Gen Z Guide to FI

I got my first paycheck. I love the taste the cash money. Yummy yum yum! But as I get paid, I’ve started thinking about if I have any goals for 2026.

Goal #1

Survive bitch! Self-explanatory but I have some credit cards to pay off. I put part of August and all of my September expenses on the credit cardzzz. This paycheck went completely towards the cards. No joy 😦

Goal #2

Invest 14% in my 401k. That’s the amount I feel comfortable with without it eating into my life too much. 

Goal #3

Pay off student loan. This is a stretch goal. I won’t beat myself up if I don’t get this done. I have close to $6k in loans so that might be a lot to ask for in 3 months. I’d be ok with paying off a quarter of it.

Goal #4

Don’t let money or lack thereof stop me from spending holidays with my homies. Last year, I spent Christmas with my best friend in Canada. We bought matching pyjamas and took pics. Very cutesy! It almost makes living on the east coast worth it to be close enough to her. My parents also have a place in Atlanta now so I spent New Year’s there last year. Good times. Good vibes. It will be expensive but I would love to recreate.

I’m also spending Thanksgiving with my parents. I typically spend it in my house but I’m test running spending it with them.  If I don’t like it, it won’t happen again. Last year, I went on a siblings trip but my brother is being avoidant so maybe I’ll try again next year. Context for new readers: I didn’t grow up in the US. My parents recently got a condo in Atlanta and stay there for half the year now.

Goal #5

Mega stretch if I cash out my RSUs at work, put some money in my Roth. Also just figured out what RSUs are. Side note:10% of my annual compensation is in company stock aka RSUs. Back to Roth, the deadline is technically April of next year. This really isn’t a priority but it would be nice.

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby