All of this is why Keke Palmer, the electrifying, multitalented performer and businesswoman, promotes smarter financial habits and a more conscious way of living. At only 31 years old, she’s worn many hats. She’s an actress, entrepreneur, producer, podcast host, singer and author. Her diverse career began at the tender age of nine, landing her first acting role in Ice Cube’s film “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.” At just 14 years of age she was premiering on Nickelodeon’s “True Jackson, VP.” By age 15, she was the main breadwinner for her family, taking care of duties such as having her own credit card.
Her youth was marked by financial instability, which profoundly influenced Palmer’s view on money. Her parents, even at their best, made a combined income of $40,000 a year. This experience served as the wake-up call that informed her decision to live below her means, a key financial practice. Today, she carries a $340 car note and luxury by necessity, picking a Lexus instead of a Bentley Bentayga.
I live under my means. I think it’s incredibly important,” Palmer stated, highlighting her commitment to financial responsibility. She credits her comfortable lifestyle to the values instilled in her from a very modest upbringing.
Palmer encourages young people, especially young women, to get really hands-on with personal finance. “Be curious about that kind of stuff, because you don’t want to do things based off of survival,” she advises. She recommends a few wonderful methods to get introduced to economics. These range from perusing personal finance literature, pursuing coursework, conversing with financially astute pals, and employing chatbots such as ChatGPT to draft monthly budgets.
Her parents’ sacrifices inform her values and resonate strongly with her story. “My dad gave up his pension for me to have an opportunity for my dreams. My mom gave up everything so she could travel with me,” she shared. This foundation of support guides Palmer’s philosophy on wealth: “What’s mine is theirs and what’s theirs is mine. I would sacrifice 20 more years of my life working in this industry so that I can provide and we can have the business we have today.”
Just ask Palmer’s full story shines a light on how responsibility and ambition can work together to help someone find lasting success. Her career just continues to rise. Through her story, she illustrates the power of financial literacy to help people live informed lives and thrive as opposed to merely surviving.
Leave a Reply