The first year out of school, one month at a time, for a young adult and a grown-up. Start with $1,800 in the bank, nothing invested, no debt, and well-being at 60 out of 100. Each month, talk it over and circle a choice. Some choices show their price; the key at the back shows everything each one moves, including well-being and what it sends into a later month. Look it up after you choose, and write the new numbers in the ledger.
There is no right answer and no score. At the end, look at two lines together: what you are worth, and how you are. The year is from LedgerQuest on Spark & Anvil.
January
Your first paycheck (and the W-4)
Your first job. You earned $2,400 this month — but only $1,800 landed in your account, after taxes, insurance, and a little retirement. Before you spend a dollar, you decide how to think about your money.
A Budget off your net $1,800
B Plan off the $2,400 gross number
C Have Yusuf break down every deduction first
February
Where to live
Time to sign a lease. A cheaper apartment sits 45 minutes from work and your friends. A pricier one is 10 minutes away. A third option: split a place with a roommate.
A The cheap place, 45-min commute (−$700)
B The pricier place near work & friends (−$950)
C Share a place with a roommate (−$550)
March
A cushion, or the new phone?
Your phone still works, but a shiny new one is on sale for $300. You could buy it — or keep that $300 as a quiet cushion for whatever the year throws at you.
A Keep $300 as a cushion; skip the upgrade
B Buy the new phone now (−$300)
C Buy a good refurb, set $150 aside (−$150)
April
A credit-card offer arrives
A pre-approved credit card lands in the mail. Used one way it builds your credit history; used another it quietly builds a balance that grows against you.
A Get it — and pay in full every month
B Get it — carry a balance for the rewards points
C Decline it for now
May
A friend asks for a loan
A close friend hits a rough patch and asks to borrow $200. You want to help. You also have your own budget to protect.
A Lend the full $200 (−$200)
B Lend $100, be honest about your budget (−$100)
C Say a kind no, offer help another way
June
A text: “Your bank account is locked”
A text arrives: “URGENT — your bank account is locked. Verify now: [link].” Your heart jumps. Do you click?
A Click the link and “verify” your account
B Ignore it; call the number on your real card
C Not sure — ask someone you trust first
July
A $600 bonus lands
A surprise $600 bonus hits your account. It could work for future-you in a broad index fund, or become memories with friends this summer.
A Invest it in a broad index fund (−$600 cash, +$600 invested)
B A trip with friends (−$600)
C Invest $400, enjoy $200 (−$600 cash, +$400 invested)
August
The car breaks down
Your car dies on the way to work. The repair is $300. How this lands depends a lot on the cushion you did — or didn’t — keep back in March.
A Pay it from your cash cushion (−$300)
B Put it on the credit card
C Skip the repair; take the bus for a month
September
The subscription audit
You count six streaming and app subscriptions, most only a few dollars each. Half of them you haven’t opened in months.
A Cancel what you don’t use (+$30 / mo back)
B Keep them all — they’re only a few dollars each
C Bundle two of them (+$15 / mo back)
October
Prices rose; your pay didn’t
Prices rose about 4% this year. Your rent renewal notice says +$50 a month. Your pay hasn’t moved. Your money quietly buys less than it did in January.
A Make your case for a raise
B Trim your budget to absorb it
C Do nothing and hope prices settle
November
The holidays
Gift season. You want the people you love to feel it. The most expensive gift and the most meaningful one are rarely the same gift.
A Buy impressive, expensive gifts (−$400)
B Thoughtful, modest gifts (−$150)
C Make gifts and write real cards (−$40)
December
One year in
December. Your first year out is behind you. Hollis asks: what did this year teach you — and what will you carry into the next?
A Set a real savings goal for next year
B Treat yourself for making it through (−$100)
C A small treat AND a plan (−$50)
The ledger
Month
Choice
Cash
Invested
Debt
Well-being
Start
—
$1,800
$0
$0
60
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
The key (fold this under)
January.A well-being +3. B well-being +2; and in March: cash −$150, well-being −2. C well-being +2.
February.A cash −$700, well-being −6. B cash −$950, well-being +5. C cash −$550, well-being +2.
March.A well-being +2. B cash −$300, well-being +4. C cash −$150, well-being +3.
April.A well-being +1; and in November: well-being +3. B debt +$400, well-being +3; and in June: debt +$80. C no change.
May.A cash −$200, well-being +3; and in September: cash +$200. B cash −$100, well-being +2. C well-being +1.
June.A cash −$250, well-being −6; and in July: cash +$150. B well-being +3. C well-being +2.
July.A cash −$600, invested +$600, well-being +1; and in December: invested +$40. B cash −$600, well-being +8. C cash −$600, invested +$400, well-being +4; and in December: invested +$26.
August.A cash −$300, well-being +1. B debt +$300, well-being −3; and in November: debt +$50. C well-being −5.
September.A cash +$30, well-being +3. B well-being −2; and in December: cash −$60. C cash +$15, well-being +2.
October.A cash +$80, well-being +4. B cash −$50, well-being −3. C cash −$50, well-being −4.
November.A cash −$400, well-being +2; and in December: well-being −2. B cash −$150, well-being +7. C cash −$40, well-being +6.
December.A well-being +4. B cash −$100, well-being +5. C cash −$50, well-being +6.
Well-being stays between 0 and 100. Debt and investments never go below nothing. Cash can: an overdraft is honest, and it shows. Nothing on this page is stored or sent.