Lauren Simmons is the perfect example of a story about turning tragedy into triumph. In an op-ed for CNBC, the history-making Wall Street trader talked about how her journey was full of twists and turns — but it was her humble origins that kept her grounded. “One thing I’ve noticed is that, in general, most people have poor spending habits and struggle to save money. It may sound intense, but I save 85% of my annual income,” she explained. Additionally, Lauren Simmons also went into great detail about the difference between her needs and her wants. She saves money by taking care of her housing expenses upfront, splitting the cost of “treats” (like streaming service subscriptions) with other members of her family, plus ditching gym fees and taking part in free and outdoor activities to take care of her physical fitness. She also explained how she likes to travel — and saves money by traveling during the “off-season” instead of the peak season. Sometimes, she said, she can save up to...

In 2017, Lauren Simmons seemed to be on top of the world. She made Wall Street history — and Black history — when she became the youngest full-time female trader on the NYSE. She was also the second Black woman in history to become an equity trader in the NYSE’s history. As can be expected, her story went viral. “In 2017 I said no to limiting beliefs so I could say yes to shattering glass ceilings and making history. I continue to bet on myself and stand above all the no’s people throw my way. Frankly, I thrive on people who doubt me,” Lauren Simmons said on Instagram. But for all her achievements — and all the success that followed as a result of this groundbreaking moment — she was, according to Black Enterprise, making a measly $12,000 per year (which translates to $1000 a month).   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Lauren Simmons (@lasimmons) For purposes of understanding, the US Department of Labor says the poverty threshold for a single person under 65 is, as of...