Several years ago, I read a book – Who Moved My Cheese?

“Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson is a short but powerful parable about dealing with change in work and life. The story follows four characters—Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw—who live in a maze and search for cheese, representing their goals, happiness, or success.

The four characters react differently when they discover that their usual source of cheese is gone:

• Sniff and Scurry, two mice, immediately start searching for new cheese, adapting quickly to change.
• Hem and Haw, two little people, struggle with denial and fear. Hem refuses to look for new cheese, insisting that the old cheese will return. Haw, after much hesitation, realizes the need to embrace change and moves forward.

As Haw ventures into the unknown maze, he learns valuable lessons:

• Change happens—expect it.
• Adapt quickly—the sooner you let go of the old, the sooner you find new opportunities.
• Fear can hold you back, but taking action helps overcome it.
• Keep moving—there’s always more “cheese” out there.

The book teaches that change is inevitable, and those who anticipate, adapt and embrace it will thrive, while those who resist will struggle.

Immigrants, especially those who are single-income, go through such uncertainty and change all the time, for several years.

My own journey, as I navigate between my two professional loves – Technology and Finance, is a journey of constantly moving my cheese. Years of reading, studying, and experimenting with personal finance formed a new cheese for me, and extremely satisfying when I see the impact it creates in my clients’ lives.

There are several ways this applies to your finances and how you react to different life changes, remaining financially prepared.

• Many immigrants face unexpected job shifts, visa issues, or economic downturns. A well-planned financial strategy ensures you don’t panic like “Hem” but instead adapt like Haw with emergency funds and goal-driven investments.
• Some clients hold onto old financial habits from their home country, such as low-risk savings accounts or avoiding credit. Explore new financial tools like Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, ETFs, REITs, much like Haw moving forward to find “new cheese.”
• Fear of loss holds people back from financial growth. Fear is natural but should not paralyze action—calculated risks and education lead to financial growth.
• You must continuously reassess your budgets, investments, and financial goals. What worked in your 20s (or in your home country) will not work in your 40s and in the US.

As an immigrant, your move itself is a big change. In my last seven years in the US, I have seen that this is a country of growth, opportunities, and constant change that brings the usual fear and uncertainty.

Your finances are the solid base that will help you dream bigger, deal with changes, feel secure, and experiment more.

Embrace this change today, and keep moving with financial clarity and confidence —there’s always more “cheese” out there.

Are you ready to transform your finances?

Send an email to info@startyourfinancesright.com to book your strategy session.