Not going to college was not an option to my family and my parents fully paid my tuition fees to a liberal art school. It was a huge privilege that I didn’t fully understand until I was an adult.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have for the money? Do your parents/guardians train you for finances?
Money was a beautiful taboo subject that grows. I didn’t get a lot of financial training beyond not putting things on credit cards.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
Babysat and Nannied for neighborhood kids who started when I was 13 years old. My first jobs worked in a limited (RIP) and as a receptionist for my dad’s little businesses. I got them for spending and gas money.
Are you worried about the money that is growing up?
At all. I grew up steadily upper middle class and I always had everything I needed, went to private school, participated in sports and extracurricular and went on one or two trips a year. My parents were more successful in their career over time (Moreso for my mom) and once I was at the end of the Gymnasium and in college they were decent.
Are you worried about money now?
Less than we used to. I was financially unstable until I started in my current company and almost tripled my salary six years ago, and now I feel good about where I am. The transition to a hard couple years with the state of J.’s work made me make me more secure, though it was very stressful at the moment. My concerns these days are more concerned with saving retirement and if I will ever be able to buy a home in my HCOL area than being a lot of money.
At what age became financially responsible for yourself and have a financial security net?
I started paying my own bills after graduating from college at 21, paying for health insurance at 26 and finally my own phone account at 30. I am very lucky to have both my parents and my laws as a financial security net.
Have you ever received passive or hereditary income? If yes, explain.
My parents gave me $ 30,000 after the sale of my dad’s business, paid for my wedding, they gave me $ 3,000 to help me regulate me after graduating from college and covered half of my rent for three months ($ 4,000) so I could. I have inherited a total of $ 12,000 from extensive family members who have died.
