This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Personal Finance
10+ Things I Did With My Money After Starting My 1st Career Job
Set yourself up for success early
My first full-time job out of college paid $70k. My goal was to earn $60k for each of the three non-tech degrees I completed. I could’ve earned more, but I was still new to living 100% on my own and forgot to consider the cost of living in a premium zone. Thankfully, this mistake wasn’t detrimental because my cost of living was meager.
I Made 70K Straight Out Of College
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I was so focused on saving that I avoided spending at all costs except eating out, which didn’t cost me a hefty price tag (it was the only thing I splurged on, which worked successfully).
I Did the Opposite of Most Adults
If you want an elevated financial life experience, do the opposite of what most people do, and implement self-discipline. Most people that were my age (fresh college graduates) have no financial discipline for the next 10–20 years. But why wait to get it right? I knew I wanted to do the opposite of what most adults did with their money.
It’s never too early to start making prudent decisions with your money. The earlier you start, the easier it is for you later, and the less money you’ll need to save and invest.
14 Habits To Get You In the Top 1%
The 10+ Actions I Executed That Set Me Up
Most people go big when they acquire their first big-time job and raise their income level, but I did the opposite: nothing. I never shopped for new clothes (despite my then-boss suggesting I should improve my work attire), and I did 15+ other helpful things that set me up for financial success:
Stayed with roommates – a family of 3
Paid $300 in rent
Saved ~70% of my income
Worked on building out my 1-year emergency fund
Barely shopped
Avoided acquiring unreasonable credit card debt
I paid off my car
I didn’t buy a new luxury vehicle
Avoided lifestyle creep and kept my expenses low
Donated a lot of stuff and embraced minimalism
Continued educating myself on personal finance
Continued investing in the Roth IRA I opened at 14 years old
Avoided being concerned with how people viewed me
Continue paying down my student loans
I didn’t depend on my parents for money
I maintained my financial independence and did not regress
Continued working two part-time gigs
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.