Here's Where My $65K Salary Actually Goes (Paycheck Breakdown)

Every two weeks, exactly $2,058.83 hits my bank account. That's after taxes, retirement contributions, health insurance, and everything else. Today, I'm going to show you exactly where every dollar goes, why I intentionally keep my paycheck smaller than it could be, and just exactly how each payday is getting me one step closer to my goal of reaching

$100,000 before I turn 30. If you're new here, my name is Zane, and I'm 27 years old. I make about $65,000 a year, and this channel is all about documenting what it actually looks like to build wealth on a normal salary. There's no drop shipping, no overnight success, just the real journey. All right, now

let's open the pay stub. So, here is the number that everybody cares about. My paycheck before any deductions is $3,015. After taxes, retirement contributions, and health insurance, I actually take home $2,058.83. Now, let's break down exactly where the rest went. This is probably my biggest financial mistake in my 20s. However, for years, I ignored my company's 401k.

I convinced myself I'd rather invest on my own. Looking back though, I was walking away from free money. Today, I contribute 6%, which works out to $162.50 each paycheck. My employer adds another $81.25, and that's an instant 50% return um before the money even hits the market. 1 year ago today, this account had $0 in

it. Today, that account is now worth over $7,000. Next up is probably my favorite investment account, my health savings account. Most people think of it as a medical account. I look at it as another investment account because it's one of the few accounts that's triple tax advantaged. My employer starts me out with $500 each year.