This story is part of CNBC Make It’s Millennial Money series, which details how people around the world earn, spend and save their money.

Lauren Perraut has “always been drawn to blood, body parts, gross things,” she says.

The 32-year-old’s mom worked as a medical laboratory scientist at a blood bank for decades before retiring. Perraut would visit her mother’s lab as a kid and see those elemental parts of the body up close.

She liked “seeing things that most people don’t get to see,” she says.

That’s why when it came time to forge her own career path, Perraut opted to become a pathologists’ assistant. Pathologists diagnose medical conditions by observing patient specimens in a lab. As a PA, Perraut dissects organs and tests body tissue to prep them for the pathologist, and helps come up with a patient’s diagnosis.

Two perks of Perraut’s job: It offers high pay and doesn’t require a lengthy medical degree. She currently makes about $122,000 per year.

Perraut lives with her husband, Dylan, and 2-year-old son, Reed, in Lexington, Kentucky. Here’s how she built her career and how the couple manages their money.

Perraut attended Eastern Kentucky University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science, knowing she wanted to work in health care. But she didn’t want to spend nearly a decade going to medical school and completing a residency program.

“I really value work-life balance,” she says.

As an undergrad, she discovered the pathologists’ assistant path, which only required a two-year master’s program. She graduated from Duke University School of Medicine with her master of health science, pathologists’ assistant in 2017 and started working full-time a week later.

“There’s a national shortage of medical laboratory workers,” she says. As a result, “there’s a really high demand for PAs right now.”

Perraut works about 40 hours per week and loves her day-to-day. “When I get to work, we usually have specimens set up for us to start working on,” she says. “Those can range from small biopsies that come from a colonoscopy to larger, more complex cancer resections.”

She also loves being a critical piece in a patient’s treatment. “I feel like my career is really high impact,” she says. “But most people don’t even know that I exist.”  

Perraut is the primary breadwinner in her family of three. Her husband makes about $60,000 per year as an academic advisor at the University of Kentucky.

Here’s how the family spent their money in June 2025.

• Savings and investments: $3,899 into retirement funds and a shared brokerage account
• Insurance: $3,333 for health, dental and vision insurance, as well as Dylan’s life insurance
• Discretionary: $2,176 for Amazon purchases like a hat and sunglasses for Reed, child care and home goods
• Housing: $1,966 toward their mortgage, electricity, water, sewage and Wi-Fi
• Food: $1,057 for groceries and a few outings to local restaurants
• Transportation: $442 for gas, parking and an oil change
• Subscriptions and memberships: $168 for Spotify, Peloton and their annual Sam’s Club membership
• Phones: $77

Saving is a top priority for Perraut and her husband, and they put around $3,900 into savings and investments per month. As of June, they had around $400,000 in retirement savings and about $113,500 in a shared brokerage account and a high-yield savings account. They also regularly contribute to a 529 college savings account for Reed, which has about $11,500 in it.

“Our goal is to save up enough to have the flexibility to retire when we want,” Perraut says.

In June, the couple’s second-biggest expense was insurance, including health, dental and vision. The bill’s not usually a cumulative $3,333 — they happened to pay Dylan’s annual life insurance of $2,968 that month.

The couple bought a three-bedroom house in 2021, and the only debt they currently have is their mortgage. They also pay about $1,696 for homeowners insurance annually, and their property taxes were about $3,427 in 2024.

Car insurance is annual as well and comes out to $1,537.

Surprise expenses in June included various medical supplies, like eyelid cleanser. And other than the occasional trip to McDonald’s or a local restaurant, the family doesn’t spend much on going out to eat.

“I feel like Dylan and I are both relatively frugal people,” says Perraut. “I don’t feel the need to buy super expensive things or go out to super expensive restaurants.”   

Perraut is very happy with the balance they’ve struck. “We both enjoy our jobs and we enjoy our routine,” she says. She doesn’t think she’ll want to retire early, even if she can afford to.

She loves their location as well. “I really enjoy living in Kentucky,” she says. “We’re pretty centrally located to bigger cities like Nashville or Indianapolis or Washington, D.C. We can drive to the beach within a day. We’re surrounded by horse farms and lots of bourbon.”

Perraut wants to encourage others to consider a similar career path in health. “Even since I’ve graduated, the salary range has increased significantly,” she says about pathologists’ assistant roles.

“I find a lot of joy in my job, and I really want to share that with others.”

