Disposable Income

Here's the situation:

I'll be starting my FT position at a BB next month and I will be staying at home with my parents (so no rent or related expenses). So basically 100% of my income will be disposable. I have a pretty good idea of what I'm gonna do with the money, but I'd like some other ideas.

So, what would you do with your money if it was completely disposable?? I'm expecting some pretty unique ideas, so don't let me down.

24 Comments
 

move the hell out. i can't believe you can still stand living with your parents. i love my folks but if i were in your position, i'd be gone immediately

otherwise, save it or put it in some funds

there's no reason why you have to spend it away, unless you have a particularly good reason

 
zbbmove the hell out. i can't believe you can still stand living with your parents. i love my folks but if i were in your position, i'd be gone immediately

otherwise, save it or put it in some funds

there's no reason why you have to spend it away, unless you have a particularly good reason

I don't know why you were under the impression that I was going to 'spend it away'. I said I have a good idea of what I'm gonna do with it... and that happens to be save every single penny I can. I'm gonna max out my 401K and put the rest in ETFs and MMMFs.

And I only plan on staying with my parents for 1-1.5 years. I'll be able to save a truckload of money I might even get lucky in the market and make a ton of money. I don't know how that's considered a stupid idea.... I'll be banking while other analysts will be scraping for pennies. I estimated that I'll be able to save about $60k my first year, assuming I get a $30k bonus.

 
whats-the-damage
zbbmove the hell out. i can't believe you can still stand living with your parents. i love my folks but if i were in your position, i'd be gone immediately

otherwise, save it or put it in some funds

there's no reason why you have to spend it away, unless you have a particularly good reason

I don't know why you were under the impression that I was going to 'spend it away'. I said I have a good idea of what I'm gonna do with it... and that happens to be save every single penny I can. I'm gonna max out my 401K and put the rest in ETFs and MMMFs.

And I only plan on staying with my parents for 1-1.5 years. I'll be able to save a truckload of money I might even get lucky in the market and make a ton of money. I don't know how that's considered a stupid idea.... I'll be banking while other analysts will be scraping for pennies. I estimated that I'll be able to save about $60k my first year, assuming I get a $30k bonus.

Why has nobody asked the obvious question that this statement begs?

If you're planning on "saving every penny," why the fuck do you have a thread on WSO asking us what to do with your money!?

"If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars." - J. Paul Getty
 

This is surprising as you graduated from a top-10 MBA school. I'm sure you're making enough to move out, but it's your decision.

Anyway, max out your 401(k), preferably ROTH, max out your ROTH IRA, and start saving for a house or condo.

 
Best Response

Live with your parents and don't get caught up in the "you should have this by this age" hype. Don't even get in the habit of spending a check before you've even seen the net pay deposited into your account. That bad habit is why some bankers have jacked up credit; their bonus is spent before it's even deposited. Get your 6-8 month savings net first. There is no telling what Alice in Wonderland (Obama) is going to do to Wall St and the last ones in are sometimes the first ones out. Then look for your place. I think women would be more impressed by a 25 year old who lived at home and saved up 15 grand than by him driving a BMW. Thanks to leasing, ANYONE can drive a Benz or Beemer so it's not the headturner it used to be.

 

moneyneversleeps2

I think women would be more impressed by a 25 year old who lived at home and saved up 15 grand than by him driving a BMW. Thanks to leasing, ANYONE can drive a Benz or Beemer so it's not the headturner it used to be.

Women care about:

Having your own place > your ride 

They want alone time, snuggle time, all your time. They want to crash at your place and walk around in their underwear. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

lol @ so many responses being based on what women will be impressed by

Anyway, don't you have any hobbies? Buy a really nice guitar, or build a recording studio, or take golf lessons... that kind of thing.

 

Save save save save. Save pathologically. Take the money you would pay in rent (say $1,500/month) and put it away in savings (buy CD's or something so you can't touch it). Don't listen to the people telling you to move out. If your parents are okay with it, they understand you're an adult and need your privacy, and it's a reasonable commute to your job, why not? And besides, who cares what women think? And if they're so shallow as to be turned off by your living arrangement, they're not worth your time (or money).

I would love nothing more than to live at home while I save for my own place after law school, even if I made $160k/year plus bonus, but it's not possible because the nearest major legal market from my place is 1.5 hours each way and it's in shambles.

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
 

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"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee

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