How a 22-year-old saved £106k on £35k salary—and how you could too

At 22, most people are still paying off student loans or figuring out their first pay packet. Gabriella Goddard from Bath has already saved £106,000. The secret? Hard work, living at home, and a clear saving strategy—not a lucky inheritance.

Gabriella’s story started at 18, when she chose a degree apprenticeship in management consulting over university. While earning £18,500 in her first year, she put 60% of her monthly wage straight into a cash ISA. That discipline—saving before spending—is the foundation of everything that followed.

By year two, her salary rose to £1,600 monthly. She then split her savings: £500 into a cash ISA and £500 into a stocks and shares ISA via Trading 212. Today, at £35,000 a year, she invests around £1,000 monthly while living with her parents and paying just £200 rent.

But here’s what really accelerated her wealth: a side hustle. Starting in December 2024, Gabriella built a social media management business for small firms while working full-time. It now generates roughly £5,000 monthly—more than her main salary. That’s where most of her £70,000 investment portfolio came from.

Her current breakdown is telling: £70,000 invested via Trading 212, £23,000 in her workplace pension, and £13,000 as an emergency fund. She’s not property hunting—she’s focused on long-term growth.

What can you learn from this?

You don’t need a six-figure salary to build wealth. Start with what you earn now. Use a cash ISA (tax-free savings up to £20,000 yearly) and a stocks and shares ISA for investing. If you live at home or have low outgoings, the maths becomes powerful: save 50% of your take-home and compound growth does the heavy lifting.

Gabriella’s honest advice: do your research first (she learned via books and social media during lockdown), don’t overthink it, and start small. Most importantly, she credits early work experience—even at minimum wage—with teaching her the value of every pound.

Ready to start? Open a cash ISA through your bank, then explore a stocks and shares ISA once you’ve built an emergency fund. Every pound counts.