Meet Neha Haider, a 24-year-old content creator living in downtown Calgary with her husband, Yousuf. As a newlywed couple, they are constantly learning about how to manage their finances, from merging their money to sharing responsibilities and how to balance saving for the future while still enjoying the present. 

It’s been a learning experience — one that, not unlike most twentysomethings, came with a few missteps. But between budget planning, saving and dealing with a fluctuating income, Neha has found a few ways to make her financial journey easier. She’s sharing her top six tips for making downtown living feel a little less out of reach.

1. Stick to a budget

As a content creator, Neha’s income can fluctuate from month to month. So when she and Yousuf began looking for a new home in Calgary, they knew they needed to stick to a budget that would be manageable even in months when they earn less income. They also knew they needed more space and good natural lighting, since their home doubles as a space for Neha to film her content. 

“I love the energy of downtown and wanted to be close to everything,” Neha says. But downtown living comes with some hidden costs. “Going out is more tempting, because everything is nearby — a cute café or a nice restaurant is always steps away!” 

Plus, living downtown usually means higher rent costs, extra parking fees and can even mean higher grocery prices. “Some of the local grocery stores that are the most conveniently located for us to shop at are priced higher compared to larger chains in the suburbs,” Neha notes. “But we do love supporting local!” (Neha’s favourite local businesses include Steeling Home for unique pieces, Deville for incredible coffee, and ZamZam Halal Meat & Grocery for feeding her steak addiction.)

The first thing Neha and Yousuf did was set a non-negotiable rent budget of $2,400, leaving room for utilities and other bills to ensure they weren’t overextending themselves. Then, they set some budgeting rules, including:

• Fixed costs like rent, utilities, groceries and student loans always come first.
• Review expenses monthly and adjust their budget as needed.
• Pay for purchases with a high-reward credit card — and pay off the statements right away to keep their credit score strong.
• Save a percentage of their income rather than a fixed amount to prevent stress during lower-income months.
• In higher-income months, save more and allow for some extra fun spending.

Neha says it’s important to allow some flexibility in her spending, even budgeting for at least two dates a month. “We don’t feel guilty about spending money on food or activities during those dates, because quality time is important to us.” 

2. Save when and where you can

Neha’s situation is a bit unique, because her home also serves as a backdrop in her videos. “I really value having a fun and creative space to live and work in,” she says. “Decor can cost thousands of dollars, but I was able to save by buying pieces secondhand from Facebook Marketplace instead of full price at the store. Thrifting can be a good way to achieve your desired space without overspending.”

Food is often one of the biggest expenses for many households, so Neha and Yousuf are actively focused on saving there, too. “We make sure to cook 95% of our meals at home, which helps us save on daily costs associated with ordering takeout or food delivery.”

And while Neha still enjoys working from a coffee shop from time to time, she invested in an espresso maker and makes her own with vanilla syrup from her favourite coffee shop, Edmonton’s Square 1, so she can recreate her favourite café drinks at home.

Neha and Yousuf also contribute regularly to an emergency fund, which helps them handle unexpected expenses without getting off track budget-wise. “We save more during higher-income months to cover lower-income periods,” Neha says. “Our mindset is that there will be months where we don’t save anything, and that’s okay. We set ourselves up for success by working with an Everyday Banking Advisor at ATB, contributing to our emergency fund, and continuously learning about the best ways to manage our finances to maximize what we earn.”

3. Track your expenses

Neha and Yousuf break down their expenses every month using ATB’s interactive budget sheet, which helps them calculate their cash flow by tracking their income against their fixed and variable expenses. “It helps us understand our spending habits and track what’s going in and coming out.”

By regularly tracking their expenses, they can more easily spot opportunities to save. “The first month we tracked our expenses, Yousuf and I realized he was paying for two of the same subscriptions, which was unnecessarily increasing our monthly fixed costs. It was an easy fix to remove one of the subscriptions!”

4. Ditch societal pressures to spend

While being a content creator did partially influence the things Neha chose to prioritize when looking for her home, like good lighting, two bedrooms and a visually appealing aesthetic, she emphasizes that it’s completely possible to create content against any background and make it work with whatever one may have. “A visually modern and cool aesthetic is the vibe I enjoy the most anyways, and I would have likely chosen an apartment that has this vibe even if I wasn’t a content creator.”

That said, content creation influences Neha’s spending in other ways as well. “Fashion is one of my favourite things to make content about, so I’m always tempted to buy new pieces,” she says. “However, I try to be intentional with my purchases, focusing on timeless, classic items that I can wear season after season rather than trendy pieces that I may get bored of over time.”

Thrifting has been a game-changer for Neha, allowing her to create a cozy, aesthetic home while staying mindful of her budget. “I’ve found amazing pieces for our apartment—like my entire vanity setup, wall decor, our bed, and other decor—without overspending.”

Neha also tries to avoid getting sucked into social media trends that can pressure one to spend more than they may be comfortable with. “Expensive workout classes like pilates, boxing and cycling are often treated as social outings or part of the ‘clean-girl aesthetic’ on social media,” she says. “I’d love to participate in more of these classes, but I remind myself that I can treat myself in higher-income months or save for them instead of feeling pressured to spend impulsively.”

5. Don’t be afraid to splurge sometimes

Saving for the future and unexpected expenses are important, but Neha tries to leave room for enjoying the present, too. “I splurge on activities with my friends,” she says. “I don’t get to see them too often, so when I do, I want to enjoy whatever we decide to do, whether that’s going out to a restaurant or a pottery painting session.”

Neha and Yousuf also enjoy treating themselves when they have higher-income months, prioritizing shared experiences like date nights and quality time together. “We love spontaneous trips,” she says, noting that a last-minute trip to see a concert in Vancouver was their best splurge over the past year. “We knew we had a higher-income month, so we made it work without guilt.”

Even if one doesn’t have enough room in their budget for spontaneous trips, many people prioritize travel as a splurge-worthy expense. This year, Neha and Yousuf are setting aside money each month to save for a big international trip. “We’re thinking about opening a joint savings account specifically called ‘Travel’ so we can deposit money in there, have it be separate from our other money, and know exactly how much we have saved for it.”

6. Forgive yourself if you make mistakes

Nobody’s financial journey is perfect. “I’ve definitely had months where I overspent on shopping and felt regret once my package arrived and the initial excitement wore off,” Neha says. “Now, I try to track my spending more closely and pause before making bigger purchases.”

One habit that’s helped Neha is returning orders right away if she realizes she doesn’t actually need the item. “It’s a good way to recognize when I was just chasing the feeling of shopping rather than truly wanting something.”

Neha’s best advice? “If you overspend, don’t be hard on yourself—just adjust next month and be more mindful moving forward!”