My first training ground for financial journalism started with my grandmother Big Mama. She rescued me and my four siblings from having to be put in foster care. She was a masterful manager of her money and she never made more than $13,000 a year. I watch her care for, feed, clothe 5 grandchildren, with an alcoholic husband (sweet man) who often drank away his payment. She trained me to be a saver and hater of debt. Then I went to grad school for business, and honed my personal finance skills and knowledge writing the Post Color of Money column for 25 years. Additionally, I run a financial ministry at my church, which for decades has helped people get rid of millions of dollars in debt. I also volunteer in Maryland prisons in a reentry program. So I have lots of experience on the ground, looking at people’s real budgets.