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.