What’s your budget breakdown? Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in a future installment.

Want to be your own boss? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How To Start A Business: For First-Time Founders. Find step-by-step guidance for launching your first business, from testing your idea to growing your revenue. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off the regular course price of $127 (plus tax). Offer valid Sept. 16 through Sept. 30, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

More and more people are looking to retire abroad in search of a different lifestyle and lower cost of living. And while the United States doesn’t have an official retirement visa program, dozens of other countries around the world do.

This year, Global Citizen Solutions published its Global Retirement Report 2025, ranking 44 passive income and retirement visa programs.

The report looked at 20 targeted indicators grouped into six sub-indices: procedure, citizenship and mobility, economics, tax optimization, quality of life, and safety and integration. Each country was given a score out of 100.

The U.S. did not make the list, but the report did find that many of the countries ranked in the top 10 are in the Americas and Europe.

“The Americas dominate the availability of digital nomad retirement visas and then Europe. They have a very high quality of life that’s above average,” Dr. Laura Madrid Sartoretto, Research Lead at GCS’ Global Intelligence Unit, tells CNBC Make It.

“That’s not a coincidence because one of the motivations people have when they decide to relocate abroad is looking for a place where they will have a better quality of life.”

Of some of the other factors retirees consider when planning to move abroad, Madrid Sartoretto adds, “people look for places that are politically stable and safe when they want to retire abroad. The other relevant aspect in Europe is health care. Most countries in Europe have a blend of robust public health care systems and affordable private health care options.”

Overall score: 92.61

Portugal ranked as the best country to retire abroad. The European country offers non-EU citizens the D7 visa, which allows those with steady passive incomes, like pensions or rental income, to retire.

Dr. Madrid Sartoretto says Portugal’s retirement visa program has been a flagship one for the last 10 years.

“The country started to invest in attracting investors, retirees and digital nomads. Portugal is a country that nowadays scores really well in quality of life,” she says. “Portugal is the safest country in Europe if you look at the World Peace Index. It is one of the most sought-after countries in Europe for retirement.”

To apply for that visa, you’ll need a minimum income requirement of 870 euros. After the initial residency permit is granted and you’ve lived in Portugal for at least five years, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency or citizenship.

The Portuguese government offers a worldwide tax system, meaning it includes foreign-earned income. Portugal also has no wealth and inheritance tax for close family members. There is a 10% Stamp duty that applies to others.

Portugal is also known for its golden visa program. It allows non-EU citizens to gain citizenship or residency in the country through investment, which doesn’t include real estate.

The Portuguese government has seen a 72% increase in golden visa approvals, with Americans making up the majority, according to Forbes. Portugal’s golden visa program has raised more than $7.2 billion since it was created in 2012.

1. Portugal
2. Mauritius
3. Spain
4. Uruguay
5. Austria
6. Italy
7. Slovenia
8. Malta
9. Latvia
10. Chile

Located in Africa, Mauritius ranked as the No. 2 best country to retire abroad with a score of 89.24.

“Mauritius has a very reliable procedure. It’s fast, transparent, and one of the countries that has the best options for tax optimization. People who don’t want to have any fiscal risk when moving abroad with their pensions choose countries like Mauritius because it doesn’t have a worldwide tax system,” Madrid Sartoretto says.

“It also has one of the highest quality of life standards in our ranking.”

Mauritius offers retired non-citizens over the age of 50 a 10-year residence permit. You must have a monthly income of $2,000 or $24,000 a year. After the 10-year period expires, you’re eligible to renew the residence permit for another 10 years.

The African country offers the main applicant the chance to include their spouse or legal partner and dependent children in their application. Mauritius also has a territorial tax system, meaning it doesn’t include foreign income. It also has no imposed taxes on foreign-sourced income or wealth and inheritance tax.

Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can’t replicate.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Kids need to feel seen, heard, and believed. That’s why one of the most powerful tools parents can use is validation. When children feel validated, they feel safe. And a sense of safety is the foundation for emotion regulation, communication, and connection.

As a certified child life specialist and licensed therapist, I’ve supported thousands of kids through challenging experiences — medical diagnoses, hospitalizations, grief, trauma, and loss. Again and again, I’ve seen the power of validation.

Any time a child is upset — whether you agree or disagree, whether you understand or don’t — they need to feel like you believe them before they can shift into problem-solving mode. It helps them move out of their feeling brain and into their thinking brain.

