32 year former Google employee: I saved $400k living at home

本帖于 2024-02-13 07:51:10 时间, 由普通用户 三河匹夫 编辑

32-year-old former Google employee: I saved $400,000 living at home with my parents—why I don’t regret it

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Photo: Claudia Chee

Photo: Claudia Chee
Photo: Claudia Chee

In 2012, I graduated from college and got a job at Google. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive places in the U.S., and my Asian parents always said that renting was a waste of money.

So after I finished school, it just made sense for me to live at home while I got on my feet. Even though I planned to get my own place at some point, I ended up living at home for 12 years. When I moved out this past December, I had $400,000 saved and invested from both my 9-to-5 income and earnings as an entrepreneur.

 

While it wasn’t the path I anticipated, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Here’s why I don’t regret it:

1. I wasn’t bombarded with bills 

Living at home, I didn’t have to worry about bills, car payments, or rent. At Google, they even provided a shuttle service to work and sometimes clothes.

In my early 20s, my meals were split 50/50 between my parent’s cooking and the Google cafeterias. As I got older, I did the majority of my cooking and grocery shopping, often buying in bulk from Costco.

Without these expenses, I found that I was more thoughtful about the financial habits I wanted to establish, without struggling to make ends meet or going into debt. 

2. I became a pro at managing my money 

I’m lucky to have family members who are knowledgeable about money, including my dad, who is a financial advisor and insurance agent. Their biggest piece of advice was “don’t let your money just sit in a bank.”

So I joined a financial wellness group, created a consistent budget, and set up three emergency funds (with three to six months of expenses) in high-yield savings accounts and credit unions.

Using Vanguard founder John Bogle’s 10 investing principles, I learned to invest in stocks, bonds, and ETFs. I also maxed out my retirement contributions at work.

3. I learned to prioritize self-care  

There were times when living at home took a toll on my mental health, but I made a real effort to prioritize self-care and personal growth. 

I allocated about a third of my annual budget to things like a gym membership, weekly therapy sessions, self-help books, and a career coach to bolster my overall well-being.

4. I was able to pivot to a new career

Like so many people in the tech industry, I was burned out in my job. So in 2017, I left Google and the 9-to-5 grind, to focus on what I was really passionate about.

In 2018, I started teaching yoga, and five years later, I pivoted to another passion of mine: music. I opened Claudia’s Music Studio in 2021 and have been happily teaching full-time ever since. 

In the winter of 2022, most of my students were on break. With time to spare, I found myself visiting my local Costco store a few times a week. I got to know the staff, and one of the managers jokingly said: “You’re always here, you should do something on social media.”

Inspired, I started an Instagram account called Costco Claudia. I try on the latest Costco styles and have 183,000 followers and counting. It’s grown from a fun hobby into something of a new career path.

5. I got to choose a home that is right for me

In December 2023, I moved into my first place in Fremont, California. I currently sublet a one-bedroom for $2,000 a month.

For utilities, I spend about $255 a month: $92 for water and trash collection, $68 for internet, and $95 for electricity. I’m still frugal and love thrifting and bargains. I even bought most of my home furnishings from Costco.

The apartment is a 10-minute drive from my parent’s house. I didn’t expect to live at home for as long as I did, and I know I’m not alone, especially in the Bay Area where one in four millennials and three in four Gen Zers do the same.

There can be so much stigma around living at home, but I know it was the best choice for me. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited for my next chapter. 

Claudia Chee is a Bay Area native and former Google employee turned entrepreneur. Today, she is a piano teacher, the owner of Claudia’s Music Studio, and a social media influencer who enjoys sharing her love of Costco on Instagram.

 

所有跟帖: 

32岁,不是32年,工作了12年,没觉得存的多啊。 -不常冒泡- 给 不常冒泡 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 07:56:35

32岁,应该工作了10年,住家里才存40W,不是swe? -徽州老家- 给 徽州老家 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:00:54

应该至少存了100万啊。 -小松松- 给 小松松 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:02:49

ihad $400,000 saved and invested from both my 9-to-5 income -不常冒泡- 给 不常冒泡 发送悄悄话 (100 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:04:55

财富是美国同龄人 -dujyy262- 给 dujyy262 发送悄悄话 (208 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 07:57:37

不错哦,拿着薪水到紫坛逛,还是学到一些。 -三河匹夫- 给 三河匹夫 发送悄悄话 三河匹夫 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 09:51:28

又见40万 -skyport- 给 skyport 发送悄悄话 skyport 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:01:13

老大,昨晚参加小P关于research和夏季intern的virtual seminar,学生里外国仁真多啊 -成功的熊二狗- 给 成功的熊二狗 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:12:06

官方数据好像是12%? -skyport- 给 skyport 发送悄悄话 skyport 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:35:45

自己住比较自由,但在高房价的地区,跟父母住省房费也是可以理解的。 -小松松- 给 小松松 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:11:39

跟父母住了十年?太可怕啦..最好的dating,party time.. -名校FAN- 给 名校FAN 发送悄悄话 名校FAN 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:13:17

啃老族 -nilabonita- 给 nilabonita 发送悄悄话 nilabonita 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:19:15

跟父母住就不可以DATE,PARTY?现在的父母,你带PARTNER 回家都欢迎配合 -和气客气- 给 和气客气 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:21:17

哈哈,看看这位有没有男友? -名校FAN- 给 名校FAN 发送悄悄话 名校FAN 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:28:25

刚买了房?猜这么多谷歌应该有些钱,但17年离开有点早?如果家里另一个还在科技公司,一个带孩子做些时间合适的事正常 -米汤- 给 米汤 发送悄悄话 米汤 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:24:39

sublet one bedroom -名校FAN- 给 名校FAN 发送悄悄话 名校FAN 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:29:53

哈哈 -nilabonita- 给 nilabonita 发送悄悄话 nilabonita 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:36:57

感觉是个错误的决定,和父母一起住了12年,估计 -闻风- 给 闻风 发送悄悄话 闻风 的博客首页 (102 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:27:28

+1 -小松松- 给 小松松 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:33:29

也是,当初下降利率,早买早享受,离开谷歌有点早,等不到三倍股价也应该等到一倍的 -米汤- 给 米汤 发送悄悄话 米汤 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:36:22

她十年前买房是不是也能省这40万而且房价上涨了? -randomness- 给 randomness 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:38:07

那里好像7年房价翻了一倍,如果1/4头款回报八倍?谷歌几年贷款没问题,现在买比当初贵多? -米汤- 给 米汤 发送悄悄话 米汤 的博客首页 (111 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:45:04

十年前她是穷人 -dujyy262- 给 dujyy262 发送悄悄话 (185 bytes) () 02/13/2024 postreply 08:47:23

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