How a Researcher in DC Does Money
Daine (not her real name) is a 24-year-old political researcher in Washington DC.
So, Daine, how much are you earning?
43,000 shiny dollars a year.
Nice! How does that compare to your expenses?
Pretty well! I checked out my monthly budget spreadsheet before we talked and realized my rent-expenses-saving split is almost exactly 33–33–33, give or take a couple of percentage points.
Which I’m fairly happy with — I’d like the rent to not be so damn high, but I either need to make more money or get the hell out of one of the more expensive real estate markets in the country.
I am guessing your job ties you to the DC area, right? Or can you continue in this field in another part of the country?
That’s a good question. I think technologically we’re at a point that I could do this job pretty much anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, especially if I was still linked to a DC office that could send someone to request physical files whenever that would come up (which: rarely).
But I think psychologically, the Powers That Be feel like DC is the place to have your offices if you want to be taken seriously. Even though I’m sure it’s a much higher overhead for the organization, as well!
That being said, I’m not 100 percent sure this particular brand of research is what I’m going to be doing with my life for the rest of my life, so that makes me a bit more geoflexible. I am enjoying the hell out of DC, though, so really the optimal solution is a higher paycheck at some point down the line — for now, it’s fine!
It would be interesting to do the cost/benefit analysis of a widely disbursed workforce (so lower overhead for the company because they don’t need a large central office and don’t have to put it in a major city) vs. the cost of paying for that workforce to fly to different places at the times they do need to meet in person.
I feel like 37Signals (or I guess they’re called Basecamp now) might have some data on that, since that’s how they run their company.
Behind the scenes: How we organize our twice-a-year full-company meetups
But that’s me going on a tangent.
Yes! Super here for that tangent.
It’s also a psychological/company values question. I do think there’s something to be said for having all the great minds of your company under one roof, but there’s also something to be said for letting your employees move around as life takes them to different parts of the country.
From my POV, I actually had the “where would you live if you could live anywhere” option since I’m freelancing — and I still picked a ridiculously expensive city because that’s where all the other people were.
You can’t win for trying.
Haha yup, turns out there’s something to be said for the silly expensive cities. Who knew?
The Costs and Benefits of Living in the Middle of Nowhere
Okay, so how are you getting that 33–33–33 rent/savings/spending split? Roommates? No debt?
Yes and yes!
I currently live with one other roommate, which is the first time I’ve lived with less than two roommates since roommate meant “person sharing a college dorm room with you.”
I pay $825 + utilities, which is a steal for the location.
And I am super duper lucky/fortunate to have graduated without college debt.
Congratulations! That is one of those deals where I’m sure there was luck involved but also work (scholarships, etc.).
Fair! But I also was able to get those scholarships by being fortunate. For example, I got a music scholarship, which would’ve been difficult to score were it not for years (a decade!) of music lessons/instrument rentals/etc. etc. etc.
And your own practice. But yes, point made.
So you mentioned when you reached out to us that you were able to “live comfortably on a relatively modest salary in one of the most expensive cities in the country.” Not having college debt probably helps with that, but how else are you managing your finances to help you live well?
Haha it definitely helps with that! Though I actually think I save enough for a (modest) student loan payment and then some, which is why I made that grandiose claim.
Part of it, to be honest, is just starting from a smaller amount and not giving into lifestyle creep. When I first moved to a city, I was an intern making less than half of what I make now — I sold ice cream on the weekend to be able to afford things that were not rent and transit.
So when I went full-time salary, it was like ~unbelievable riches~.
I think I may have stolen this from another Billfold article, but someone compared finances to dieting — that you can gain weight and diet and lose weight and stop dieting and gain weight and begin the cycle anew, the best way to stay in shape is to be in the long-term habit of eating healthy. Living on much much less gave me the habit of spending within my means. While I definitely spend more now, I think I have a decent financial muscle memory.
Of course, that muscle memory doesn’t mean jack without tracking actual spending, which I also do okay (not great!). That’s mostly just a question of forcing myself to open my spreadsheet every couple of weeks.
That metaphor about creating long-term habits makes SO MUCH SENSE. (Separate from weight loss because Health At Every Size.) But yeah, you figure out what you want your habit to be and then you figure out how to stick to it.
I love the idea that it’s muscle memory.
Yeah, weight loss is a bad metaphor. Maybe more like being a generally neat person and putting your shoes away when you get home, etc. instead of being a disaster zone and flinging everything with wild abandon and then spending hours each weekend cleaning everything up.
