What happens when your first raise kicks you off state healthcare? Tanya Golash-Boza learned the hard way that more money doesn’t always mean more breathing room.

In this episode, we talk with Tanya about the financial wake-up calls that shaped her academic career—from losing food stamps after a small negotiation win, to realizing that a $10,000 fellowship wasn’t “extra” money, but part of a bigger budgeting lesson.

She shares how one offhand comment from a colleague led her to start saving for her kids’ college with just $50 a month—and how those small steps paid off. We also get into the mindset shift that helped her go from scared to ask for $10K to confidently negotiating a $50K increase for a leadership role.

Other points of interest: how location shaped her career decisions more than money or prestige, why most trade books don’t actually pay, and what she’d do if money were no object.

If you’ve ever thought “I should be able to afford this—I have a PhD,” this one’s for you.

If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.

Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.