Juliet has been working in a retail shop for just over a year and has begun to ask herself two questions:

1. Money is pretty tight at the end of the month and it’s tempting to use her credit card but is worried about getting bills that she can’t pay.
2. What’s next for her? Juliet enjoys the people she works with and likes the work well enough but is starting to wonder what’s next.

After paying her rent, bills, food and has a couple evenings out with her friends, she’s out of money. She doesn’t own a car although belongs to a car share and buys a monthly transit pass. She doesn’t spend extravagantly on clothes or hair but would like to have nicer things. It’s very tempting to buy things when out with her friends and she often wonders how they afford to spend $100 to $200 each week on clothes. She does worry that if something happens with her job that she won’t be able to pay her bills. She feels guilty that she doesn’t travel to see her family very often because of the cost. Her family knows she doesn’t make much money and are really great about it but she still feels embarrassed that she’s not able to give the gifts she’d like to give for special occasions.

Once Juliet asks herself what she wants her life to look like and what her resources are, she can make a plan for herself. Her expenses are minimal and she hasn’t accumulated debt so far which are both positives. In order to earn more, she will have to take on more responsibility at her current job or consider changing jobs. In both cases, more education would help her to attain her goals. Many employers will either contribute to education or support employees through in-house training programs. If Juliet is able to meet with someone to discuss her goals for the future, they may be willing to help her with a plan. Alternatively, Juliet can begin researching other employers making a point to consider the growth opportunities and benefits that they may offer such as medical, dental, education and disability insurance. These all have value.

It may seem too soon but the other thing for Juliet can think about is long term savings. Even starting with $50 per pay cheque can add up over time and Juliet is young! The funds will be there for an emergency, a big purchase or a rainy day!