Money Lessons I Learned in the Field – Real Talk from a Finance Girl on the Ground

There’s something about walking into real businesses — not from behind a desk, not through reports, but in their actual element — that teaches you things no classroom ever could.

This past week, as I went into the field for a consultancy project, I was reminded of how money flows, stalls, grows, or disappears in everyday business. These are businesses that aren’t on Forbes or CNN, but they’re real — hustling, surviving, thriving, failing, learning. And they taught me something.

Here are a few money lessons I took away:

1. Cash Flow Is the Real Boss

Forget profit margins and fancy forecasts — if cash isn’t flowing, the business is gasping for air. I saw businesses making sales but struggling to pay suppliers because cash was tied up in receivables. It hit me hard: You can be busy and broke.

 Lesson: Always prioritize cash flow. Track it like your business depends on it — because it does.

2. Record-Keeping is a Superpower

You’d be shocked how many small businesses don’t keep proper records. No expense tracking, no sales logs, not even handwritten notes. And guess what? They struggle to access funding, understand their growth, or even know if they’re making a profit.

 Lesson: Every coin should be accounted for. Whether it’s a notebook, Excel, or an app — write. it. down.

3. Debt Isn’t Evil — But Mismanaged Debt Is

I met entrepreneurs who borrowed for growth — and others who borrowed to survive. The difference? One had a plan. The other was panicking. Loans can accelerate you or sink you depending on why and how you take them.

Lesson: Borrow smart. If the money won’t grow your revenue or save costs, think twice.

4. Pricing is Emotional AND Mathematical

Some entrepreneurs price out of fear: “Will my customers afford this?” Others underprice to beat competition. But they forget to factor in real costs — time, transport, inflation, even packaging.

 Lesson: Know your value. Set prices with confidence and data. Your work deserves profit, not just survival.

5. Diversify or Die

Okay, that’s dramatic — but some businesses were thriving because they had multiple income streams. A bakery also supplying cakes to schools. A salon selling beauty products on the side.

 Lesson: Don’t put all your hustle in one basket. Look for simple ways to expand within your niche.

Final Thought:

The field reminded me why I love finance. It’s not about spreadsheets. It’s about people, decisions, resilience, and dreams. And I saw so much of that.

Here’s to building businesses that understand money — not just chase it.

Have you learned a money lesson the hard way? Drop it in the comments — let’s grow together.