I am a total disaster zone person, so if neat people could teach me their ways I would appreciate it!
But anyway, yeah — checking in with my spreadsheet is important, but I’m usually pretty damn close to my spending limits when I do calculate everything. Having the same budget for a year or two has shaped my understanding of what I can and can’t afford.
How much do you think your training as a musician helped you in terms of money management? When you mentioned muscle memory and habits it made me think of practicing, and the idea that you accustom yourself to doing the same thing over and over.
Oh that’s so interesting! I like that. I’m really not much of a musician at all these days, but there is something to be said for being trained to understand that you need to sit down and practice your scales so you can stand up and play the exciting things.
Also I think it taught me that habits are fun when you do them right — scales were actually some of my favorite things by high school because they were nice and easy and comfortable.
Yes! You don’t have to think, you can just play and you know it’ll all work out.
Sort of like making a budget and sticking to it every month. Sort of. 😀
Haha I’m here for it!
And conversely, I think when people get into financial strife they dive straight into the étude — not spending Any Money on Anything So Help Me God.
Unfortunately, typically you can’t quit your spending habits cold turkey. Or, if you can, it’s the least fun.
Did you have habits that you had to quit?
In a manner of speaking! I definitely had hobbies I couldn’t afford — the beautiful thing about college is that there are all of these glorious classes and knowledge and activities that are sunk costs.
Then you graduate and you’re like, “wait a minute, a ceramics class is HOW much?”
YES! I used to go ice skating all the time in college.
That’s amazing! Was there like a college rink?
Yeah, we had a really well-ranked skating team, so there was a good rink that the students could use for recreation.
Okay that’s awesome. And I bet less than fun when you were like “oh right, rinks in the real world are not free.”
Right. They aren’t nearby, either. Neither are choirs, or dance classes, or yoga, or any of the other things I did. You can, if you’re lucky, pick ONE of those.
Exactly! And simultaneously, I have TIME for the things I put off in college, because no homework! Praise be.
So another part of adulting is learning how to learn on my own, which is certainly something that 16 years of schooling did not teach me.
How have you dealt with that? Is this a “take a class” thing, or a “go to the library and watch a bunch of YouTube videos” thing?
Thus far, not super successfully! I’m trying out Duolingo, which has been cool. I’ve also been to a couple sessions of Hear Me Code, which is an AWESOME 100-percent-volunteer-based programming workshop for ladies by ladies. The most successful thing I’ve done is join a writing group, because gentle peer pressure turns out to be a pretty good catalyst.
It turns out that anything I’m interested in doing, there’s probably a thousand or so folks my age in the area that are also interested in learning the same thing.
And I also do best with some sort of accountability system. It’s a beautiful thing to realize that you’re not a special snowflake.
We’ve discussed a lot of things you’re doing really well financially. Is there any aspect of your financial life you wish you could do better?
Definitely! I wish I had an understanding of long-term/retirement savings and was doing more to maximize that money’s potential. (Currently I’m like “INDEX FUNDS VANGUARD IRA AAAAH!”)
Sadly, we just learned on The Billfold that these aren’t good enough reasons to get a financial advisor! Our little money just isn’t enough to warrant advising!
5 Times You Don’t Need a Financial Advisor and 2 When You Actually Might
Haha right?! Sorry my life savings are a pittance compared to your terrifying hedge fund finance tower of doom.
Ugh.
I also want to get better at planning/being patient when it comes to big purchases. For example, shopping around for a winter coat in fall (or spring!) instead of realizing I’m cold in January, walking into a store and plopping down money.
What advice do you have for Billfold readers?
Two things. One, if you’re currently seeking it, work that finance memory muscle! Which I think comes from checking in on your spending often (weekly? daily?) and then letting it go a bit as you develop a better sense of what your reasonable spending limits are.
Relatedly, number two: it’s okay to mess up! I know when I started budgeting for myself I had this idea that if I spent too much money or accidentally missed a credit card payment because I didn’t put it on minimum autopay or forgot that I spend $6 on cheese and didn’t enter it in my spreadsheet I was Doomed to Bad Credit Hell for eternity. Turns out the world not only keeps spinning on its axis, but you can call your credit card company and they’ll make the late fee go away! As in all things, being kind to yourself is important.
❤ Agreed.
Support The Billfold
The Billfold continues to exist thanks to support from our readers. Help us continue to do our work by making a monthly pledge on Patreon or a one-time-only contribution through PayPal.
Comments