After her first week, Jade quickly realized that living in the city was going to be a challenge—especially financially. Her paycheck covered rent and a few groceries, but barely left anything for extras. Back in her hometown, everything had been cheaper, simpler. Here, even a quick coffee run felt like an indulgence.
One night, she brought up her worries with Sarah. "I thought I'd be fine with the budget I planned, but this city's more expensive than I thought," she admitted.
Sarah, who was sprawled on the couch reading a book, looked up. "Trust me, I've been there. Budgeting in the city can be brutal. But don't worry—I've got some tricks up my sleeve." She grabbed her laptop and pulled up a spreadsheet. "Let's get you set up with a real budget. We'll make sure you're covered for essentials first and see if we can squeeze in some fun money, too."
They spent the next hour working out a plan, categorizing expenses, and setting spending limits. By the end of it, Jade felt both overwhelmed and relieved. The numbers were tighter than she'd hoped, but with Sarah's help, it felt manageable.