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.

By 2020, Ashley Cleveland needed a break.

In July of that year, the now 41-year-old was laid off from a job at a tech firm. Spending much of her adult life balancing 60-hour workweeks, mostly in marketing, with raising two young children had taken a toll on Cleveland’s mental health, a feeling she hadn’t quite put her finger on until she began speaking with a therapist.

“I was extremely burnt out,” she tells CNBC Make It. “And I wasn’t really aware that I was struggling with anxiety and depression.”

The diagnosis from her therapist allowed Cleveland to make a claim on her long-term disability policy, which, in turn, gave her the financial flexibility to take a step back and evaluate her situation.

“I really checked in with myself and wanted to ask the question, ‘If life ended now, would you really be satisfied with the story?’” she says. “While I had lived a great life, had worked in some of my dream jobs, had all of the cool things, the nice trinkets, there was still that desire to live outside of the U.S., and it was becoming more and more desirable with all of the political unrest and the racial tension.”

After talking with a friend living abroad and doing some research, Cleveland, along with her daughters, packed their bags for Tanzania in October 2020 — a move that Cleveland envisioned as a multi-month sabbatical.

It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with living in Africa. “It really restored my spirit. My physical body was better, I was feeling better, I was sleeping better, I was looking better,” Cleveland says.

These days, Cleveland and her daughters, ages 14 and 7, live in Cape Town, South Africa, where Cleveland runs a number of businesses, all aimed at helping people travel to, live in and invest in the continent she now calls home. Altogether, her ventures bring in around $122,000 a year.

For much of her 20s and 30s, life was a rollercoaster for Cleveland. After graduating from Florida State University in 2006, she spent years in high-energy jobs, working in promotion and marketing at radio stations and record labels, and even putting in a stint at a hedge fund.

In 2007, she tried her hand at being a landlord and flipping houses — a move she says put her deep into debt during the 2008 housing crisis and resulted in her filing for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy.

In 2011, she moved from Atlanta to Miami to take her then-dream job in marketing for Red Bull. Months later, she received news that her sister had been killed, leaving behind a 5-month-old daughter. Cleveland soon left the job and moved back to Atlanta to support her niece, who she officially adopted in 2014.

Three years later, Cleveland was pregnant with a second daughter when she discovered her company did not offer maternity leave.

“It radicalized me,” she says, especially when she learned of fatality rates among Black mothers in her state. A 2019 report from the Center for Reproductive Rights found that Black women in Georgia were 3.3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than were white women.

During her time in Tanzania, Cleveland visited South Africa, and knew immediately she wanted to make a home there.

However, actually moving was easier said than done. To secure residency in South Africa, Cleveland had to travel home in 2021 to file necessary paperwork and make the necessary arrangements to move with her daughters.

A few years later, Cleveland was able to move back to Africa with her daughters, settling in South Africa in 2023 and moving to Cape Town, the country’s second-largest city, earlier this year.

One of the things Cleveland learned was that she could build community around her journey — and monetize it. In 2021, while preparing for her move, Cleveland started a YouTube channel, which now has around 86,000 subscribers.

“It was just a way for me to share … the ways that I was allowed to be a better mother, a better woman, and ultimately just a better person that was now living in alignment with my values,” Cleveland says.

The message resonated with viewers, who soon began asking Cleveland how they could replicate her journey. So she started charging for 1-on-1 consultations and selling digital guides for people interested in traveling to or living in Africa.

She has since expanded the business to include digital and in-person community events, brand partnerships and consultations for those looking to relocate to Africa or invest in local businesses. In 2022, her first year, Cleveland’s businesses brought in roughly $6,000, she says. This year, she’s on track to top $122,000 — enough to live a comfortable lifestyle in a place where she feels truly fulfilled, she says.

“I feel a sense of freedom. I feel a sense of empowerment. I feel a sense of internal joy that I had to fight for daily living in the U.S.,” she says.

Here’s how Cleveland spent her money in August 2025.

