In my 20’s, I started watching the personal finance show hosted by money expert Suze Orman.
The show ended in 2015, but I learned a ton about managing money from her. Continuing on my $500k journey, I knew if I wanted to be rich, that I had better invest my money.
Suze was hilarious though in her approach of telling people what they could and could not afford. It was watching this segment of “Can you afford it,” that put me on the path to conserve versus consumption.
I rejected buying new cars and instead invested that money. I started reading every book I could on investing from the Automatic Millionaire to the Millionaire Next Door. I would go to the library and browse the personals finance sections on read the books while commuting to work and on weekends.
Like Ramit Sethi, I like to ask the “$30,000 questions.” Personally, I really like to ask myself $10,000 questions. Meaning what in my life can I get for $10,000 less. How can I spend $10,000 less?
I want low fixed expenses. I didn’t need a $70,000 Tesla to make me happy. No offense to your boy Josh there in the video. I would rather have $70,000 invested in the market than driving around in one simply to go to target and have a nice fancy car to drive around in while I pick up my toothpaste.
That’s right Colgate, feel this leather and enjoy this new car smell while I take you home in my $1,200 per month shiny new car. Screw that! Let me make this money work for me. I want to earn $70k in dividends and interest, not pay interest on $70k.
Don’t get me wrong, I prefer the finer things in life…when I can afford them.
As a teenager, I worked as a telephone operator and a waitress so I know the value of dollar. I really didn’t know a lot of people that were socking away huge amounts of money in savings or investments. I just knew I wanted to have money to be able to take care of myself and not have to spend so much time worrying about how to pay the bills. I took the advice of Robert Frost.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Instead of buying $50,000 cars, luxury vacations, expensive clothes and $500,000 homes, I poured my money into stocks. I started with $5 dollars. Then slowly worked my way up to $100,000.
I’m a lot like Cardi Bin that song Money and I like it because like her, Now I like dollars, I like diamonds! However, in order to fund that lifestyle you have to have money in the bank.
I want deep-pockets; therefore, I avoid debt, save and invest.
And between you and me, I can’t stand debt. That’s no secret if you have been reading my blog. It just weighs you down.
I figured out a way to make myself feel better about paying off debt. I tend to use the debt-snowball method. I like small wins. And you should too, if it helps you continue to work on paying off your debt over several years, which can be 2-5 years.
The debt–snowball method is a debt reduction strategy, whereby one who owes on more than one account pays off the accounts starting with the smallest balances first, while paying the minimum payment on larger debts. You typically use this method when paying off revolving credit card debt.
Dave Ramsey discusses this and the debt avalanche, paying off debt with highest interest rate first, both are good methods of paying off debt.
But my favorite is the debt-snowball method. This strategy is where you pay off debt in order of smallest to largest, gaining momentum as you knock out each balance.
When the smallest debt is paid in full, you roll the money you were paying on that debt into the next smallest balance. You get a chance to celebrate your hard work by knocking out small debts and slowly working your way toward paying them all off.
For example, I have done the following:
Paying off my payday loan in the early 2000’s, I wrote the final check for $333.
Paying off my car note in 2009, once it got down to under $2,000, I wrote the final check for $1,500 and paid that sucker off!
Paying off my personal loan for $20,000, once I got down to the end, I wrote the final check for $3,500.
Paying off my credit card I got in 2005, once I got it down under $15,000, I wrote the final check (electronic) payment for $14,745, so then I could continue to live my best life.
I did this by saving up my money, paying the minimums on all my accounts until I saved up a certain dollar amount and then I wrote big fat checks to pay off what I owe. I like to pay in lump sums and pay off huge chunks of debt at a time. It makes me feel better. I call it the debt-chunk method. I like to see big results.
I got this idea from reading personal finance blogs like Millennial Money and books like I Will Teach You To Be Rich and Set For Life. In addition to studying the self-made. I combined my knowledge of reading about the money habits of Grammy-winner John Legend and Millennial Money founder Grant Sabatier.
Basically, I combined two different philosophies on saving and debt.
From John Legend I learned that once you have money in your hand you should pay off your debt IMMEDIATELY. If you have the full amount, then pay it all off. Thereby, paying off debt in huge chunks!
From Millennial Money I learned to save huge amounts of money over time by making small increases in may savings rate. I also make sure to take other good advice as well.
For instance, over the years, I have learned to listen to the following:
My partner Charlie says there is only three ways a smart person can go broke: liquor, ladies and leverage – Warren Buffett
Find ways to advertise for less or free. Leverage what you know by thinking outside the box. – Daymond John, The Power Of Broke
Find ways to start or build a business for less, cheaper alternatives out there or for $0 to start. – Zac Bissonnette, Debt Free U
There has never been a time when reading a book has not helped me. Work 10X harder, get 10X the results. – Grant Cardone, The 10X Rule
Work out. Have Discipline. Save and invest your money. I started in real estate and built wealth that allowed me to devote more time to the things I wanted to do. – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Try to save $5 a day. And increase your savings by 1% a month or more. Network. I bought coffee for those I wanted to learn from every week! – Grant Sabatier, Millennial Money
Save $25,000 to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck. Spend more on fun not less. Spend money on the things you care about and cut spending on the things you don’t. – Scott Trench. Set For Life, Bigger Pockets podcast
Spend extravagantly on the things you love, and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t. – Ramit Sethi
Focus your energy on the big wins!
If you can cut your housing and car costs, your stand a chance to save $500 or more per month. That is a nice amount to start stashing away in your 401k.
Cutting out $5 lattes and couponing alone are not going to get you to amassing a fortune. But first, before you do anything, you must save!
It is far easier to control and cut your spending than it is to go out and earn more.
Besides, the more you make the more Uncle Sam takes! I am all for people earning more money, but it will make no difference if you spend every last dime.
Therefore, start focusing on slashing expenses, cutting costs, saving an emergency fund (for big expenses), a rainy day fund (for short-term expenses i.e. a flat tire) and paying off ALL YOUR DEBT!!! Doing those five things can start you on the path from broke millennial to millionaire.
And that is because all millionaires know you get there by saving $10 bucks at a time. – Mr. Money Mustache
Therefore, if you want to get rich, just start by saving $10 bucks at a time.
