You just got paid yesterday. Today, you're checking your bank account before deciding if you can afford Chipotle for lunch.
How is this your life?
You have a degree. You have a job. You're a functioning adult. So why does it always feel like you're out of money?
Paula Zimmer, VP of Client Services at Kuno Creative, remembers this exact feeling in her mid-twenties:
"I remember a coworker saying, 'Paula, I promise there's a point where you don't have to check your bank account before you go out to lunch.' And I was like, God, it can't come soon enough because why does it always feel like I'm out of money?"
Here's the answer no one wants to hear: Because you ARE out of money at first.
And here's why.
Let's do the math that makes you want to cry:
Your entry-level salary (let's say $45,000 if you're lucky)
You're left with about $5,550 for the ENTIRE YEAR for everything else. That's $462 per month for:
No wonder you're checking your account before buying lunch.
This is normal. This is everyone. This is temporary.
Michelle Glass is now a Certified Financial Planner helping women build financial security. But when she was starting out?
"What surprised me most entering the workforce was how little I knew about the real world. For me there was a big gap between reality and what I learned in college."
College taught you calculus. But not how to read a pay stub. Not what a 401(k) is. Not how credit cards actually work.
Paula's biggest regret: "I wish somebody taught me more about how to handle money. Anything about credit for credit cards or loans for buying a car or saving for retirement and how 401(k)s work."
And here's the kicker: This is not just you. This is everyone.
You're not dumb for not knowing this stuff. You were never taught.
But now's the time to learn.
Jennifer Fitzgerald, Strategy and Operations Leader at EY (one of the Big Four consulting firms), has this advice:
"We have a lot of tools and resources available to help with financial management. Take advantage of the resources at work because otherwise you're leaving money on the table."
Here's what to actually do:
Check if your company offers:
401(k) matching - This is free money. If your company matches 3% and you're not contributing, you're saying no to a 3% raise.
Financial planning resources - Many companies offer free sessions with financial advisors. Use them.
HSA or FSA accounts - Tax-advantaged ways to pay for healthcare. Learn how they work.
Employee assistance programs - Sometimes includes financial counseling.
Go to HR. Ask what's available. Use everything.
Jennifer kept a chunk of savings she could fall back on just in case something were to happen.
When she wanted to switch careers and go back to school full-time, that savings gave her the freedom to do it. "Had I not had that, I don't know if I would've been comfortable taking that bet."
Having 3-6 months of expenses saved isn't just about emergencies. It's about having options.
Can't save $500/month right now? Start with $25. Then $50. Build the habit before worrying about the amount.
Future you will thank you.
Paula learned through "trial and error," getting into situations where she couldn't pay for gas and had to max out a credit card.
Don't be Paula (sorry Paula).
Learn from:
One concept. This week. That's it.
Ali Feller started at Dance Spirit Magazine making $31,500 a year in New York City.
Read that again: $31,500. In New York City.
"I was making bare minimum... we got 10 vacation days. I remember being like, how will I spend that time? How amazing." (Spoiler: She took none of them because that's what happens when you're 22 and think taking time off makes you look lazy.)
The point isn't that you'll make tons of money right away. The point is to be strategic:
Your first salary won't be your last salary. But what you learn about money management now will follow you forever.
Pick ONE:
One action. Seven days. Build the foundation.
And most of all, trust yourself.
💜 Brianne
This is just the beginning. Michelle Glass, a Certified Financial Planner who went from pharmaceutical sales to helping women build financial security, is one of 12 successful women sharing their wisdom in our ebook: "NO ONE TOLD ME THIS: 12 Women Share the Secrets You Actually Need About Career, Money & Confidence."
Inside, you'll get:
Plus insights on career, confidence, loneliness, and everything else they don't tell you about post-grad life.
These women have worked everywhere from Pfizer to Wall Street to Fortune 200 companies. They've been broke. They've figured it out. And now they're sharing everything.
Download the free ebook here and stop feeling confused about money.