Gen Z Guide to FI

I theoretically track all the money I spend weekly, but I have lived a life of deprivation since graduating in 2020. I’m unsure how much it costs to live a life I am excited about. Now it’s 2024… what the heck. Where did time go?

Anyway, recently, I started turning on the heat during the winter. I started trying out new recipes, which significantly increased my grocery budget. I cringe when I read this post on my $100 grocery budget. I am still pretty proud that I managed to stay disciplined in my quest to return to school.

BUT I should not have been living so raggedly.

I relied heavily on free food from work and cheap, unhealthy food. Alas, I know that learning new recipes and cooking at home is healthy and more fulfilling. I don’t think I’d ever be a person who wants to spend more than 30 mins to 1 hour making a meal. It needs to be done quick, or I lose interest.

Since my company cut me off from free food (I ranted about it here), I’ve challenged myself to try a new recipe a week. I have to learn to enjoy cooking until I am rich enough to outsource it to a sexy chef.

Cooking is going well so far. I actually went to eat takeout for lunch because I forgot to take my lunch to work one day, last week. I spent $24 (including tax & tip) on a shrimp pasta plate. I used to get that order a lot when the company was paying. But paying from my own wallet hurt. I thought to myself, “I can make more than 5 portions of the same shrimp pasta meal on my own with $24. I did not value that expense. It was convenient but not worth the expense.”

I don’t think 2024 is the year I find out how much my ideal life costs – with me becoming a grad student. But I do want to live a life that isn’t so fucking ghetto. So, turning on the heat and making myself good food feels like a place to start.

“Treat yourself like someone you love.” – Unknown

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby