This Grad Student Experiences Financial Ease Thanks to Her Side Hustles

About this episode

Nashae Prout shares her journey of achieving financial ease through side hustles while pursuing her PhD.

In this episode, Emily interviews Nashae Prout, a 5th-year PhD candidate in toxicology at the University of Rochester. Nashae's first year of graduate school on a $28,000 stipend was financially challenging, so she now maintains two side hustles. She serves as a graduate community assistant for graduate housing, an up to 10 hour per week position that gives her a 55% reduction in rent. She also adjuncts for a nearby university with the support of her PI. Between these two side hustles and her disposition toward frugality, Nashae can comfortably max out her Roth IRA and spend in areas that matter to her, experiencing financial ease. She concludes the interview with excellent advice on time management and prioritization.

People in this episode

Host: Emily Roberts

Guest: Nashae Prout

Topics covered

• financial ease
• side hustles
• graduate school
• time management
• frugality

Keywords

• financial ease
• side hustles
• graduate school
• Roth IRA
• time management
• frugality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Rochester, Roth IRA

More episodes of Personal Finance for PhDs

• Sacrificing for a Lofty Financial Goal on a Grad Student Stipend · May 4, 2026 · 40 min
• Holding a Financial Standard While on the Faculty Job Market · April 20, 2026 · 39 min
• Financial Chaos Exacerbates a Low Graduate Student Stipend · April 6, 2026 · 50 min
• Teaching Personal Finance Illuminates the Opportunity Cost of a PhD · March 23, 2026 · 49 min
• This International Grad Student's Low Fixed Expenses Enable Her to Invest and Travel · March 9, 2026 · 45 min
• Tax-Advantaged Retirement Account Options in Higher Ed and K-12 · February 23, 2026 · 40 min