I Used To Work at McDonald’s — Here’s How It Made Me Better With Money
Written by
Cindy Lamothe
Edited by
Ashleigh Ray
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Remember your first job? For many of us, it involved a uniform, a name tag and maybe a few fries on the side. Working at McDonald’s — or any fast-food joint — might not have felt like a masterclass in finance back then, but surprisingly, those early shifts can teach you some valuable money skills. From budgeting your first paycheck to learning the value of hard work, your younger self might have been laying the foundation for smarter money habits without even realizing it.
GOBankingRates spoke with Joseph Keshi, CEO of Keshman Property Management, to discuss the lessons he took away from his experience working at McDonald’s. “I started my career at McDonald’s during college, and that early experience shaped how I manage money and build financial discipline today as a business owner and property manager,” said Keshi.
Keep reading for a closer look at how those early days influenced his money habits today.
Appreciating Structure and Consistency
According to Keshi, working at McDonald’s gave him an appreciation for structure and consistency, specifically for things like being punctual, clocking in every shift and keeping tabs on habits that eventually form an income.
“With my first paycheck, I learned how to make an exact budget, dividing my earnings into savings, schooling and personal expense accounts, which instilled an irrevocable habit within me to pay myself first.”
Withholding cash at the register also showed him how easy it is to let small amounts slip by unnoticed, so he started recording all his expenses in writing.
A Crash Course in Business
Over time, Keshi started noticing the little things that kept the operation running smoothly. He saw how scheduling affected efficiency, how waste impacted the bottom line and how small changes could make a big difference.
Watching how the restaurant handled inventory and labor costs clued Keshi into profit margins and sustainability in business. This job wasn’t just about flipping burgers; it was a crash course in understanding how money moves through a business, and it gave him a practical sense of financial responsibility that went far beyond his paycheck.
Valuing Hard Work and Delayed Gratification
The biggest life lesson Keshi said he learned was valuing hard work and delayed gratification, a perspective he still applies to rental investments and client portfolios.
“I tell young employees that financial growth starts not with the size of [your] income but with how intentionally you spend each dollar earned,” added Keshi.
This mindset didn’t just apply to his early job. It became a guiding principle for how he managed money. For Keshi, financial growth wasn’t about earning more, but about being intentional with every dollar, understanding its potential and letting smart decisions compound over time.
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