What I’d Do With a $500 Grant (As a Woman With Big Dreams & Bills to Pay)

“Sometimes all you need is $500 and a little bit of God’s favor to flip your whole momentum.”

By Crystal, Founder of Southern Girl & Co.

💭 Let’s be real for a second.

There’s a lot of noise online about “six-figure launches” and “million-dollar brands,” but sometimes, you don’t need all that — you just need a solid $500 and a strategy that feels good in your spirit.

I’ve been there. Figuring it out. Making it up as I go. Selling candles, designing websites, writing down ideas in journals with no clue how I’d bring them to life — but knowing deep down that God gave me something special.

And when I started getting grants — small ones, like $500 — I learned how to stretch that money like magic.

This blog is for the girl who’s still dreaming and doing. The one who might not have everything together but still shows up every day for her vision. If that’s you, here’s how I’d make the most of a $500 grant — and how you can too.

1. Don’t Downplay the Blessing

First things first — don’t brush it off like it’s “just $500.” That $500 could be the first seed in a whole new chapter. It could be the difference between stuck and started.

You’re not just spending money — you’re stewarding momentum.

2. Think Like a Brand, Not Just a Business

If I had $500, here’s where my mind would go:

• What’s going to make this stretch farther than this month?
• What’s going to build trust and make people take me seriously?
• What can I create once, but benefit from for months?

Here are 5 things I’d seriously consider:

3. Five Smart, Soulful Ways to Use a $500 Grant

🖼️ 1. Branding Photos or Short Video Content

Find a local photographer who vibes with your style and get a batch of lifestyle photos. These photos will carry your content, elevate your brand, and build credibility — even before you open your mouth.

📦 2. Purchase Inventory for a Small Drop

Think about something you can make and sell quickly — mugs, notebooks, candles, or digital downloads. Use $300 to produce and $200 to market it or set up your store.

$500 won’t build an empire overnight, but it can build the product that funds your next idea.

💻 3. Hire a Freelancer for What You Hate Doing

If you know Canva’s not your ministry or you can’t figure out email systems, hire help. Pay someone on Fiverr, Upwork, or even a friend to help you do what you’ve been putting off for months.

This buys you peace of mind — and time to work in your zone of genius.

🛍️ 4. Get in the Room — or Book a Pop-Up

Pay for a vendor table at a community market or a pop-up in your city. Use the moment to get feedback, test your pitch, and make sales. The right room can shift everything.

Sometimes success is just one room away — but you have to walk in like you belong there.

🧾 5. Book a Money Session or Get Your Finances Organize

It’s not glamorous, but it’s powerful. Use part of the grant to talk to a bookkeeper or set up your QuickBooks or Wave. If you’re not in financial order, it’s hard to sustain creative flow.

Don’t let chaos steal your clarity. This one move can unlock peace.

4. Let It Multiply (Spiritually + Strategically)

You know how the Bible says be faithful over a few things? This is that.

This $500 could open doors — but only if you treat it like it’s worth a million. Pray over it. Plan it out. Honor it.

Ask yourself:

• What will this money help me start?
• How will this decision feel three months from now?
• Is this aligned with where I know God is taking me?

Because here’s the truth: sometimes the blessing is waiting on you to act like it’s already yours.

5. Resources for the Next Step

If you’re serious about this season, here’s what I want you to do:

👉🏽 Check out my updated Creative Grant List — full of opportunities to fund your next chapter.
👉🏽 Explore my favorite creative tools + platforms that help make the dream doable.
👉🏽 Bookmark this blog and revisit it anytime you’re feeling stuck.

Final Word

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start.

You’re already her.
Now let’s build like it.

With love,
Crystal
Founder, Southern Girl & Co✨