Artificial Intelligence is the way of the future, whether I want to admit it or not. Months ago, my friends raved about how ChatGPT saved their lives by writing crucial 10 page essays in 30 seconds or less. Tell Chat to do basically anything, and it will.
Which has made my job as a writer a bit more difficult — even though it shouldn’t. Thanks to AI, everyone has convinced themselves that a robot can write a better article than me, a human with real emotion and life experience.
Brands have started firing writers and foregoing crucial copywriters in lieu of the cheaper, quicker, less personal option. It’s why the Writer’s Strike took so long to absolve itself. The studio executives weren’t protecting the writers from the creeping use of AI in cinema.
But as they say, face your fears. That’s why my challenge is to use AI for a week in different aspects of my life. If the world is so obsessed with this technology, maybe I should get acquainted with it.
Day 1: Using AI During Work
ChatGPT
While using AI for work feels like cheating on a test to me, workplaces are genuinely encouraging the use of AI as a tool. Shannon Purcell, Director of Content at GeistM, says,
"AI has transformed our workplace. It streamlines tasks, uncovers insights, and sparks innovation. Like a super-smart assistant, it helps us work smarter and break through barriers. Embracing AI has enabled our team to achieve more in less time, reshaping our workflow and fostering creativity."
I have been stubborn about writing my articles on my own. I can include personal stories to relate to my audience, use words that align with my personality, and take stronger stances than a computer can. But, I have to admit, even I get writer’s block here and there.
On those days, I may not have a witty headline that’ll catch the reader’s eye. Or I don’t like the way I’m wording my paragraphs. This is where I feel like AI can be used to my advantage (I hope).
Unsurprisingly, that dreaded writer’s block appeared after a four-day weekend spent celebrating my friend’s birthday. I felt so uninspired that I decided to open ChatGPT and give it a whirl.
The Task: Reword this headline: “Single This Valentine’s Day? Here’s Our Breakup Playlist.”
The ChatGPT Result:
Would you have taken my article seriously if it had a play on “riding solo?” I don’t think so. And any time I refreshed the options or said to try again, it somehow got even worse. I stuck with my original headline and moved on.
Day 2: AI Gave Me A Biscuit Recipe
Honestly, these biscuits were great.
Jai Phillips
Re-read it, accept it, continue. Yes, I thought it may be a fun idea to let AI dictate my recipe choices…and honestly, I wasn’t too angry at the result.
I’m an avid baker and wanted to make homemade skillet biscuits with sausage gravy for dinner. Since I’d never made a biscuit from scratch, I wanted to closely follow a recipe so I didn’t make any mistakes. Which is why it felt borderline insane to turn to AI.
I’d already done my research, so I knew what to look for in terms of a solid biscuit recipe. Here was the AI biscuit recipe provided:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup milk (whole milk or buttermilk works best)
And already we had an issue. Watch any Food Network baking show and you’ll learn that it is essential for the butter to be grated. Keeping your butter frozen and barely mixing it into the dough is what keeps your biscuits flaky and layered.
Other than that, I was genuinely impressed with the skillet recipe. A biscuit only contains a few simple ingredients, so I was more confident in AI’s ability.
Day 3: AI Helped Me Get Self Tanner Out Of My Sheets
Jacinta Christos
Most of us have been there: you wake up Friday morning, and your heavily applied self-tanner has bled onto your sheets. I am one of the clinically insane who opted for white linen bedding, so the evidence is immediate and apparent.
I’ve never been one to fully remove a stain, so I decided to ask my new bestie: ChatGPT.
The Task: How do I get self tanner stains out of white linen sheets?
The ChatGPT Result: Again, annoyingly impressed here. I learned that self tanner is a protein-based stain (who knew?) and those are treated with a vinegar and water solution first, stain remover second.
I also was informed by my pal Chat (we’re on a first name basis) that an enzyme-based detergent like OxiClean are best for protein stains…and that sheets can be hung in the sunlight to lighten stains for a few hours.
Day 4: AI Answers The Ultimate Question
Unseen Studio
Since AI and I have gotten to know each other so well, have shared so much over these past few days, it’s time I pop the question. The question being: “Would you recommend using AI over human writers?”
