Graphic Artist in Los Angeles & NYC — Money Diary

Monthly expenses
Rent: $1,400 (my portion, split with my boyfriend F)
AMC Stubs $25
Adobe Creative Cloud $16 (saved on Black Friday).
Dropbox: $10
Apple Storage $3
Google Drive $2
Streaming services: $0 (Although F and I are from different families, we have all the money)

Is there a expectation that you would attend higher education? Was there any higher education you were required to take part in? What was the cost of higher education you received?
Always. My parents are Middle Eastern and I am a first-generation child. They saw higher education as a way to uplift your family. My college experiences were a great experience for me, particularly as an artist major. It’s fun to learn! It’s fun to learn! Although my parents didn’t contribute financially, they made sure that I returned home with plenty of homemade food every time I visited.

How many conversations were you able to have with your parents about money as a child? What financial education did your guardian/parents provide?
My siblings are many and I come from a tight budget. My parents were frugal — my mom especially. Her mom would spend hours perusing the ads in grocery stores and searching for specific items at multiple locations each trip. Ask her any question about an item, and she will tell you the best place to purchase it. She never took her out to eat, nor did she shop at the supermarket. Although they taught me how save money, I didn’t learn much about investing. They only told me that one day you would want to buy real estate. Everything I knew about investing and saving money for retirement was my own.

How did you find your first job, and what was it like?
My college offered me a position as a motion graphic designer. My job was to create little ads for the upcoming film screenings, festivals and other events that my college would host. The ads would play on the televisions located in the food court. A camera would be taken to bigger events. I would also edit sizzle reels for the YouTube channel. I was paid just $13.50 per hour, and the experience was quite chill.

Have you worried about the future of money?
No. Yes, I was aware that we were financially poor. However my parents never worried about our financial future. It is hard to believe that things could have been worse. My siblings and I had a great childhood. The vibes were positive.

Are you worried about your money right now?
My dream job pays well so I rarely worry about money. That is something I am extremely thankful for. Film industry workers are freelance so I make sure I have enough money to cover unexpected expenses.

How old were you when you became financially responsible? What financial protection do you have?
18 years old, I left home to go to college. Through college, I managed my finances and paid the rent and supported myself. My parents are sweet, though, and liked to give me small sums of money every so often — $50 here, a filled gas tank there — so that definitely helped. They are my financial security net in case things go south.

Have you received inherited or passive income in the past? If so, please tell us.
Nope.