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As the weather turned colder, a social media trend suggested a new style choice for young men: Replace your casual athletic wear with a quarter-zip, and you’ll feel more mature and professional. Sip a matcha drink to complete the look.
As the 'quarter-zip and matcha' trend took off on TikTok and social media, the Nerds at NerdWallet started to wonder: How can your personal finances also reflect this trend? What would it mean to level up your bank account along with your outfit?
We talked to financial experts and came up with six ways to make your finances as mature as your new wardrobe.
Stop comparing yourself to others
“Overspending and debt is closely tied to caring what other people say about you,” says D’Andre Clayton, co-founder of Clayton Financial Solutions in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Part of growing up, he says, is letting go of concern about what your peers think about your clothing and lifestyle choices.
“You realize you get to make your own decisions and not worry about your peers judging it,” he says. “The earlier you recognize that, the better for your situation,” he adds, because you’re less likely to purchase items based on image.
When you’re not “keeping up with the Joneses,” he says, it’s easier to accumulate savings and avoid debt.
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Align your spending with your values
Once you let go of trying to follow others’ expectations, you can focus on your own values, Clayton says.
“A lot of our money goes into the trash can just because we bought more than we needed,” he says. For example, if you don’t drink alcohol, don’t buy cocktail supplies to impress your guests. If you don’t love fancy leather brands, skip the expensive boots and bags your friends are buying.
Also, leave the fancy cars at the dealership, says Andi Wrenn, an accredited financial counselor and founder of Coaching Capability in the Raleigh, North Carolina area.
“Find the less expensive model of the car you like,” she says. Otherwise, car payments can eat into your monthly budget.
Upgrade your kitchen skills
Another category that can quickly absorb your paycheck is meals out, Clayton warns. Dining at restaurants, picking up takeout and ordering delivery can add up.
He urges young people to learn how to cook.
“When you’re college-age, you’re probably eating a lot of noodles, but you can’t live off ramen forever,” he says.
Learning to make nutritious meals from grocery store ingredients can help stretch your budget and also help keep you healthy, he adds.
Up your game to some slow cooker meals (check social media for easy ideas) to bring more variety to your plate.
Develop a savings habit
Getting into the routine of setting aside a portion of your paycheck each month can set you up well for the rest of your life, says Kevin Estes, certified financial planner and founder of Scaled Finance, LLC in the Seattle area.
And if you get a raise or bonus at work, aim to save 50% of the extra pay. Saving a cash reserve of three to six months’ worth of expenses is a good goal, he adds.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be used for emergencies or opportunities,” he says.
Also, it can help if your friends are frugal too, Wrenn says.
When you spend time with people with similar goals to you, it’s easier to control your own spending, she says. You can have a game night at home instead of going out and spending a lot at restaurants and bars.
Pay off high-interest debt
Estes suggests making a plan to pay off your highest-interest debt aggressively.
“From a cash-flow perspective, don’t fret so much with student loans because interest rates tend to be low,” he says.
Instead, focus on paying off credit cards and any personal loans with high interest rates.
If you have multiple credit card payments, it might make sense to consolidate them onto a balance transfer card with a low promotional rate, he adds.
Start saving for retirement
While retirement might be decades off for most people participating in the quarter-zip social media movement, it’s still important to get started, Clayton says.
“If your job offers a 401(k) and good matching, then absolutely contribute,” he says. You can start small and slowly increase your contributions over time as you’re able to, he adds.
Consider saving through a Roth IRA if you don’t have access to a 401(k), Wrenn says. A Roth IRA allows you to make after-tax contributions, which you can withdraw tax-free in retirement.
“When you’re earning less money in your 20s, it’s a fantastic time to have a Roth IRA,” Wrenn says. “The impact of compound interest is huge. You’ll be able to do whatever you want in your future.”
The singer T-Pain gets it.
He posted a photo of himself in a textured navy quarter-zip alongside the caption, “401k and a quarter zip.”
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
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