After giving me the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, ChatGPT sums it up with:
“AI can be a valuable tool for certain tasks, particularly those requiring speed, consistency, and data-driven insights. However, human writers bring unique skills such as creativity, empathy, and critical thinking that are essential for producing high-quality, engaging content in many contexts. Ultimately, a balanced approach that leverages the strengths of both AI and human writers may yield the best results.”
AI just wants us all to work in harmony. Alexa, play “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” by War.
But the easy access to TikTok financial advice also promises to help young people actually understand their finances and avoid the many potential pitfalls of being young. After all, we don’t learn personal finance advice in school — even those who study finance as a career aren’t taught about personal finance.
What is FinTok? Why does Gen Z love FinTok?
A 2022 survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education revealed that only 14% of adults claimed to have access to financial education in high school. As a result, young people entering the workforce or trying to take the next steps in their lives and careers, find themselves not knowing how to make their salaries work for them. TikTok democratizes the best financial tips. No gatekeeping, just unfiltered advice. But not all of it is worth taking.
Betterment found that, in 2023, 65% of Gen Z and 55% of millennials get financial advice from social media. These generations have inherited an unpredictable and, frankly, disappointing economy where the benchmarks for success seem further away than ever. The retirement age is slowly getting pushed back, the weight of student loans feels like an inescapable burden, and the American dream of owning a house? Forget about it. Plus the looming threat of climate change and/or societal collapse makes young people wonder if there will even be a future to save for.
In the words of Timothee Chalamet: “It's tough to be alive now. I think societal collapse is in the air — it smells like it.”
Navigating the world of personal finance as a college student or early professional in this landscape seems daunting. It’s much more tempting to throw your hands up and focus on enjoying the moment rather than saving for a future that’s not promised. This might sound morbid, but Gen Z is having fun with it. Hence the rise of trends like “I can get my money back but I’ll never be young again,” or the ubiquity of “girl math” and little treats. While these impulses aren’t bad, when they’re paired with an avoidant relationship to your money, they can spiral into potentially ruinous circumstances. You don’t want to “little treat” yourself into mountains of credit card debt.
That’s why having a baseline understanding of personal finance is a crucial step toward financial independence. Don’t let the arrogant finance bro in your life tell you that you need to be day-trading stocks or investing in crypto. But also, don’t fall into the trap of avoiding looking at your bank account. Finance TikTok, aka FinTok, can offer valuable insights via personal finance videos if you approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism.
What is the benefit of FinTok?
I like to think of FinTok as a launch point. Buzzwords like “HYSA” and “S&P 500” (we’ll get to those later) are quick tips that are most useful when paired with in-depth financial education. Whether you head online to read articles about the concepts TikTok feeds you — and find out which ones might just be MLMs — or you turn to audiobooks and podcasts (anything but Dave Ramsay, PLEASE), FinTok helps demystify your money in an accessible, unintimidating way.
TikTok finance advice also focuses on small steps you can make now to help set you up for your future. Instead of fear-mongering and telling you to cut out all pleasure until you have $100k in the bank, TikTok financial advice often revolves around tips that take less than an hour to complete but can ear you tens of thousands in the long run — seriously.
FinTok can also help you create financial goals. Instead of the generic “save more” New Year’s resolution, many creators are making trackers and teaching you how to use tools to get super clear on what your financial life could look like. And since Gen Z values freedom and autonomy more than any other generation, many of these creators are factoring that into their work. Instead of saving for traditional goalposts, they’re teaching you how to travel for free or how to afford designer items without going broke. With goals ranging from paying off student loans and building an emergency fund to dipping toes into the world of investments, FinTok has created a subculture where young people can find creators who have achieved the goals they want to and learn directly from them.
These influencers, often in their 20s or early 30s, share their financial journeys, tips, and pitfalls in a relatable context. Drawing from their lived experiences, popular creators are often self-made millionaires at 30 or savvy savers in their mid-20s. This phenomenon underscores a shift in the traditional paradigm of financial education. It also creates the problem of many creators spouting whatever nonsense that comes to their head — some of it even dubiously legal. So while you shouldn’t start necessarily start house-hacking like the unethical landlords of TikTok or writing off expenses you don’t qualify for on your taxes, TikTok is a great place to get beginner financial advice.
