My first paycheck arrives today and July 20, 2012 marks the first installment of my 10% savings plan. I have no idea how this is going to work. My paychecks are small and my monthly debt repayments are high. That said, I am committed to turning 30 (in almost 6 months to the day) in a better financial place than I have spent my 20s.

Money has always been pretty emotional for me. I have also maintained a distance and detachment from it that both allows it to flow (it does always seem to work out for me – hello privilege) but doesn’t always promote the best decisions.

This may be a year with a lot of peanut butter and jelly, only 1 trip to the bay area (for christmas), and enjoying soda water when I go out for a drink. And while the idea of having to say no so much used to make me want to burst into tears, as I look at this first paycheck, with my measly hourly rate that is paying me for 25 hours less than I worked in the past two weeks, I still feel empowered to make better choices. Cause, this is what I got. And, I got it because I am working my butt off, doing exactly the work I am supposed to be doing.

So, in honor of that, I am saving. For my own little net, and maybe, over time, an adventure.

*also, I will not be taking the unsolicited advice from a co-worker to “marry up” if I want to make it in NYC as a social worker. Jesus. What year is it? I may have my fantasies of lottery wins and a life that is rich in dolla dolla bills, but in no means am I on the hunt for a Jewish doctor that will marry an Irish-catholic (DNA)  new age Buddhisty hippy.