Welcome to Money Philosophy, where we’re unpacking the personal, emotional, and cultural forces that shape how Gen Z women think about money. We’re asking real women to reflect on the why behind their financial decisions—not just the what.
Today: a 28-year-old Occupational Therapist based in Brea California earning $47,000 a year and navigating $200,000 in debt. In this conversation, she opens up about how a YOLO mindset shaped her early financial habits, the emotional weight of student debt, and the shift toward more intentional spending as she works toward financial stability and long-term goals.
Age: 28
Net Worth (Assets & Debt): -$200,000
Salary (or Primary Income Source): $47,000 in total compensation
Region: Brea, California
Industry: Healthcare
What comes to mind when you think about money?
Honestly? Negative.
My relationship with money has definitely changed. At first, I didn’t really have a view—it was just neutral, kind of zero. But over time, especially as I got older and experienced more, it became negative. My family struggled financially, and they were very vocal about it. Money was always a stressor, and that stuck with me.
One of the biggest turning points for me was grad school. I don’t regret the career I chose—I still believe it’s the right path—
but the cost of the program just wasn’t worth it. I ended up in a lot of debt, and coming out of it, there wasn’t much support for new grads.
Other professions seem to prepare their students better, but for us in OT (Occupational Therapy), a lot of us felt really under prepared. We went in expecting to be ready, but we weren’t. A lot of OT students feel the same—we just didn’t know what we were doing.
That’s actually why I’m doing a fellowship now. It’s a way to get more training while still technically being considered a student, even though you’re paid like an entry-level employee. The goal is to get certified in a specialty area, which you can add to your title.
For me, it’s also about getting a foot in the door at a hospital. There’s more job security there, and hopefully, it’ll help me start paying off my debt faster
How have you responded to that lack of preparation?
I’m doing a fellowship now to get more training. You’re still technically a student, but you get paid at an entry-level rate. You’re working toward taking a specialty exam, which you can add to your title. For me, it’s also a way to get my foot in the door at a hospital, where there’s more job security—and hopefully, a faster way to start paying off my debt.
What was your first job, and what did it teach you about money?
My first job was as a barista at a coffee shop inside the university. I got it because I had a connection—it was linked to my high school, so it was kind of an easy in. At the time, it was a good source of income.
That was around the time I had just gotten a car, so there were car payments, phone bills, stuff like that. I was starting to become more independent, so I had to learn how to manage my money. Every time I got a paycheck, I’d ask: what bills do I need to pay off first? Once I got those out of the way, whatever was left was for me. But I never really learned how to save.
Even though people always said, “save your money,” I had this mindset like—we only have today. That mentality really stuck with me for a while, even into grad school. And during the pandemic, with all that uncertainty, that way of thinking just intensified.
It definitely shaped the way I handle money now, even if I’m still figuring it out.
Do you support anyone financially? How do you balance that with your own goals?
I have my student loans and debt, which are major obligations. And here and there, I help out my family with groceries.
It’s tough balancing them with my financial goals and responsibilities to people. I haven’t really been able to save because of everything I have to pay off. I’ll admit—I’m impulsive when it comes to shopping. I find great deals, but sometimes I just see something I want and go for it. I know I don’t really have the freedom to spend like that, but I still do.
I acknowledge that if I’d been stricter and smarter about certain things, I might be in a better place. But I’m trying to do better.
Have you received financial gifts or inheritance? Do you think generational wealth plays a role in financial success?
Nope, I haven’t inherited anything monetary.
What experiences shaped your mindset around money? Was there a turning point?
There was a point where I started really thinking about the future—having a family, raising kids, how expensive all of that is. Then my thoughts expanded to retirement. Not just mine, but my parents’ too. That was when money stopped being this short-term thing and started feeling like a long-term issue. It made me realize how important it is to manage money in a way that benefits you down the line. I had that YOLO mindset, and I’ve been in situations that pushed me deeper into the negative. Eventually, I hit a point where I thought—this has to stop.
What’s the most difficult financial decision you’ve made? How did you approach it? Do you regret it?
Grad school, hands down.
I made the decision to go after talking to a lot of people—mainly folks in the medical field who had also gone through grad school and taken on debt. A lot of them were older, and I think that might’ve skewed my perspective. They weren’t feeling the weight of the debt as heavily. They told me, “You’ll make that money back in two or three years,” and I believed them. It felt doable—if I had a job lined up right away. But that didn’t happen.
I think I made the right choice for my career—I don’t regret that. But sometimes I wonder if I should’ve waited a year, saved up first. I thought about that back then, and I still think about it now. But saving up would’ve taken years on a minimum wage job. Either way, it would’ve taken time. Going into debt and paying it off faster with a higher salary seemed more practical.
How do you decide what’s worth spending or saving for? What do you never hesitate to spend on? Any regrets?
Now, I ask myself questions. Do I really need this, or do I just want it? How long have I actually wanted it? And is there a cheaper alternative? Those are the three big ones.
I never hesitate to buy gifts for people I love—especially in the past, even if it wasn’t always the smartest decision. I once gave a really expensive gift in a past relationship. I wasn’t doing well financially at the time, but I did it to feel better about myself. Looking back, it was definitely emotionally driven—and not something I’d do again.
What role does money play in your life? Has that changed over time?
I used to just see money as a number. That’s probably why I had such a YOLO mentality.
But now I understand how much money can impact your life—especially when you owe a lot of it. It limits you. And in OT, we talk so much about quality of life. Money plays a huge role in that.It’s a major indicator.
Has social media influenced your views on money? Do you feel pressure or comparison?
You see people living their best lives—traveling to Cabo for the weekend, no responsibilities—and it gets to you. You start thinking, “Why am I working myself into the ground every day while they’re out living?” And then that old mentality creeps back in. Like, I’m wasting my youth. I’ve been through a lot, so I start thinking I deserve to enjoy life too. But I know that way of thinking isn’t healthy. I can go to extremes—I’m a very emotionally driven person.
Have you ever questioned your own money habits or had a wake-up call?
It started when I began thinking seriously about my future. That was the spark. I couldn’t keep going the way I was.
Do your financial decisions reflect your identity or values?
Sometimes, lol. I feel like I’m in this phase of fixing past mistakes, so I try to be more thoughtful now—even with small things like grocery shopping. Like when I buy things for the kids I work with—I’ll go to the dollar store. I want to give them the best because they are the best.
And I’ve realized that where I buy something doesn’t reflect the value of the person I’m giving it to. Getting something inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s cheap in meaning.
If money were no object, how would your life change? Would you still work?
I think I’d actually be smarter with my money. I know how important it is to invest, and if I suddenly had a lot of it, I’d want to make it last. I’d hire someone to help me manage it wisely.
But I’d still work—probably part-time, or maybe I’d volunteer just to stay active. Mostly, I’d spend more time with people. That’s what I’d really want. I love my job, but right now, I work just to pay off debt.
If I didn’t have to worry about money, I’d travel, visit the people I love, and just be present. That’s what I’m missing the most—time.
What do you wish more people understood about money?
I wish people who’ve had the same mindset I’ve had knew that it’s okay to think that way—but also to take a step back and really reflect. I get it. I’ve been there. But if you’re still here tomorrow, or next week, or five years from now… what’s it going to look like if you’ve spent everything today?
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