Hawaiʻi Cost of Living
What is the living wage in Hawaiʻi according to the MIT calculator?
$29.92 and hour
What are the four budget “buckets” from the workshop?
Essentials, Fun, Commitments, Future
What is your “financial GPA”?
Your credit score
What’s the difference between gross and net pay?
Net pay is after taxes and deductions
What’s the main message of the workshop’s last slide?
Any action is better than zero action
Hawaiʻi’s housing costs are roughly what percent higher than Nevada’s?
30.7%
What’s the first priority for your “Future Accounts”?
Build an emergency fund
Why should you never pay just the minimum on a credit card?
You’ll stay in debt for years and pay high interest
Why does starting to save early matter so much?
Compound growth multiplies early savings
You have $150 leftover monthly. What should you do?
Automate it into savings or debt payoff
What is the average rent near UH manoa?
$1,600–$1,900
What’s the advantage of automating your savings?
It bypasses emotional/cognitive blind spots
Why is bad credit like a “tax”?
It makes everything more expensive
Waiting 10 years to save can cost you about how much by 65?
$90,000
A $400 car repair comes up. What’s the best move?
Use savings or adjust spending—avoid credit cards
Why is ignoring Hawaiʻi’s high living costs risky?
It leads to credit card debt and financial stress
If you save $350/month, how long to reach $1,000?
3 months
What’s one way to safely build credit?
Pay off your card in full every month
What kind of fund adjusts risk automatically over time?
Target Date or Lifecycle Fund
Two credit cards: 20% and 10% interest. Which to pay first?
Pay off the 20% interest card first
If a student earns $16/hour in Hawaiʻi, what’s a smart adjustment?
Find roommates or reduce expenses to bridge the wage gap
A student living with roommates saves $50/month. What’s the danger?
It’ll take 1.5 years to build an emergency fund—too long if an emergency hits
A friend offers to co-sign your credit card. What’s the smart move?
Politely decline unless you completely trust them
What’s the benefit of a Roth IRA for young workers?
Tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement
You live rent-free but save nothing. What’s the best advice?
Start saving now—this is your best chance to get ahead