Victor Yang, 26, earns $45,000 a year and lives in Washington, D.C. As a congressional staffer with over three years experience Yang typically works more than 40 hours a week and sometimes ends up staying at the office until 9 or 10 p.m.

This is the latest installment of Millennial Money, which profiles people across the U.S. and details how they earn and spend their money.

Read more about Victor's budget breakdown here: https://cnb.cx/2YkMbQt

Victor Yang can still vividly picture the sign his parents hung above his bedroom door growing up: "Time management is the key to success."

The sign was a way of life for the Yang family. The mindset helped his parents, who immigrated from China in their 30s, to push through the hardships they faced building a life in the United States. And they passed the mantra on to Yang, he tells CNBC Make It.

For Yang, that philosophy plays a large part in how he handles the money he earns working as a congressional aid in Washington D.C. "You spend when you need to spend money on something. But when you don't, then step back and think to yourself, Do I really need to make this purchase?" he says.

Most of the time, Yang answers 'no.' No to hailing an Uber when he can ride his bike. No to eating out when he can cook at home. No to a gym membership when the city provides complimentary facilities. Why would he pay for something when there's a free solution at his fingertips?

"I'm a big proponent of public service," he says. "I believe it's important to give back to the country that you love." Additionally, he's passionate about seeing more Asian-American representation in politics and government.

Yang's salary has risen nominally every year that he's been on Capitol Hill, but his pay is largely determined by a number of political factors that don't have anything directly to do with him or the office he works for.

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Living On $45K A Year In Washington, DC | Millennial Money