Surprisingly good financial basics popular on TikTok
TikTok helps you acknowledge the gaps in your financial knowledge. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know. Geared for basics and quick tips, the best TikTok financial advice helps you build a solid financial foundation. Lots of accounts end up saying the same thing because the basics are the basics. They’re pretty universal, and when they work, they work. So before you do anything else, try these tips.
Here is some of the best TikTok financial advice to guide your journey:
Budgeting doesn’t have to be boring:
TikTokers are rebranding the budget. Instead of telling you to skip out on everything that makes your life worth living, they are telling you that budgeting is just having a “spending plan” for your money. Think of it this way: most people know about how much money they have coming in, but most people don’t know where it goes. A budget comes in to help you plan how much money you want to allocate to your groceries and how much you want to spend on fun categories like eating out, getting coffee, and shopping. Without the shame of spending on fun and by breaking the stigma of budgeting, you can make a plan to live your life while still setting aside some savings.
Monthly (or weekly) money resets:
TikTok loves a reset. I binge the productive Sunday reset content while rotting in my bed on weekends. But one habit I have implemented is the money reset where I sit down, review my finances, and make a plan for the next month. This one goes hand in hand with budgeting. I review my budget against my purchases, see where I stuck to my guidelines, and make adjustments if necessary. It keeps me accountable and lowkey it gets me excited about reaching my goals. Current savings goal: save up for a luxury wellness vacation this summer.
@breakyourbudget 2023 is the year of financial consistency & routines #personalfinance
Sinking Funds:
I used to save all my money in one big savings account. It was connected to my checking account and I would dip into it more often than I like to admit. However, TikTok taught me about the concept of sinking funds or savings buckets. For example, many of us have different savings goals. We want to save for travel, but we also want to have some rainy-day cash in the bank. All of that money shouldn’t just be lumped together. Sinking funds help you visualize where your money is going. I set up direct deposit transfers to each of my sinking funds from every paycheck so I’m saving for my next holiday in a separate bucket as my pet insurance. They also help make big goals feel more achievable. For example, my goal for my travel sinking fund is $2000. I gave myself 20 weeks and each Friday, I automatically transfer $100 into the account. That way, I don’t spiral into credit card debt when it’s time to book my trip. Another pro tip: use an online bank separate from your checking account to store your sinking funds so it’s harder to dip into on a whim.
Emergency Fund:
Your most important savings account is an Emergency Fund aka a rainy day fund. An emergency fund provides a financial safety net that everyone should have. TikTokers harp on this one for a reason. It’s the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and being financially secure. Most Americans couldn’t cover a $1000 emergency. And in this economy, people lose their jobs in an instant. The pandemic taught us that. Aim to save at least three to six months of living expenses — which includes things like your rent, your grocery budget, and necessary bills, especially if you have dependents — and keep it in a high-yield savings account.
High Yield Saving Accounts (HYSA):
A HYSA is your savings account, but better. Big banks have no incentive to offer you rewards for opening a savings account with them. Smaller banks, usually digital banks, want to convert customers and they do it by offering interest on your savings account. Most big banks give you about 0.01% interest. Meanwhile, you could be earning up to 5% interest just for moving your money to a new bank. And if you have a $10,000 emergency fund earning $500 interest for doing nothing, that adds up.
@deeperthanmoney No but like I NEED to know, do you have a HYSA???? if not comment “me” below and I will send you a link to a free training!!!
Making Investing Easy:
While investing might sound complex, robo-investing makes it easy. Many new platforms allow you to auto-invest in index funds and ETFs depending on your goals and risk tolerance. You can start with as little as $1. If this still sounds scary, TikTokers can help you understand the merits of investing early and wisely — just don’t take individual stock advice from random people on the internet.
According to the most toxic corners of the internet, I should ask myself what I bring to the table before making such a request — or any request. If I’m not willing to be a tradwife, according to these so-called alpha males, I should resign myself to singleness. However, in this dating landscape, the single life is looking like the only option.
