An Interview with Grad Girl at This Writer’s Wallet

Last week, we announced the launch of the College Money Network, a group of young personal finance bloggers who write some of the most interesting and entertaining articles about money, college, and life. I’ll be posting an interview with one of the members each week, so you can get to know them better. This week I’m excited to share an interview with Grad Girl at This Writer’s Wallet.

1. Describe yourself in 10,000 words or less, preferably less.

I’m Grad Girl (often called GG), the 25-year-old Chicagoan behind This
Writer’s Wallet. I started my blog a little more than a year ago,
right as I was finishing grad school and thinking about getting a job
and budgeting and what to do with money, yadda, yadda.

After six combined years of college, I’m thankful to say I have no
debt (my parents are fantastic), and I’m working in a field I really
enjoy. I’m a big fan of school, and of understanding finances. On that
note, I wish more students received quality PF training along with
their given subject matter. But since they don’t, I really love
personal-finance blogs, especially by people in their 20s.

Thanks to the things I’ve learned along the way this past year, I’ve
fully funded a Roth IRA two years running (2008 done! last month). My
future goals include earning enough money for a 50% downpayment on a
home and saving up $8K in an emergency fund. Other stuff: I am a
Christian, passionate about applying Biblical truth to my everyday
decisions, including the ones that impact my wallet. And I am a
writer, both by trade and by hobby. I like cooking, travel, good
books, interesting conversation and vintage real estate.

2. What made you decide to start a personal finance blog?

Mainly, I was going through that horrible try-to-find-a-job phase of
my life, and personal-finance blogging became a welcome distraction.
People wrote about career/job stuff, too, so it was immediately
applicable, but I got really interested in people’s personal stories
of money and budgeting and saving, etc. When I was hooked, I started
This Writer’s Wallet.

3. What has surprised you the most about blogging?

Definitely the connection I can have with people I don’t know in real
life. I blog anonymously, so (most of) the people reading don’t know
my real name or where I work, etc. It’s crazy how much I can have in
common with a reader or another blogger. Cool and freaky.

4. What is the most important financial lesson you have learned from college?

College is a privilege, and it’s expensive. If there’s a way to pay
for it as you go (gift/working/scholarship), do it. But if you’re
going to take out loans, make sure it’s for a career that will enable
you to pay them back.

5. If you had to pick three of your favorite posts to share with a first time visitor, which would they be?

• The Secret to Getting Your Money’s Worth in Grad School
• Why I Live with my Parents, at 25
• New Goal: I Want to Buy a House with Cash (or, I hate debt!)

Thanks for sharing your time with us, Grad Girl!

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Broke Grad Student and friends are giving away cash and prizes for sharing back to school financial goals and advice. Click here to find out more!