention to?

Reni:
Globalisation.

You can earn from anywhere now. You’re no longer limited to your country or city.

Thank you so much. This has been really helpful. I’ve learned a lot from this conversation, and I know others will too.

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