In the current economic climate, how are you managing to make ends meet? Tell us about yourself. [email protected] is our email address.
Kaitlin Sonday, 25, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Works mainly in the beauty section at Target, making $16.50 an hour.
- Supplements her retail wages with product plugs on TikTok.
- Bought a home in 2021 with help from a community development group.
Having worked at Target for six and a half years, Kaitlin Sonday has seen her share of Black Fridays. Although the post-Thanksgiving sales frenzy has always been busy, her team’s handling of the surge in online orders and returns has made the entire season feel frenetic.
“The holiday season is definitely crazy,” she stated.
Nevertheless, Sonday, 25, of Lincoln, Nebraska, would rather work in retail than in a field that would need her degree in animal science. Although Sonday enjoys retail and believes more people should gain experience in the field, she earns about $30,000 annually at Target and generates additional money from a side business on social media.
She remarked, “You are really helping people directly.”
Primary source of income: Although Sunday’s hours vary, she often works 35 hours per week, earning $16.50 per hour, which is more than her starting wage of $11 per hour. That is less than the $19.49 that MIT researchers determine is a livable wage for a single, childless adult in the Lincoln area, but it is still far above the state’s $12 hourly minimum.
Sonday doesn’t work more than 40 hours a week because she isn’t permitted to work overtime. However, she uses her day job to supplement her income as a social media influencer. Sonday began blogging about his job at Target on TikTok around three years ago, and since then, he has amassed a following of over 70,000.
Her postings cover everything from budgeting and social media strategy to advice on Target products. Companies like Rare Beauty, EOS, and Skims have taken note and sent her promotional gifts.
Sonday calculated that during her first year on social media, she earned almost $35,000. Although the amount of money she makes from side gigs has fluctuated recently, it usually amounts to around $10,000 per year, which helps her pay her bills more easily and supplement her savings, which she has amassed to around $20,000.
Living circumstances:Many young individuals are unable to articulate what Sonday can: She owns a home. She bought her two-bedroom property in 2021 for $205,000 with assistance from NeighborWorks, a community housing development nonprofit. She will only be required to repay the aid if she sells the house within ten years. The aid comprised a $10,000 loan for her down payment and a $15,000 interest-free loan for repairs.
Sonday pays $580 a month in rent to her roommate, which she uses to cover her $1,400 monthly mortgage payments on a 30-year fixed mortgage with an interest rate of 6.38%.
Her monthly utilities often run between $60 to $100, plus an extra $60 for her phone bill and another $30 for Wi-Fi. With a gallon of ordinary gas recently hanging about $3.11 in her neighborhood, a few cents above the national average, she anticipates spending roughly $70 per month on gas.
Sonday shares a room with her active golden retriever puppy, Winston, who consumes over $30 worth of food each month.
Economic outlook: Sunday’s earnings fall short of Lincoln County’s median annual household income, which was approximately $63,000 in 2022—the most recent year for which federal statistics is available. Nevertheless, she is comparatively at ease.
“I am capable of managing,” Sonday remarked. My ability to manage finances effectively allows me to continue enjoying life’s little pleasures.
Target’s employee discounts, which save her 10% on groceries and an extra 20% on some nutritious selections like fruits and vegetables, help her keep her weekly expenses under control. Since she was sixteen, she has been driving the same 2011 Hyundai Elantra that her mother purchased for her.
By delaying and concentrating on other financial objectives in my life rather than wanting a newer car, that has helped me achieve what I have, she added.
Despite this, Sonday has noticed that she is now more mindful of daily expenses, even as inflation declines. Given the high cost of everything, you must carefully consider what you want to buy with your money. Why is it worth it? “I said,” she said.
Remaining in the retail industry: Sonday was reared by a single mother who was employed at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where Sonday received a reduced degree. She was able to graduate in 2020 with a degree in animal science and a business minor without having to take out any student loans.
Working in retail does not necessarily mean that’s your ultimate objective. Additionally, it’s acceptable if retail suits you.
Sonday, Kaitlin, Lincoln, Nebraska.
However, according to Sonday, most animal-related occupations don’t pay well unless they include a lot of science or require academic degrees. (For instance, ZipRecruiter reports that veterinary technicians in the Lincoln area, who usually hold associate degrees, earn an average of $19 per hour.)
Although Sonday is not as much of a scientific girl, she has thought about ways to apply her B.A. In college, she developed a greater interest in social media marketing. She also finds a creative outlet by juggling her side work on TikTok with her job at Target.
Sonday primarily works in the beauty department of the store, although she is increasingly taking pickup orders throughout her hours. For things bought online, that may include looking through truck deliveries and backstocks. “Even though that isn’t my specific work area, it is more like a daily thing,” she remarked.
Predicting staffing levels has become challenging due to the increase in online orders, and the store may feel understaffed over the holidays, she said. Sonday stated that she frequently steps in to assist colleagues, particularly those who are rushing out curbside pickup orders.
Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said in a statement that the company’s employees are the driving force behind making Target a fantastic place to shop both year-round and around the holidays. The majority of the store staff is trained to work in the Drive Up section because, similar to check-out, we want to ensure that customers receive their orders as soon as possible, even during busy times. We are aware that our teams put forth a lot of effort, and we value their adaptability and commitment to our visitors.
Sonday does not currently have any plans to change careers, despite occasional difficulties. She made close acquaintances at Target after beginning working there part-time while still a college student. She added that she doesn’t see retail as a career dead end and that she has learnt a lot about the industry.
It also allows her a lot of flexibility; since she started working at Target, she has taken two six-week vacations to visit Italy.
According to Sonday, working in retail does not necessarily mean that’s your ultimate aim. Additionally, it’s acceptable if retail suits you. It’s not always necessary to pursue the kind of objective that society has set for everyone.
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