Hidden Gems: Meet Deja Austin of PiggyBank Princess

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Austin

Hi Deja, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Of course! I’m Dejà Austin, and I founded PiggyBank Princess to equip teenage girls with the financial skills and confidence that can shape their futures. Reflecting on my own experiences, I realized how much I would have benefited from learning the basics of money management earlier in life. Like many, I faced the challenges of budgeting, saving, and making smart financial choices without a solid foundation, which made me passionate about bridging that gap for others.

PiggyBank Princess was born out of this passion—an initiative to provide young women with the tools to understand, manage, and feel empowered by their finances. What started as a personal journey evolved into a mission to help girls take control of their financial futures. Whether it’s budgeting their first paycheck, setting financial goals, or saving for college, the program offers practical skills with the confidence-building support they need.

Through engaging classes and personalized coaching, PiggyBank Princess has become more than just a financial education program; it’s a way for young women to see themselves as future leaders, ready to make impactful financial decisions. Watching these girls grow into financially confident individuals is the most rewarding part of the journey, and it continues to inspire me every day.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges is that money is often a taboo topic, carrying pain, shame, and difficult memories for many families. For parents who may not feel confident in their own financial literacy, it can be tough to invest in these classes for their children. Convincing them of the importance of this investment is challenging, but helping children develop these skills early can truly change the trajectory of their lives. We aim to support parents in teaching their children now what they may have learned later, breaking the cycle of financial struggle and empowering the next generation with confidence and knowledge.

Because of these barriers, student enrollment has been lower than expected. I’ve been working hard to build more partnerships to spread the word and get the program in front of both students and parents, ensuring more young people have access to this vital education.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
PiggyBank Princess is dedicated to equipping teenage girls with essential financial skills that empower them to navigate their futures with confidence. Our organization specializes in creating tailored financial literacy programs that resonate with young women, addressing their unique challenges and aspirations.

What sets us apart is our focus on fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment. We combine interactive classes with personalized coaching, ensuring that every participant feels valued and heard. Our curriculum not only covers the basics of budgeting and saving but also emphasizes the importance of mindset, goal-setting, and self-advocacy.

I’m especially proud of the community we’re building—a space where young women can connect, share their experiences, and learn from each other. We’re not just teaching financial skills; we’re inspiring a generation of confident leaders who will shape their own financial futures and challenge the status quo.

At PiggyBank Princess, we believe that every girl deserves the tools to succeed, and our mission is to make that a reality. We want readers to know that we are here to help parents and guardians create a legacy of financial literacy for their daughters, providing them with the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I used to be the type of person who played it safe. Risk? It felt like something meant for other people, not me. I was always a little scared of stepping outside my comfort zone because the unknown seemed overwhelming. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that risk isn’t the enemy—it’s actually the key to growth. And when I really think about it, even believing in yourself, your ideas, and what you’re capable of is a form of risk.

Starting PiggyBank Princess was a huge leap for me. I had no roadmap, just a vision that financial literacy could transform young girls’ lives. Putting my idea out there for others to judge felt like a gamble, but it taught me something powerful: the only way to know what you’re capable of is to bet on yourself. Risk-taking has a way of clarifying what truly matters—whether it’s challenging the status quo, trying something new, or trusting yourself enough to go after your dreams.

Looking back, the biggest risks I’ve taken weren’t about money or time; they were about choosing to believe that what I was offering the world had value. And as scary as that was, it’s been the most rewarding experience. It’s a lesson I try to instill in the girls I work with, too—sometimes, taking a risk on yourself is the bravest thing you can do.

Pricing:

• Personal Finance Coaching: $45 per hour for one-on-one sessions.
• 6-Week Session Classes: Ranging from $85 to $120, depending on the specific program.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://piggybankprincess.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564414600922