Home Economics No. 19: A 20-Something Living in L.A. on $72k with $60k in Savings
She started saving at 16 and is the primary breadwinner in her relationship
Readers, I barely survived the worst week of the year. For those unfamiliar, the worst week (IMHO!) is the last work week before Christmas, when personal and professional deadlines merge into a fiery disaster of epic proportions. (I’m not being hyperbolic at all.)
In five days, I wrote three newsletters (one to come on Monday), coordinated the PTA teacher cash gift distribution (nearly killed me), ice-skated with family visiting from out of town, went Christmas shopping, baked brownies for the school potluck, did some 2025 event-planning with Erika, hosted our first Ambassadors Zoom hangout, recorded a podcast, and tackled so many other big and small to-dos that I wonder when I found time to sleep.
I’m sure many of you are also feeling the holiday strain, and I hope you’re able to find some moments of joy sprinkled in there. Or at least, perhaps, you’re comforted by the knowledge that we’re just a few short days out from that strange period between Christmas and New Year’s when time sort of stands still and all you’re really obligated to do is watch movies and eat leftovers. We’re almost there, folks!
Perhaps I should have saved this wonderful Home Economics for another time, but I’m assuming some of you will be traveling over the next week or so, or holed up in the kitchen baking cookies, or maybe hiding from your extended family in your childhood bedroom, and you just might want something fun to read, and today’s Home Ec is just that—it’s fun.
It features a really cool young woman who recently moved to L.A. to pursue her dreams—and she’s smart with money to boot. She’s the kickass primary breadwinner in her small, guitar-filled household, and she’s supportive of her partner’s ambitions as well1. I read her story, and I couldn’t help but think of me and Ken in our 20s. He was a freelance rock critic for The Hartford Courant, and we drove all over the state of Connecticut seeing shows. Ken saved most of what he made freelancing, and that little nest egg has taken us so far.
But today’s newsletter isn’t about me waxing nostalgic for my salad days. So here’s Home Economics! It’s only for paid subscribers, but maybe today’s the day to upgrade? You not only support an awesome women-run business, but we’re also donating 20% of all new paid subscriptions to The Brave House, a nonprofit that supports immigrant women in NYC. It’s like a double-dose good deed!
Age: 27
Location: Los Angeles
Relationship status: Dating
Age of partner: 33
About me: I am a 27-year-old musician, photographer, and copywriter who just moved to L.A.
All expenses are monthly unless otherwise noted.
Income:
Your job title/salary: Senior copywriter, $72,500
Partner’s job title/salary: Musician, ~$20,000
Your monthly take-home pay (paycheck amount after taxes and other deductions): $4,600
Partner’s monthly take-home pay (paycheck amount after taxes and other deductions): ~$1,600
Side hustle:
Freelance photography: ~$500–$750 a month. This has waned since moving to L.A., as I am having to reestablish myself in the photo world.
Contract copywriting: ~$500–$1,000 a month based on gigs that come up.
Total monthly income: Between $4,600 and 6,200. It’s really hard to say exactly because my income fluctuates a lot each month depending on how many freelance gigs I get. Some months it’s nothing, some it’s $500, some it’s as much as $1,000. I don’t really expect or plan for that extra income, and I put it all into my high-yield savings account. I don’t count my boyfriend’s income here because he makes so little, and we still keep our finances separate.