$pent Millennial

Dear Reader,

Spend your life with someone who makes going to the laundromat an adventure.

That’s it. That’s my dating advice.

I’m kidding, but I do recommend it.

Because here’s the thing—I get asked all the time: How do you do it?

How did you pay off your debt? How do you keep your grocery budget so manageable? How do you actually stick with it?

And I get why those questions are asked more and more these days. With the cost of living climbing and debt weighing so many people down, it feels harder than ever to make ends meet.

But the honest answer isn’t flashy. It’s simple. It’s boring. It’s not going to trend on TikTok.

It’s buying affordable groceries and making the best meals you can out of cheap staples.

It’s paying your car off as aggressively as you can—even if that means skipping road trips for a couple years—and then keeping it once it’s paid off.

It’s settling for the one-bedroom apartment, even if it feels cramped and there’s no space for an office or a workout room, so you can build the emergency fund.

It’s turning your mundane weekly chores into a date instead of springing for an expensive dinner.

It’s hosting trivia night at home with friends instead of paying the bar tab downtown.

And it’s finding the people who are willing to do it with you—who manage to make it all a bit more fun. (That’s the magic.)

None of it is glamorous. But over time, it pays off.

And, it actually enriches your life. Instead of feeling deprived, you begin to notice the sense of ownership and peace that comes from the life you’re building. It is intentional. It is sustainable. And it is yours.

—

If you’ve read me for a while, you know we rent. And you may also know that our shared laundry room has been a source of ongoing drama. The latest update? The machines started staining our clothes. So, we’ve been heading to the laundromat instead. Is it inconvenient? Absolutely. But we’ve decided to make the best of it and turn it into a weekly date instead of a weekly chore. 

This week, thanks to Jesse being a handy mechanic, we saved money on a car repair. That meant we could flex our budget just a bit—enough to treat ourselves to Einstein’s while we washed clothes. And let me tell you, that coffee and bagel we didn’t have to make ourselves hit especially hard after a week of running nonstop with work, chores, and barely enough time to breathe.

—

So no, I don’t have a magic cure-all for the economy. It’s tough out there. The headlines and social media feeds aren’t wrong—families are being squeezed, and it’s overwhelming. I’ve written before how discouraging it can feel to be “doing everything right” and still not get ahead. That’s real.

But it’s a both/and situation. Yes, we need to look at systems, structures, and the bigger picture. And at the same time, we need to look closely at what’s in our control. What does our spending look like? Do we even know? Where can we be more mindful? Where can we do better to live within—or even below—our means? This is something I had to ask myself as I re-built my financial life, and designed my “rich life” , and it is something I continue to consider in the decisions I make .

So here’s my challenge to you this week:

Pick one “boring” money move and lean into it.

• Try a recipe using the most affordable grocery items you can find—better yet, make it a competition with your partner or roommate, and add the winning recipe to a little “budget cookbook.”
• Turn a chore into a date or a game.
• Host a night in with friends instead of a night out.

And find the people who are willing to do it with you—the ones who can make it all a bit more fun. 

Because small choices stack up. They might not look glamorous, but they can still be meaningful, joyful, and even fun. And your friends or family might actually sigh in relief when you suggest the cheaper option. Chances are, they’re feeling the same financial pressures too, and they’ll be grateful someone else said it out loud.

It’s not magic. But it is effective. 

So, give it a try this week and let me know how it goes. I look forward to you reporting back. 

Until then- take care, 

Everett 

P.S. One quick money-saving tip if you also end up making a trip to Einstein’s: stick to the bagels, skip the drinks. Bring your own coffee from home—you’ll save a few bucks, and honestly, it’ll taste better anyway. 🙂