Here are my go-to validating statements by age:

For infants and toddlers, validation is felt more than heard — through tone, touch, and presence. They need to sense that your presence remains steady even when things are hard. 

Saying, “I’m right here,” and staying close shows that you can withstand the difficulty alongside them. It communicates, “I’m not going anywhere. You can rely on me.” 

You can also pair your words with a deep breath to regulate your own emotions, offering them the calm presence they need most.

Preschoolers often communicate more through behavior than words. Naming what you see gives them language they may not yet have. 

It’s important to set limits on behavior while still validating the feelings underneath. You might even say, “You threw the toy because you were so frustrated. Can you try a safer way?”

This shows them their emotions are real and understood, while also guiding them toward healthier expression.

School-age kids experience greater depth in their emotions, but they may be unsure if their feelings are valid. 

They need caregivers to both name and normalize emotions, affirming that it’s okay, natural, and normal to feel the way they do. This builds self-esteem and confidence in their ability to navigate challenges over time.

Older school-age children (tweens) can hold more complexity. They might feel upset while also recognizing another perspective. 

Validation here means affirming their experience while introducing language for nuance and the possibility of problem-solving. Once their feelings are validated, they often have the capacity to think through what they want to do next and what might make things better or easier for them.

Teenagers feel validated when there’s space to process emotions without minimization or immediate fixes. 

Acknowledging their experience and appreciating their trust reinforces connection and safety while empowering them to sort through things independently.

The safer a teenager feels, the more likely they are to continue opening up about their struggles and seeking support when they need it.

Kelsey Mora is Certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who provides custom support, guidance, and resources to parents, families, and communities impacted by medical conditions, trauma, grief, and everyday life stress. She is a private practice owner, mom of two, the creator and author of The Method Workbooks, and the Chief Clinical Officer of the nonprofit organization Pickles Group.

Want to be a successful, confident communicator? Take CNBC’s online course Become an Effective Communicator: Master Public Speaking. We’ll teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, calm your nerves, what to say and not say, and body language techniques to make a great first impression. Get started today.

The worst thing you can ask at the start of any interaction is: “How are you?” 

You’re essentially telling the other person that the interaction will be like every other interaction. They’ll most likely respond, “My day’s been busy. Good but busy.” It’s boring and generates a social script. 

I’ve spent the last 17 years studying human behavior and what sparks connections between strangers. I’ve learned that trust can catch fire or die out right away, all due to small signals in those first seconds of an interaction. 

Here’s what to do if you really want to instantly gain trust.

Don’t ask what everyone else is asking, like “What’s up?” or “Been busy lately?” Try a question that’s still casual, but looking for excitement. This sets you up for a better interaction.

A few examples:

• Don’t ask: “How’s it going?” Instead, ask: “What’s the highlight of your week so far?”
• Don’t ask: “Have you been keeping busy?” Instead, ask: “Any big wins lately?”
• Don’t ask: “Working on anything lately?” Instead, ask: “Working on anything exciting these days?”

DON’T MISS: How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work

If you want to generate trust with anyone, encourage them to tell stories about their lives. Be known for asking others what they are most looking forward to.

Here’s my trick:

• On Mondays and Tuesdays, I ask everyone, “Did you do anything fun this past weekend?” 
• On Thursdays and Fridays, I modify it to, “Are you doing anything fun this upcoming weekend?” 
• On Wednesdays, I ask, “Working on anything fun or exciting this week?” 
• Before any holiday or break, I ask, “Looking forward to anything fun for the holidays?”

Everyone on my team and in my life knows I’m going to be asking for fun or exciting plans, so they save them up to tell me all about them (or avoid me when life is boring). It’s a win-win!

When it comes to building trust, it isn’t just the questions you ask, but how you respond when someone tries to connect with you, too.

The biggest mistake I see people make is that when they start conversations, they immediately lead with negativity: “Ugh this terrible weather!” or “My schedule has been crazy!” Instead, save one interesting thing to lead with and be ready when someone asks you a boring question. 

The next time someone asks, “How are you?” try to respond with some humor or whimsy instead. You might try a reply like:

• “Good enough that I remembered to floss. So, a win.”
• “Running on caffeine and a dream.”
• “10 of 10 today, I just got one new follower on Instagram.”
• “Hanging in there like a cat on a motivational poster.”

Essentially, anything other than the standard “Busy, but good” will wake people up.

