How to start your financial life right out of school, and not mess everything up

You just graduated, landed a $52,000 job, and moved to Des Moines. You’ve got $35,000 in student loans… and suddenly, real life is very real. This week, Pete, Kristen, and Dame break down what life actually looks like on that salary—from take-home pay to rent, groceries, debt, and everything in between. But instead of just talking about it, they turn it into a game: can each of them build a working monthly plan… without wrecking the future? Along the way, they uncover the real tension every new grad faces: how do you balance survival, stability, and actually enjoying your life? If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing okay… or already behind?”—this episode is for you.

You can listen to How to start your financial life right out of school, and not mess everything up online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How to start your financial life right out of school, and not mess everything up is an episode from Million Dollar Plan by IBJ Media.

This episode is 68:23 long.

This episode was published on Apr 3, 2026.

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