At 25, I have over $500,000 between my high-yield savings account, retirement funds, and investments. I put away my first $100,000 by 22. And I did it mostly without help after growing up in a lower-middle class household.

My story is definitely not the norm. Gen Z is up against a lot: Around 13 million people in Gen Z have approximately $23,000 of student loan debt, per 2024 research from the Education Data Initiative . And the job market? Brutal .

But Gen Z is also becoming financially savvy. Twenty-one percent save 1-10% of their monthly salary, another quarter carve out 11-20%, and 12% put away 21-30%, according to a poll conducted by Talker Research in January. Some even save their entire paycheck — 5% more than any other generation.

Here’s how I built my nest egg, and how yo

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