The Money Issue

Work-ish... Practice What You Preach Edition

Feb 19, 2026

Hello lovelies,

It is my birthday tomorrow! Which feels like excellent timing for this conversation. Or something.

Because this month, we are talking about MONEY, and I am kicking off this edition by practising what I preach.

I’ve been writing Work-ish for months now. I love writing it. I love your replies. I love the “this was exactly what I needed” messages. I love knowing it lands in your inbox and occasionally nudges something into place - like a mental marble run.

But here’s the infinitely important bit:

It costs money to make.
And at the moment? It loses money every month.

I’m not storming off in a huff. I’m not rage-quitting Substack. I’m not dramatically flinging my laptop into the sea. And I’m not removing free subscriptions, or promising a load more stuff I don’t have capacity for in order to justify this ask.

I am, however, asking you to pay what you can #ponyupbitches

Because I tell my clients constantly: Know your worth. Charge properly. Ask for a raise. Negotiate - don’t accept the first offer. Stop underpricing the thing you’re good at just because you feel awkward or want to be “nice”.

If you read this each month and find it useful, comforting, challenging or thought-provoking - brilliant. That’s exactly what it’s for.

So if you’d like this newsletter to continue, I need you to do one of three things:

1️⃣ Upgrade to paid - I’ve dropped the price to £5 per month / £50 per year

2️⃣ Make a one-off contribution of your choice HERE
3️⃣ Or share it with three people / post it on your socials. Tell people why it’s worth their time and their money.

If reader numbers and money don’t grow, I will have to reconsider what I invest in it.

Right. That’s my bit done.

Now over to you.

Your Careers Library

Talking about money is rarely just about money. It’s about shame, power, security, worth, and silence.

Open Up by Alex Holder looks at the cultural awkwardness around money and why so many of us feel physically uncomfortable talking about it.

This will resonate if you’ve ever:

delayed sending an invoice
avoided opening your banking app
accepted the first salary offered
apologised for your fee - or offered a discount without being asked

So… all of us, then?

Have you read it already? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

If there’s a book you think deserves a place in the Careers Library, let me know by replying or commenting.

A Link I Love: Payrise Edition

🎧 Money Clinic Live: How To Get A Payrise

Recorded a few years ago, this lively FT panel hosted by the brilliant Claer Barrett and featuring Isabel Berwick and Jonathan Black has some great do’s and don’ts.

Here are my top tips on salary negotiations:

Firstly: salary is about the role and what it’s worth in the market. It is not about your worth as a human being. If a company can’t afford to pay market rate, that’s not a you-problem.

Before any negotiation, have three numbers in your head:

• Your minimum – the lowest number that works for your life.
• Your desired – the number you’d feel genuinely happy with.
• Your asking – the number you go in with. High enough that you can come down and still land where you want.

And when they ask for your expectations? Say: “Based on the scope of the role and external benchmarks I’d be happy to share with you, I’m looking for £X.”

Notice: no range. If you give a range, they will pay you at the lower end.

Benchmark widely. Talk to real humans. Speak to recruiters. Stop anchoring to the smallest number you can find.

And remember: If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Questions To Coach Yourself:

It might be:
– Raising your rates / Asking for a pay rise
– Chasing that invoice with more force
– Asking for clarity on pay review and progression - there are some great tips on this in Open Up.
– Agreeing to share your salary info with someone to give you both a benchmark
– Or simply looking properly at your financials instead of avoiding them - I recommend Mr. MoneySavingExpert, because he is God.

Hit reply and let me know. I read every message.

“People say that money is not the key to happiness, but I always figured if you have enough money, you can have a key made.”
– Joan Rivers

Always with a quip on hand. Smart, funny, and true.

“Sessions with Penny felt like a truly inspiring and safe space to start developing confidence in myself and tackle those usual points of resistance I usually meet myself at. Penny has been brilliant at helping me navigate my willingness for change with hope and faith in myself!”
- Anonymous Legend

If you’re ready to tackle the resistance points you regularly hit and would like to invest in some support, just hit reply to book your free intro call now!

Or email hello@mysocalledcareer.com

If this newsletter has got you thinking about money and you’d like to share the wealth, why not share it with a friend?

Or reply and say hi - I read every note. You can also find me lurking on Linkedin where I celebrate and shout about your successes.

If someone sent this to you and you want your own copy next time, you can subscribe below or rummage through the archive.

I’ll be back next month with more Work-ish… Providing you pay me.

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?