It’s Per$onal is an anonymous blog series designed to shed light on the intricate details of the personal finances and lifestyles of women.
Name:
Maggie
How old are you?
27
Where do you live? City and State (or Country if outside the U.S.)
Rural Connecticut
What is your highest level of education?
Master’s
Are you single or married?
Married
If you are married, do you and your spouse have joint or separate finances?
Separate
Do you have any children or dependents? If yes, please explain.
No
What is your total monthly rent / mortgage for your household?
0
Has Covid-19 impacted you financially in any way?
No
What is your current occupation? If not currently employed, please say “Not Employed”
Accountant
What is your yearly salary (or approximate yearly compensation) for your current occupation?
78,000
If you are currently employed, do you like your job? Why or why not?
Yes, low stress and great work life balance (very unusual for accounting)
Do you have a second job or side hustle? If Yes, please explain.
Yes, Etsy store
If you have a second job or side hustle, about how much money do you make monthly from your second job / side hustle?
Not much. Maybe $100/month
Do you budget on a consistent basis? If so, please explain how you currently budget:
Budgeted obsessively pre-COVID. Now I’m in a routine of just paying the max on my loans and stop spending when my checking account hits zero, since I hardly leave the house. I leave very little money in checking to use and have sinking funds for any type of emergency.
Are you debt-free?
No
If you are debt free, how much debt have you paid off and how long did it take you to pay it all off?
I wish
Do you have any student loan debt currently?
Yes
If yes, about how much student loan debt do you have?
115,000
What is your monthly student loan payment amount?
1230
Do you have any credit card debt?
No
If Yes, about how much credit card debt do you have currently?
N/A
Do you have any other kinds of debt? If Yes, please explain:
No
Do you know what your credit score is?
Yes
If Yes, what is your credit score?
769
Are you currently saving for retirement?
Yes
If yes, about how much do you have saved for retirement?
15,000
What does an ideal retirement look like for you?
Have a house that’s paid off. Comfortably travel and not work. Nothing crazy though.
What’s your biggest purchase of 2020 so far?
Vacation in Feb (but was mostly paid for in 2019?)
Biggest purchase of your life?
My education – 150,000
What do you spend money on that brings you joy?
Love thrift store shopping because it’s relatively guilt free
What are your short term money goals, if any? ( < 1 year)
Get below 70k in debt.
What are your long term money goals, if any? ( > 1 year)
Pay off all student loans before turning 30
What is your #1 financial concern right now?
Student loans
What financial victory/success are you most proud of?
Between my car, a credit card, and student loans, I have paid off 50k in about two years, one year with intensity
Anything we didn’t ask about you that you want to include?
Dogs are expensive to take care of but worth every penny