Gen Z’s surprisingly backward dating logic
Unfortunately, it’s not just the red-pilled incels spouting such backward rhetoric. According to Don’t Worry Darling, people who believe this dangerous logic are hiding in plain sight (at least that’s what I remember from the movie but who knows what Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles were trying to say with that one).
Despite being touted as such a progressive generation, Gen Z is always reviving backward conventions — like the time there was TikTok discourse about bringing back the Hays Code.
Gen Z’s dating logic isn’t traditional in that they want to bring back chivalry and courting…If that were the case, you could count me in. Instead, Gen Z boys and men are more likely than Baby Boomers to believe feminism is harmful, according to recent research by King’s College.
Even girls who are supposed to be my allies, especially in the era of Barbie, have taken to TikTok to say that the ultimate status symbol is being a trophy wife and stay-at-home girlfriend. Now, I’m not a millennial girlboss, and I would like nothing more than to be completely financially free, but giving up my independence for a MAN — and to be a “girlfriend” no less — is giving Mojo Dojo Casa House.
Where is the middle ground? Where is the version of romance I was promised by romcoms? I want Matthew McConaughey to clutch his chest when I appear before him in a dress like Andi in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I want Penn Badgley to humiliate himself by performing a musical number with me like in Easy A. Ryan Gosling, if you’re listening, I’d do anything for you to build me a house a la The Notebook.
And where are the boys making playlists like in Brown Sugar? Certainly not on Raya. Still, I swipe left, left, right, right. I kiss my share of frogs. And I try to keep up with the new financial rules of dating like I’m running on a treadmill.
If you’re also overwhelmed with the dating advice you’ve been offered, you’re not alone. There’s nothing more confusing in this day and age than navigating the financial aspects of dating. Who pays on the first date? Should we split everything 50/50? What if you’re not on a heteronormative boy-girl date? From my endless perusing of TikTok and research through podcasts and articles, I’ve heard way too many toxic takes on this. In truth, it’s made me fall into despair.
Why have the finances of dating changed so much?
Etiquette is a dying art. Chivalry has been in the ground for years. And in their place, new cultural norms are emerging — and they’re more horrifying than before. But it’s not just the cultural landscape that’s changing, our social norms have changed, too.
We’re experiencing a cost of living crisis. With high inflation and stagnant salaries, 85% of Gen Z say they’re struggling financially, according to Bank of America’s annual Better Money Habits survey.
Over the past year, nearly three out of four (73%) Gen Zers say they’ve changed their spending habits due to increased prices. Their lifestyle changes have included cooking at home more frequently (43%) rather than dining out, spending less on clothes (40%), and limiting grocery purchases to the essentials (33%).
So, of course, Gen Z would try to find ways of easing the financial burden of dating or finding comfort in the idea of being taken care of instead of toiling for meager wages.
While I emphasize with my peers, this understandable need to save doesn’t have to come with toxic behavior and financial gaslighting.
What are the new financial rules of dating?
Just when I think I couldn’t hear anything more appalling, people have started asking questions about the “ROI of dates.” Apparently, men have started Venmo requesting women for the first date if it doesn’t lead to anything further. This is more than just casual bad behavior — it promotes the sexist notions that a) women are objects to be bought or invested in; b) a woman is only valuable if she gives something to men in return. See what I mean about going backward?
This only happens in extreme cases, fortunately, but that’s also due to the fact that more men and women are splitting the bill evenly. This corresponds to relationships, too, where many couples split all their expenses evenly — despite the fact that men still make statistically higher wages.
Money talk is less taboo, with dates bringing up the subject of finances as early on the first date. But this isn’t to foster transparency and understanding. That would be too good to be true. Often, it’s to propose going Dutch, complain about their crypto performance, or try to flex their wealth. I know someone whose date opened with how much he was making. It was significantly more than her … and he still tried to split the bill. No thanks.
Financial red flags are serious. Nearly 1-in-5 young people blame “a lack of financial compatibility” for a previous breakup. And many (36%) Gen Zers see making large impulse purchases as a red flag and potential deal breaker.
Are there any upsides of Gen Z dating trends?
