Summer’s Over, Let’s Refocus Our Finances

While Gen Z strives for personal milestones, a better lifestyle and financial stability, more than 60% experience financial stress across Canada.

The pressure to project an image of success after graduation is becoming increasingly common among young Canadians. A 2025 TD Bank survey found that more than half of Gen Z Canadians (born between 1996 – 2012) feel pressured to “fake” financial success. This highlights the financial stress many young adults experience as they navigate the transition into adulthood, although this isn’t new. I remember feeling that same pressure to seem financially successful. It took me a few years to realize that my friends with roommates were the ones getting ahead financially, so I found a place with a roommate too.

We know that these feelings can especially pop up after a summer of impromptu spending and beach trips, and it can be difficult not to wonder: “Now that summer’s over, what do I do next?”

The end of summer can also be an exciting opportunity to start a new chapter. Whether you’re settling into your first full-time job, moving out, returning to school or simply figuring out what comes next, taking stock of where you are financially can help you build confidence without adding unnecessary stress. Here are some activities and questions to consider.

A woman using her laptop

Refocusing Your Finances for Post-Grad Life 

Before making your next big move, take a moment to understand where you are now. Are you working full-time, part-time or juggling multiple jobs? What expenses are coming your way? And what do you want your money to help you accomplish?

There’s no single definition of the “right” post-grad life. Maybe you’re moving in with a partner, finding a roommate, staying with family while you save for a car or pursuing a master’s degree. Whatever your goals look like, a little planning can help you make financial decisions with more confidence.

How Do I Prepare for My First Move?

Before scouring the internet for your dream apartment and falling in love with it, start by figuring out what you can realistically afford.

Moving comes with more expenses than rent alone. Use this simple formula to get a clearer picture:

Rent + utilities + groceries + transit or gas + the costs nobody warns you about

Those unexpected costs can include tenant insurance, deposits, furniture, internet setup fees, moving expenses and other one-time costs.

If you don’t know the exact amounts yet, start with reasonable estimates. The goal isn’t to create a perfect budget; it’s to understand what your new lifestyle could actually cost.

It can also help to talk through your plans with people you trust. Mentors, family members, and friends already living in the area can offer a fresh perspective and help you avoid stretching your budget too far. You might even leave the conversation with a pre-loved dining table!

Can Having a Roommate Save Me Money?

It can, depending on your circumstances. Sharing housing can reduce your monthly costs, but it also means sharing your space, responsibilities and financial commitments with someone else.

If your goal is to save more, a roommate can make sense. Take the time to interview potential roommates, discuss expectations and make sure you’re aligned on things like rent, utilities, groceries and household responsibilities. Establishing clear agreements early can help protect both your friendship and your bank account.

If your goal is to live alone, that’s valid, too. Just make sure the higher cost fits comfortably within your budget. Saving money doesn’t have to mean giving up everything you enjoy! Sometimes this can mean leaving room for the concert, dinner out, or weekend trip that makes life feel like more than a series of financial decisions.

Roommates are celebrating together in the kitchen

How Can I Start Funding My Future Goals?

If you don’t want to compromise your lifestyle and the things that bring you joy, start by defining your goals and setting realistic expectations.

Big financial goals can feel overwhelming when you’re fresh out of school. Instead of focusing only on the final number, break your goal into smaller, manageable steps. For example, saving $4,000 over three months works out to roughly $44 a day, a much more tangible number to work towards.

And your goals don’t have to follow a traditional timeline. The “get married, buy a house, have kids” life plan isn’t everyone’s blueprint for happiness. Recent research from BMO found that 70% of Gen Z respondents understand that financial security is integral to parenthood, while nearly 30% of Gen Z and Millennials said they would be less hesitant to have children if the financial cost were lower.

For some people, the goal might be starting a family. For others, it might be buying a car, adopting a rescue dog, building a travel fund, pursuing higher education or simply having more financial freedom.

Your financial goals should reflect the life you want to live.

Build a Money Plan for Your Future

Once you know what you’re working towards, give your money a job. One approach is dividing your income between the present, flexible spending, and future goals:

COMMITTED Money: 50% for essential spending, fixed costs and financial commitments (like monthly rent or student loan payments)

FLEX Money: 20% for all other costs, this could be clothes, gifts, all the things that surprisingly pop up or isn't a fixed cost. However, while you are spending in this category, ideally you’re spending your money on things that bring you joy. (Sadly, it doesn't mean all of it will. Is buying winter tires really enjoyable? Not really, but you will be happy you did it).

FUTURE Money: 30% for savings that is going to longer-term goals. This is the money you put towards your future self.

The exact percentages don’t need to be perfect. Your income, expenses and goals will change over time, so think of this framework as a starting point rather than a rule.

Financial Confidence Is Built in Small Steps, Not Overnight

You don’t need to have everything figured out in your twenties. Building financial confidence is about understanding where your money is going, setting goals that matter to you and taking small steps towards them.

If spreadsheets and complicated financial planning leave you feeling overwhelmed, a support resource like the Untangle MINI can help you map out your post-grad finances without the stress. It can help you understand your numbers, set expectations and work towards your financial goals with greater confidence.

 👉 Get started with Untangle MINI Self-Serve