Frugal Car Purchases and College Finance Strategies

Emma's frugal spending on cars, from a totaled Honda Civic to a long-lasting Ford Escape, prompts a discussion on the value of cars and durability. The chapter also covers buying cars from private sellers using OfferUp and the importance of due diligence. Additionally, it explores college finance strategies like choosing scholarship programs, navigating the FAFSA process, and leveraging the Army ROTC program for reduced tuition costs.

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Could Coast FI be your BEST path to financial independence? Maybe you don’t want to retire early—not yet, at least. Hustle for a few years, invest your money, and watch it snowball instead! This twenty-four-year-old saved nearly $100,000 with this strategy, and in today’s episode, she’ll show you how to do the same!

Emma von Weise was determined to take control of her finances at a very early age, getting her first job at just fourteen years old and saving money at every opportunity. This allowed her to not only escape college debt-free but also build a $99,000 net worth, a figure that will make her Coast FI until retirement—which isn’t on the radar anytime soon! Using her newfound financial freedom, Emma has built her “dream” life by working in a field she loves and taking plenty of time off to travel.

In this episode, Emma shares about all of the different jobs and side hustles she took up to supercharge her savings, as well as several creative “hacks” she used to help fund her college tuition. She also talks about some of the pivotal moments that shaped her views on personal finance, such as discovering the power of compound interest and finding an entire support system through the FI community!

In This Episode We Cover

How Emma became Coast FI by twenty-four and built a $99,000 net worth

Creative ways to fund your college education and escape debt-free

The real value of buying used cars from private owners (and where to find deals!)

How to create a fun and fulfilling life you don’t want to retire from

How to fast-track your fortune using the power of compound interest

Making your money work harder for you after stockpiling cash

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

Network with Other Investors on The Path to FIRE Through the BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding