Gen Z Guide to FI

I want to start off by saying this is the year I began heavily outsourcing my brain to AI. I’m not fully sure yet if that’s good or bad although, I used no AI to write this post. #PROUD. 2025 has been an amazing year for me despite it being a not-so-good year for the economy, job market and dare I say, American history.

I spent $50,100 this year, $5,000 less than last year. I spent approx. $9,800 on travel plus 125,000 miles on flights. I spent a lot of time in airports which I love because it’s always exciting to be embarking on a new adventure.

I’m writing this post from the airport on the way to Atlanta because my parents moved there recently. They got green cards earlier this year and successfully bought a condo which they will move into in early 2026. There was drama there but I was not involved as I am unemployed and not super helpful in the house buying process. YAY for unemployment! It’s my first time going to my parents for the holidays instead of vice versa. I see why people hate traveling for the holidays. This is really not a vibe. My flight is delayed but at least it gave me the push to finally write this blog post.

I’m sorry to have deserted the blog for this long.

Anyway, people are constantly reminding me that I’m going to graduate this year. I’m like first, stop reminding me. Second, I’m not ready to go back to the real world but I am ready to not be poor anymore.

The first year of my MBA was so carefree (because I had money in the bank). I really got to taste what a financially free, abundant life could look like. From this past summer till now, I’ve been obsessively checking my bank account every day and updating my budget daily which is kind of unhealthy. Of course, my coping mechanism is not only to control the things I can control, but also to become obsessive about every dime I spend.

The fall semester of my second year was very busy. The busiest of my MBA career so far. I honestly was doing too much. Working 4 part time jobs, being very active in 3 clubs, networking, trying to have some social life and having actual school work of course. School came last LOL. I had a lot of fun though. I just know that my last semester is going to be chill because I’ve been hustling since day 1 and now I’m going to focus my energies into job search and social life. Especially saying yes to more social stuff because I might not even be in NYC after I graduate. Who knows?

This year was also the year that I achieved my life long dream to work in Hollywood. I didn’t update the blog but I ended up winning a national competition in February and getting an internship at a major Hollywood studio. What is my life? I still can’t believe that happened to me. I also went to the Cannes film festival & Sundance in Utah. I’ve met so many cool people working in different parts of the industry. I got exposed to the glitz and glam and realized having a taste of Hollywood might be enough for now. My goal is still to work in entertainment full time. However, with every passing day, I’m becoming more and more open to working a job with good benefits, higher pay and work/life balance. The media industry is very uncertain and it keeps changing daily. 

Working in Hollywood this summer was fun – other than the fact that I wasn’t paid enough. It also seemed like people who worked where I worked didn’t get promoted regularly and there was just so much ass-kissing and sugarcoating that pissed me off enough. The positives from my experience were working at a studio lot in Los Angeles, running into celebrities, free movies and good work life balance. Although, now the work life balance piece is probably going to change with return-to-work mandates. 

All this being said, I’ll always be involved in filmmaking in some capacity but maybe my younger self had it right with working a job that covered my lifestyle and pursuing filmmaking as a passion. GASP.

Did it take me 5 years of GMAT prep, spending all my savings to pursue my MBA & moving to NYC to make me realize that working a job full time and working as an indie filmmaker on the side was a great idea. I think my life was good on paper before but I was miserable and there were many factors. I didn’t like my job, I didn’t like where I lived and I didn’t have friends in my neighborhood. Now, I’ve fixed 2 out of 3 of this things and I’m very content. I’m unemployed and pinching pennies, but I’m pretty happy. 

I think my biggest realization is that I dread explaining that my new career goals aren’t siloed to working in entertainment. Since I made my whole identity for the last 3 years about making this job pivot. Like that isn’t do or die for me anymore. I still want to give it a shot and apply to entertainment jobs but I also want to work somewhere I am valued (aka less likely to be fired) and that isn’t my whole life (aka easy to detach and not become my identity). Or maybe I’m trying to forgive myself more for spending all this time and money, chasing a dream. Who knows? But hopefully we find out next year.

It’s been a year of growth, dreams coming true & new dreams emerging. What a ride!

See you in 2026 ❤

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby