Money Talks: Bae On A Budget

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Written by Chelsie Kern
Money Talks: Bae On A Budget
·
Written by Chelsie Kern

To say Kendall is a hustler would be an understatement. Not only has she paid off $70K in student loan debt in less than a year, but she’s also built a following of more than 11,000 budget trainees within that same time frame. 

She’s a living and breathing example of the impact discipline, focus, and honesty can have on our financial worlds. From saving on shaving (literally) to the power of thrifted goods, this Bae on a Budget inspires us to live a little more frugal. 

We’re so lucky to have her as one of Troupe’s #founding500 Scouts. For more Kendall, follow her on the gram.

32 yrs old she/her

CHELSIE: What do you do to pay the bills?

KENDALL: Recruiting for big tech

CHELSIE: How much money do you make annually? 

KENDALL: Over six figures 

CHELSIE: What’s your current skincare routine? 

KENDALL: I like to keep it simple. Sunscreen always, retinol cream at night, spot-treat with salicylic acid as needed. On the weekends I like to spice it up with a little lip and a little lash. I don’t really wear makeup during the week.

CHELSIE: Tell me about Bae on a Budget.

KENDALL: It started out when I had an aha! moment when I was watching YouTube actually. I came across this video of this girl who was talking about the  $200k in student loan debt she had. I was in a similar situation, and It triggered something in me. I was like, “I have to get a hold of this.”

It (Bae on a Budget) started as an anonymous accountability page for myself, but it’s since transformed into this thing to inspire other young women to take control of their finances. 

CHELSIE: So, what’d you go to school for?

KENDALL: I have an undergrad in English, and I also have a law degree. Neither of which I’m using professionally. 

CHELSIE: Do you regret getting those degrees since you aren’t using them?

KENDALL: Yeah, I do actually. I personally regret going to law school. I think it was something my parents wanted me to do more than I wanted to do. There’s a lot of us who felt this really strong need to go to college. It was like as long as you go to college, you were going to be okay. You were going to get a job that paid well, and that’s all you needed. 

My advice regarding college is do it for you. Don’t do it for other people. When you graduate, you’re stuck with the bill. No one else. I think I knew half way through law school that I didn’t want to be there, and I didn’t want a law degree. 

 

CHELSIE: When you graduated, how much student loan debt did you have?

 

KENDALL: $238K

 

CHELSIE: That’s insane. 

 

KENDALL: I’m super open about it. People message me all the time and ask me if they should go to law school, and I tell them probably not. Basically, if you’re okay with making $20k forever being a lawyer then, absolutely, go for it. If that’s not the case, and you’re going for other reasons, I’m not so sure it’s worth it.  

 

CHELSIE: How much student loan debt have you paid off? 

 

KENDALL: I’ve paid off about $70k. I started my whole foray into personal finance in May of 2018. I think the fact that I’ve been able to teach myself how to budget and pay off debt, shows that people can do this too. It’s doable. 

 

CHELSIE: I’m not a conspiracy theorist, per se, but it is super strange to me that basic financial literacy doesn’t exist in public schools. Maybe there’s isn’t a reason it doesn’t exist, but there probably is a reason there aren’t people and companies lobbying for it. Debt makes a small group of people a lot of money. 

 

KENDALL: Neither am I, but if you really think about it, having that kind of debt ensures a productive populus. I don’t need to make six figures. I don’t have kids. I don’t own a house. But I have a lot of debt, so I really need to keep my job. I need to work hard. I need to stay employed.

 

CHELSIE: Why do you think money and personal finances are such a challenging topic to discuss for so many? 

 

KENDALL: There’s several reasons, but I think a big one is shame. A lot of people look at their finances and think about all the mistakes they’ve made in the past or about what they wish they had done with their money, etc. I know I used to feel a lot of shame when it came to my student loan debt, but that feeling has slowly started to dwindle the more I talk about my financial situation. 

 

 

CHELSIE: Has your parents’ relationship with money influenced the way you interact with money? 

 

KENDALL: Totally! When I was growing up my parents were frugal with their money. They didn’t make a ton, but they managed it well. We didn’t have a big fancy house, or expensive cars, and we rarely ever went on vacation. My parents chose to live below their means and always encouraged us to save–which is something that’s really stuck with me as an adult. 

 

CHELSIE: Are there any beauty brands or products you’re loyal to?

 

KENDALL: The Ordinary, Raw Elements, Glossier  

 

CHELSIE: How important is price point when purchasing new beauty products?

 

KENDALL: It’s definitely a balance. I don’t mind spending money on quality items. I have sensitive skin, and I want to take care of it. I feel like my skin especially is worth taking care of, so skincare is a place where I take value based spending into account. 

 

CHELSIE: How old were you when you started thinking about skincare?

 

KENDALL: I started thinking about skincare pretty young actually. About when I was 16? My first job was as a lifeguard, and when I first started I got a bunch of bad sunburns. I started worrying about getting a bunch of wrinkles, because that’s what actually happens when you don’t protect your skin from the sun. My mom was like, “Sunscreen. You need to wear sunscreen.”

 

CHELSIE: 5 things you’re grateful for today?

 

KENDALL: My health, my career, my friends and family, the wonderful city that is Austin,TX, and ramen. 

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