• Business expenses: $2,754 on employee pay, online business solutions, supplies
• Housing and utilities: $1,914 on rent, Wi-Fi and power
• Discretionary: $1,802 on apparel, beauty, entertainment and other miscellaneous expenses
• Food: $1,209 on dining and groceries
• Household: $1,063 on a housekeeper and goods for the home
• Kids: $970 on homeschooling for her daughters and children’s items
• Life insurance: $500
• Phone: $115
• Subscriptions and memberships: $84 on a gym membership and a credit monitoring service
• Rideshares: $82

Cleveland and her daughters live in a 3-bedroom apartment in the Sea Point neighborhood in Cape Town, which rents for about $1,750 a month.

For Cleveland, whose work is location independent, finding balance between work and family life is key. On a light day, she might work five hours. On a busier day, such as when she hosts community events, it might look more like 10.

“I am very intentional about not hustling. I used to work a lot of hours. It was very common for me to work 60-hour work weeks,” she says. “But I definitely found a way to enjoy what I’m doing and the time that I spend on my work, as well as the time that I spend with myself and my family.”

Cleveland is able to afford a full-time housekeeper, which runs her about $450 a month. It’s well worth it, she says, since it takes many of the daily tasks which would eat up her time off her plate. A tutor helps with her daughters’ homeschooling — a necessity until both can enroll in local schools at the start of term in January.

As a result, Cleveland’s time with her family is richer and more abundant, and she’s able to be a more present mother, she says.

Cleveland says she’s trying rebuild her investment portfolio, much of which she liquidated during the process of moving to South Africa. While she has around $54,000 sitting in retirement accounts, she’s betting on a different path to build her long-term wealth.

“In this stage of my life, after going through all that I went through, I realized my No. 1 is my ability to earn an income,” she says.

To that end, she’s retained the services of a business scaling coach with the goal of cracking $1 million in revenue in 2026. Cleveland says plans are on track, “and I don’t see things going anywhere but up from there.”

One consistent personal investment she makes is about $500 a month in life insurance premiums to policies which benefit her children if something happens to her.

Cleveland plans to file for permanent residency in South Africa, which she sees as a forever home for her and her daughters. While she acknowledges that moving around in recent years has caused some upheaval, Cleveland says it was well worth it to be able to live and raise her children somewhere they can feel free and empowered to pursue the things they want.

“I hope that they remember from this time that I moved to make a life better for all of us, where we could feel safe, where we could feel seen and where we could feel secure in our future and not have to fight for freedom, but to get to experience that every day.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that Cleveland’s income is paid in U.S. dollars.

All amounts are in U.S. dollars. Any amounts converted from South African rands used the OANDA exchange rate of 17.68 ZAR to 1 USD on Aug. 31, 2025.

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Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe could personally earn up to $4.6 billion over the next decade if the electric automaker hits specific profit and share price targets laid out in a new compensation package recently approved by his company’s board of directors.

The potential payout, which is earning comparisons to Elon Musk’s Tesla pay plan, likely never would have been possible had the 42-year-old Rivian founder — and his father — not made a “financially highly irrational” decision. In 2009, they each refinanced their houses to secure the money needed to get the company off the ground, he said in an October 2024 interview at his undergraduate alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Scaringe has said that he formed Rivian, initially named Mainstream Motors, the day after he earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 2009. He dreamed of starting an automotive business since childhood, when he helped a neighbor restore classic cars, and researched lower-emission combustion ignition engines as part of his PhD program at MIT’s Sloan Automative Lab. 

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His first business project: building a hybrid sports car. But he lacked enough funding to launch a capital-intensive business: A car company can require “billions of dollars … thousands of engineers [and] a manufacturing plant that would take years to build,” Scaringe said at RPI.

Scaringe had no employees at the time, and hadn’t yet designed or built any of his proposed vehicle’s underlying infrastructure or technology — so investors weren’t eager to supply funding, he said.

“It’s this incredibly high-risk proposition. So, because of that, my dad and I actually financed the beginning [of Rivian]. I had a house that I refinanced [and] my dad had a house that he refinanced,” said Scaringe, adding: “His love for me and belief in me led him to do something that was financially highly irrational…If it were not for that, it would have been impossible to get going.” Both refinancings were second mortgages, The New York Times reported in July 2019.