Words matter, but your body talks louder. Keep arms uncrossed and face them square to seem open. An open stance invites reciprocity; a closed one sparks doubt. 

A solid handshake — one to three pumps, firm but easy — says you’re sure of yourself and can even signal your personality traits. 

On video calls, lean in a bit to close the gap. If they nod, try nodding back. Matching or mirroring their body signals tells their brain you’re safe.

Test these tips in safe, low-pressure places, like chatting with a cashier, a neighbor, or a friend over coffee. 

I do it myself before big talks — with my family at dinner, strangers in line, Uber drivers during rides, you name it — and it sharpens how I come across, making the moves feel second nature.

The key is to start small, and be consistent.

Try the question about positive future plans at lunch, or the mirroring body language on a walk. Over time, you’ll notice people opening up quicker, smiling more, and engaging deeper, even in brief encounters.

Vanessa Van Edwards is a speaker, researcher and the author of ”Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People″ and ”Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication.” She is the founder of Science of People, where she leads workshops and courses on science-based soft skills to help people become better communicators.

Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can’t replicate. 

Earning a master’s of business administration can help unlock competitive job offers and salaries for graduates. 

The average starting salary and bonus was $121,324 for MBA grads in 2024, according to U.S. News and World Report. And getting your MBA from a top-ranked program can make you stand out even more to companies, hiring managers or investors in your own future venture.

LinkedIn just released its 2025 rankings of the top MBA programs in the world, and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University took the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row. 

The professional networking platform used exclusive data from its site to determine which MBA programs deliver the best outcomes for students across a range of factors, including job placement, promotion rates, alumni network strength, leadership potential and program diversity, including gender ratios.

Several Ivy League schools, like Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, join Stanford among the top 10 best MBA programs in the world, LinkedIn reports.

“Hiring demand is super strong from these schools,” Laura Lorenzetti, senior director and executive editor of LinkedIn News, tells CNBC Make It. “They’re really great for leadership potential and how [their graduates are] able to rise through the ranks in their careers with the ability to advance.”

Here are the 10 best MBA programs in the world in 2025 and the most common job titles their graduates obtain, according to LinkedIn, plus tuition rates from each school’s website.

• Location: Stanford, California
• 2025-26 tuition: $85,755
• Most common job titles: Co-founder, product manager, chief executive officer 

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• 2025-26 tuition: $78,700
• Most common job titles: Product manager, founder, chief executive officer  

• Locations: Fontainebleau, France; Singapore; Abu Dhabi, UAE
• 2025-26 tuition: $121,215
• Most common job titles: Product manager, strategy consultant, engagement manager

• Location: Philadelphia
• 2025-26 tuition: $87,970
• Most common job titles: Investment banking associate, product manager, founder

• Location: Hyderabad, India
• 2026-27 tuition: $21,961 (Tuition data for the 2025-26 school year was unavailable.)
• Most common job titles: Product manager, program manager, management consultant 

• Location: Evanston, Illinois
• 2025-26 tuition: $86,370
• Most common job titles: Product manager, brand manager, investment banking associate 

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• 2025-26 tuition: $89,000
• Most common job titles: Product manager, co-founder, chief executive officer

• Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
• 2025-26 tuition: $84,250
• Most common job titles: Investment banking associate, product manager, product marketing manager 

• Location: New York
• 2025-26 tuition: $91,172
• Most common job titles: Investment banking associate, product manager, co-founder  

• Location: London
• 2025-26 tuition: $162,448
• Most common job titles: Product manager, investment banking associate, co-founder 

Across these schools, Deloitte, Amazon and McKinsey & Company are the top employers graduates go on to work for. Graduates most commonly land in roles in professional services, financial services or manufacturing, according to LinkedIn.

MBA programs, especially those at top-ranked schools, give students the skills and resources they need to thrive in a variety of fields, Lorenzetti says, even with emerging technology like artificial intelligence constantly changing the way many of these businesses operate.

“MBA programs are fantastic at teaching professionals how to think, how to make connections, how to have empathy and build and lead teams,” she says. “Even as AI grows as a tool and a technology, those are core competencies that will continue to be important in the working world.”

Conversions from Indian Rupee, Euro and British Pound Sterling (GBP) to USD were done using OANDA conversion rates of 1 rupee to 0.01 USD; 1 Euro to 1.17 USD and 1 GBP to 1.35 USD on Sept. 12, 2025. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can’t replicate.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.