There are some small glimmers of hope for Gen Z romantic hopefuls. Women are more financially savvy than ever, making them less likely to rely on their partners completely — despite the stay-at-home girlfriend trend.
Gen Zers in live-in romantic relationships are more than twice as likely as Gen Xers and boomers to maintain completely separate financial accounts from their partner (43 percent versus 19 percent and 18 percent, respectively; millennials came in at 31 percent).
This is much healthier than splitting everything 50/50 and not having a safety net. For women, having access to their funds can be a matter of security and safety if they want to leave a bad situation.
Gen Z is also embracing “loud budgeting,” which is destigmatizing financial talk. New financial etiquette promotes talking about finances, albeit in a classy way. For Gen Z, it’s easier to decline events or activities due to other priorities. This might avoid that pesky Venmo situation.
Overall, it seems like the dating game has changed. However, dating often changes with the times. To navigate financial etiquette and the new financial rules of dating, you have to advocate for yourself, arm yourself with financial knowledge, make your boundaries clear, and never let someone Venmo request you for the first date.
In the words of Ferris Bueller: “Life comes at ya fast.” I learned this when, after graduating college, I suddenly had to get my life together and financially support myself. The horror.
But I’m also young and fun (I swear!). I want to go out with my friends, follow trends, and buy myself a little treat — and, actually, whatever else I want. Which is where the issue lies.
I know I have to afford essentials like rent, groceries, and utilities — but I’m also a woman of luxury. I like to get my nails done, I enjoy going out to brunch with my friends on the weekend, and getting a coffee is a daily ritual at this rate. If I were to reel in my lifestyle, would I still be me?
Budgeting can be daunting, but it’s never too late to do a complete financial reset. Yet, by learning that life is about balance, I’ve found a way to save money and reward myself with the things I want at the same time. Cutting yourself off cold turkey just means you’re going to want to spend even more later.
Monthly, I have a meltdown with my mom about the state of my finances. Judge me if you wish, I know you all do it. Without fail, she explains kindly, “You're doing great for the lifestyle you live.” That’s code for: they should’ve made you the star of Confessions of a Shopaholic, but you still put food on the table.
But this year, I want to go on vacation… and I’m moving. So, I'm literally being forced to save money, even though I’m built to spend it. Against all odds, I’m also determined to not deprive myself of the little pleasures in life — like an occasional concert or trip to Free People.
If you want to save money without sacrificing too much of your lifestyle, here are a few tips I’ve been experimenting with during these trying times.
Freelance Online Work
Glenn Carstens- Peters via Unsplash
If you have a job but want to make some extra cash on the side, there are plenty of freelance online platforms that make it easy to get started on your own time. By enhancing some of your AI, SEO, or writing skills, you can make a decent hourly wage by just working a few hours on your laptop each week.
Sites like Freelancer, Fiverr, and Upwork have a wide variety of freelance positions available at all times. You can also try paid online survey sites like Swagbucks, where all you need to do is take a few surveys.
This helps you get some extra help for bills and other necessities — or locks in that morning coffee without feeling guilty.
Take Cash Out
Eduardo Soares via Unsplash
If you want to really understand your spending habits, take your next paycheck out in cash. By only depositing money for online orders, you’ll be able to see where exactly your money is going. Plus, they say that it’s harder to spend money when you’re physically watching it leave your hands.
I like to keep an envelope in a safe place where I save $20 in cash from each paycheck. Since I don’t see this money in my bank account, I’m not tempted to sneak money from my savings for something extra.
Check Out Personal Finance Apps
Aidan Hancock via Unsplash
While I’m no expert on investing, I do know it’s a great way to make money without actually doing much. If you don’t know where to even begin, we have a great list of personal investing apps that are easy to use and great for beginners.
Take Stock
Sarah Brown via Unsplash
No, not stocks. Take inventory of what you own: look in your closet, make a note of all the shirts and pants you have, the color shoes you have, the makeup in your drawers. The important part is to understand that you may not actually need the things you think you do.
Then sell some of your clothes on resale sites like Poshmark or Depop if you’re insistent upon getting that new pair of pants. Make sure to make the money back in some way, so you’re not feeling guilty for purchasing.