Scaringe initially bought his own home in high school with money he’d saved from two summer jobs — working in a restaurant and also as an apprentice machinist — and then earned extra income renting the home, he told the “How I Built This” podcast in a September 2022 episode.

The Rivian founder hasn’t publicly disclosed how much money he secured from the two refinancings, but the funds were enough — along with some investments from “friends and family” — to begin hiring Rivian’s first engineers and start building a prototype vehicle, he said on “How I Built This.”

The company also rented a warehouse from Scaringe’s dad, an engineer and founder of Rockledge, Florida-based Mainstream Engineering Corporation, which makes a range of HVAC and refrigeration products.

Scaringe hired roughly 15 engineers and designed a four-seat, sports coupe that he hoped to eventually sell to prospective customers for around $25,000, he told the Orlando Sentinel in May 2010. After two years of development, he shelved the prototype, aiming instead to build something that could have a bigger impact on the auto industry, he told “How I Built This.”

“The thought of going out and building what Tesla had already done [with the electric Tesla Roadster] … just felt like that wasn’t a problem that the world needed [to be] worked on,” Scaringe said.

Scaringe went back to the drawing board, which he called one of the “most perplexing and challenging times” of his life. He was drawn to the challenge of building all-electric pickups and SUVs, he said — popular vehicle categories that produce more emissions than smaller cars when powered by gas engines.

In 2012, Rivian raised more than $1 million in funding, led by Saudi Arabian auto distributor Abdul Latif Jameel. Scaringe met the chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, a fellow MIT alum, through the school’s alumni network and successfully pitched him on his vision for Rivian, he told “How I Built This.” Rivian ultimately raised $10.5 billion in funding from the likes of Amazon and Ford before going public in 2021, the same year the company’s electric trucks and SUVs finally hit the market.

Today, Rivian has a market value of more than $20 billion, with Scaringe owning a stake of about 1.4% in the company, according to Forbes. If Rivian hits all of the profit and share price targets in Scaringe’s pay package over the next decade, its market value could increase by roughly $153 billion and Scaringe would accrue a larger stake in his business, the company said in a Nov. 7 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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“My child won’t tell me anything about their day!” It’s a common concern I hear from parents in my psychotherapy office. They’re hoping to gain a glimpse into their child’s world. But asking “How was school today?” usually leads to a one-word answer.

As a therapist and the author of “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do,” I encourage parents to ask questions that are thoughtful and spark meaningful conversations. When kids reflect on their experiences, they practice skills like emotional awareness, problem-solving, and empathy, and develop a growth mindset.

Here are seven questions that lead to productive conversations while also helping kids grow mentally stronger:

This question encourages kids to scan their brains for positives. For children who dislike school or tend to focus on what went wrong, answering this question helps them build optimism and gratitude — which are both protective factors for mental health.

Frame the question with your own experience, saying, “The best part of my day was going for a walk during my lunch break. What about you?” Your child might share a highlight, like, “I played kickball at recess.”

This one normalizes errors and celebrates healthy risk-taking. Talking openly about mistakes reduces shame and helps kids see them as opportunities for growth.

Ask with a tone of curiosity, not judgment: “Did anything happen today that you’d do differently next time?” This might prompt them to say, “I forgot my library book so I’m going to pack it tonight so I don’t forget.”

It works because it turns their attention to others and cultivates empathy. You will also gain insight into your child’s relationships and what they value.

Make the question more specific by asking, for example, “Did you see anyone try really hard at something today?” Your child may talk about a friend who was brave or might give themselves a pat on the back and say, “My friend forgot her snack so I shared mine.”

This question helps kids identify feelings like frustration and disappointment without dwelling on those experiences. It naturally opens the door to problem-solving and planning.

You can ask in a fun way, such as, “If you had a magic wand to change one thing about today, what would it be?” This can lead to creative ideas, like, “I wish there was more time for my art project so maybe I’ll bring it home to finish it.” 

