**Revised and updated 01/05/19

Miriam is a self-appointed wealth advocate and has been studying personal finance since 2007. Miriam grew up in the Washington DC metropolitan area and has been working in the financial services and lending industry for over a decade.

I recently experienced FinCon. I was particularly inspired by Millennial Money to share more of my story.

So here goes.

Back in 2005, I was standing on the street and I didn’t know what to do. I had to take out, yet again, another payday loan. I was just so tired.

I promised myself no more!

I devised a plan to pay it off. I did once I received my tax return and never looked back.

From that point on, I started devouring news, books, and magazines about money.

I read that Bill Gates read dozens of books. So, I started reading about two dozen a year.

Last I read, Bill Gates still reads a lot. It was reported he reads 80 books a year. So, I started reading 50.

I started off in tons of debt.

I had credit cards, personal loans, and auto loans. Then one by one, I started to pay them off.

Once I paid off my car note, I decided to add that money to my 401(k). I cancelled subscriptions I was not even using. And I doubled my income from age 22 to 28.

I started off with $300 in investments and turned that into $100,005 within 5 years.

I now save and invest over 41% of my income.

My FIRE number is $750,000.

I still live frugally and focus on increasing my  earnings and savings rate at the same time.

Every time something gets paid off. I increase my savings.

All I did was start small. I just started where I was at.

I have never told anyone this much about myself, but I am sharing it with you here and now because I hope it inspires someone else to take action.

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Here are 25 things about me.

1. I am an 80’s baby.
2. My favorite cartoons growing up were Jem and the Holograms, G.I. Joe, She-Ra, and the Thundercats, Ho!
3. I always carry lipgloss.
4. My favorite author is Jane Austen.
5. When flipping through channels, when in  doubt, I watch an 80’s movie.
6. My favorite teen movie ending scene is Sixteen Candles!
7. I like to read biographies.
8. I am a history buff.
9.  My best friend and I went to the same elementary, middle, and high schools.
10. I have a sister who retired from the military after 20 years.
11. I like quotes.
12. For guidance, I remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King: Life’s most urgent question is what can you do to help others?
13.  I love comedy. One of my favorite comedians is Mike Epps.
14. My favorite television show is Martin.
15. My car has 200,000 miles, is 15 years old, and I still drive it to this day.
16. My last oil change cost me $44.
17. My favorite personal finance book is The Millionaire Next Door.
18. I love to dance.
19. Growing up I loved to read the Berenstain Bears and The Babysisters Club.
20. I can sing in a song the 50 United States.
21.  My favorite board game is Scrabble.
22. I have 15 nephews and nieces.
23. Some of my favorite bands are Linkin Park and Incubus.
24. I love Betty and Veronica comics.
25. I still watch Degrassi Junior High, Charmed, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD.

What’s in a name.

I got asked several times how I ended up with the name Greenbacks Magnet while at FinCon.

Well, I have always like magnetism and how things are attracted to one another, how like attracts like. I am a bit of a science nerd.

One day I was watching the 90’s cartoon X-men. Professor Xavier rode into the room and said Magneto has been here. They asked him how did he know that.

He proceeds to take off him watch and drop it, but instead of falling to the ground it is pulled to the wall. He the says, “because the room has been magnetized.” I always thought that was so cool.

And I have always associated the word green with money.

At one point, during the Civil War in the 1860’s, they printed money called Greenbacks.

I thought Money Magnet. However, I wanted something different. So, I combined the two words I liked: Greenbacks Magnet.

Well, I hoped you enjoyed getting to know me and I look forward to writing articles that inspire people to change their money mindset just like I did all those years ago.

Sincerely,

Miriam

Greenbacks Magnet