Google employee reveals she lives on a budget of $30K despite making a six-figure salary – here’s how she does it

By James On Aug 24, 2023

A Google executive who earns a six-figure salary has revealed how she lives in New York City on a $30,000 budget.

Christine Wong said she often brings free food home from the office, eats before going out to eat, and doesn’t turn on her air conditioning until it’s “hot” to keep her spending down.

The 36-year-old said both she and her partner have an “aggressive” savings strategy inspired by her “humble beginnings.” And it helped the couple buy their own apartment in 2020 – although she admitted they had a little help from their parents.

She told MarketWatch, “I’m not hiding it. When I go out to dinner with people, I usually eat carbs first – or even eat beforehand. And then I just eat the cheap stuff.

“I always like to look at places to see if there’s food within my budget before I even go in.”

Christine Wong said she often brings free food home from the office, eats before going out to eat and doesn’t turn on her air conditioning until it’s “hot” to keep her spending down.

She added, “There is often free food in the office. I’m a bit discreet, I just put it in my backpack.’

Wong shared her top three tips for saving. These include: maximizing tax deductions, credit card points and automating your invoices.

She works as an advertising solutions architect for Google in addition to running her own YouTube channel and earning income as a cat sitter.

This year, she married her partner in a ceremony that took place in the courtyard of her apartment building and cost less than $20,000.

“New York City can certainly be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be,” she told MarketWatch.

‘I want to be able to enjoy life, but at the same time not spend so much money.

“Honestly, if I were a millionaire, I’d probably still be working.”

According to Money wiseWong’s strategy has helped her pay off her $47,000 student debt.

Wong’s tips come as more and more families are feeling unprecedented pressure on their budgets.

Earlier this month, Fed data showed that US credit card debt had risen to $1 trillion for the first time in history.

Household budgets are being hit by rampant inflation and high interest rates, currently hovering between 5.25 and 5.5 percent – the highest level since 2001.

Credit card balances in general increased by $45 billion in the second quarter of the year, according to data from the Fed.

It came after a few volatile years for America’s personal finances, as credit card debt plummeted during the pandemic as lockdowns curbed spending.

Between the last quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020, card balances fell from $927 billion to $817 billion — an 11 percent drop. And they fell even further to $770 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

Between the last quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020, card balances fell from $927 billion to $817 billion — an 11 percent decline. And they fell even further to $770 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

Since then, households have been under unprecedented financial pressure thanks to soaring inflation and subsequent rate hikes by the Fed.

The annual inflation rate has cooled since peaking at 9.1 percent last summer, falling to 3 percent in June before rising slightly to 3.2 percent in July.

Household budgets are being hit by rampant inflation and high interest rates, currently hovering between 5.25 and 5.5 percent – the highest level since 2001.

Credit card balances in general increased by $45 billion in the second quarter of the year, according to data from the Fed.

It came after a few volatile years for America’s personal finances, as credit card debt plummeted during the pandemic as the lockdown curbed spending.

Since then, households have been under unprecedented financial pressure thanks to soaring inflation and subsequent rate hikes by the Fed.

The annual inflation rate has cooled since peaking at 9.1 percent last summer, falling to 3 percent in June before rising slightly to 3.2 percent in July.