You can empower kids to engage in prosocial behavior with questions like this. When you ask regularly, kids begin to look for opportunities to be helpful and acts of kindness become second nature.  

Ask about small acts of contribution: “How were you a helper today?” They might remember something simple, like, “I helped the teacher pass out papers.”

It emphasizes curiosity over academic performance. Showing interest in the learning process itself fuels lifelong learning.

Encourage kids to talk about what they learned aside from just their subjects. They may share a fun fact, like, “I learned that my teacher knows how to play the violin.” Show interest and ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.

This nudges kids to look outside their comfort zone and encourages them to be courageous. They don’t have to be good at something in order to try something new — it’s a learning experience. 

If your child hesitates to try new things, encourage an experiment by asking, “Is there a club or activity you’re curious about just trying once?” They may be more likely to explore if they know they don’t have to stick with it forever.

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, clinical social worker and instructor at Northeastern University. She is the author of several books including “13 Things Strong Kids Do: Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave” and ”13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do.” Her TEDx talk “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong” is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

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Trust is the foundation of emotional intimacy and long-term connection in romantic relationships.

When you trust your partner, you believe that they will follow through on their commitments. But it’s also shaped by your past experiences and emotional patterns. For example, if you experienced betrayal in a previous relationship, you might find it harder to believe others can be counted on, even when they can.

As a Harvard-trained psychologist specializing in relationships, I’ve seen how trust influences the way couples communicate. Couples who truly trust each other never use eight phrases that quietly cause long-term damage.

Constantly asking for reassurance may be a sign of insecurity. Even if your partner answers “yes,” it might not feel genuine, especially if you had to ask.

If you trust your partner cares about you, share with them that you’re feeling vulnerable and want connection. 

Instead, they say:

• “I’m feeling a little vulnerable. Can I get a hug?”
• “It’s important to me that we express how we feel. How are you feeling about us lately?”

It can be tempting to do a “check-up” when you feel suspicious. But snooping signals a lack of trust. In healthy relationships, privacy is respected. You both have the right to your own space and communication.

Instead, they say:

• “I’m sensing something’s off. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
• “I noticed you got some late-night texts. Everything okay?”

We’re always growing and changing. It’s a part of life. In relationships rooted in trust, change is seen as an opportunity to evolve together over time.

Instead, they say:

• “I didn’t know that about you.”
• “Even after all this time, I’m still learning about you. I love that.”

Commitment is important. But if dysfunction lasts over time, your partner may leave (or vice versa!). You want to trust that your partner will stay because they choose to, not because you’ve guilt-tripped, manipulated, or begged them to do so. 

Instead, they say:

• “I trust that we can get through this tough time.”
• “If you ever feel this relationship isn’t right, it will be hard for me. But I’ll get through it.”

Couples who trust each other are willing to talk about anything, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be. They trust that their partner be respectful and stay connected even if they disagree. 

Instead, they say:

• “I know I can tell you anything.”
• “Thank you for loving me, even when it’s hard.”

Couples who trust one another give each other space. This means they don’t need constant check-ins to feel secure. They know that their partner is okay and even thriving when they are physically apart.

Instead, they say:

• “Have fun tonight!”
• “Shoot me a text when you’re heading home.”

Relationships go through highs and lows. Saying “I’m done” in the heat of an argument can cause long-term damage. Couples who trust each other don’t make empty threats, and they know that one tough moment doesn’t mean the relationship is over.

Instead, they say:

• “We’ll figure this out.”
• “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got your back.” 

Expecting your partner to read your mind isn’t fair. Communication is key to any successful relationship. If you trust your partner, you stay engaged and talk to them respectfully.

Instead, they say:

• “Here’s why I’m upset.”
• “I need a moment to cool off, but I’ll come back when I’m ready to talk.”

Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, is a board-certified psychologist and author of the new book “Letting Go of Your Ex.” She specializes in romantic relationships, addictive behavior, and honesty. She received her clinical training at Harvard Medical School after earning her doctorate in clinical psychology from Texas A&M University. Follow her on Instagram @DrCortneyWarren or Twitter @DrCortneyWarren.

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Move over, coastal hubs: many of the best cities for Gen Z workers are located in the Midwest, according to a new report from Checkr, an HR technology company.

Using data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Checkr ranked the top cities for Gen Z workers based on their scores in three key areas: employment, affordability and social life.

Checkr calculated the employment score for each city based on its unemployment rate and labor force participation. To determine the affordability score, Checkr analyzed income to rent ratio, real personal income and the percentage of renters paying over 30% of their income.

Each city’s social life score is based on the Gen Z portion of the population in each city and the number of Gen Z members per entertainment establishment. Employment and affordability were weighted 40% each, while social life was weighted 20%.

For Gen Z workers making entry-level salaries, “it’s going to be really difficult to survive and save money” in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, according to Sam Radbil, research and content strategist at Checkr.

Cities like Des Moines and Milwaukee may not have the same hustle and bustle, but they can offer lower costs of living and slower-paced lifestyles, Radbil says.

The cities on this list provide both “career momentum and lifestyle alignment in a single package,” he says.

Based on Checkr’s data, these are the top 10 U.S. cities for Gen Z workers.

1. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison secured the top spot because of its proximity to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Radbil says.

Students from all over the country are drawn to the school due to its academics, sports and social scene, Radbil says, and the city is a “great starting point” for grads to begin their careers.

Beyond the university, Madison’s proximity to Chicago and Milwaukee means that young people have access to “very strong job opportunities” in the area, according to Radbil.

2. Minneapolis, Minnesota

One of the larger cities in the Midwest, Minneapolis offers city comforts paired with a low cost of living.

Minneapolis is also attractive to Gen Z workers because of its progressive values and welcoming social scene, Radbil says.

3. Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines has a thriving insurance industry, which provides ample job opportunities for Gen Z workers interested in that sector, Radbil says.

Beyond that, the city offers affordability and a low cost of living, which provide “a growing appeal to younger workers who want a meaningful start without that big city burnout.”

4. Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha “blends that Midwestern charm with pretty real economic momentum,” according to Radbil.

Gen Z workers can find ample jobs in the insurance, finance and education sectors, and a “small startup ecosystem” is also developing, Radbil says.

Notably, legendary investor Warren Buffett calls Omaha home, he says.

5. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is best known for its music roots, but the city also boasts a growing tech presence and a “very cool entrepreneurial scene,” Radbil says.

Radbil compares Nashville to Austin “without the insane rent prices yet,” although the city’s popularity is likely to drive up the cost of living, he says.

Still, Gen Z workers are attracted to Nashville because “the lifestyle there is so appealing,” he says.

6. St. Louis, Missouri

Affordability is the main draw for St. Louis, Radbil says.

Its low cost of living is attractive to young workers looking to settle down and purchase a home, according to Radbil.

“St. Louis gives you that opportunity to maybe get a start for a lower price, and really feel like you have some roots and you own something, which is important to people,” he says.

7. Austin, Texas

Austin is a “Gen Z magnet,” according to Radbil.

The city’s atmosphere is “very young and culturally rich, and there’s so much to do outside,” he says.

Economically, Austin is also flourishing: its business-friendly environment has attracted large companies like Tesla and Apple, and the startup scene is booming, according to Radbil.

As a result, “the job market is incredible,” Radbil says.

8. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is an attractive option for Gen Z workers due to its strong job market and reasonable cost of living, according to Radbil.

While young professionals may only be able to afford tiny studios in major cities, in Milwaukee, “you could get an apartment overlooking Lake Michigan,” Radbil says.

The city also offers a robust social scene and “amazing” summer weather, he says.

9. Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is “one of the most balanced cities for Gen Z workers” due to its growing economy, access to nature and relative affordability, Radbil says.

It’s also an “awesome location” for young professionals who work remotely, he says: “All those mountain towns and cities out west have really grown in popularity.”

10. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is home to “world-class” universities like Harvard University and MIT, which attract thousands of young professionals across industries.

“The universities are so important to creating jobs for people,” he says. “Whether it’s science or biotech or just working at the university, I think that the job opportunities there are awesome.”

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