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The Financial Independence Show

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Sep 10, 2019 • 51min

Earning Over $350K on Fiverr (per year) | Alex Fasulo

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Alex Fasulo who is the queen of Fiverr. This 26 year old makes insane money as a copywriter all online. Alex came from a family of entrepreneurs but sought a job in politics or law. After graduation, she found herself in a job she hated and quit soon after. Alex turned to a little site called Fiverr to start trying to earn money online. Fast forward a while and she'd become a Fiverr pro who travels the world and makes over $350k per year risk-free. Listen and read below to hear how she did this and how you can too. Episode Summary She really started paying attention to money after moving to NYC and being out of a job just a few weeks later The job didn't turn out to be at all what she was expecting So she quit She comes from an entrepreneur family Her mom has done hand-painted clothes Her dad has made board games She went to school for political science and aspired to be a lawyer or politician In the house, they were smart with money and savers However, there wasn't conversations on investing or anything more complicated Before she quit her job she had been on a site that was still pretty small called Fiverr After a few months, she started having some traction with it Alex recalls the first day she ever made $100 in one day and felt like this could work Then we start discussing how she grew her rates and found her value After a year of taking things really seriously, she was earning around $32k Alex talks about how important the review is during this growth stage She said if you're early on, it's best to just create a new account if hit with a bad review Now we unravel the origin of Fiverr Pro and how Alex's earnings exploded Alex was invited to a photoshoot for Fiverr and then told she was invited to this new program The minimum rates would be four times what she was currently selling Keep in mind that there's no pro membership or risk to Alex Eventually, she was making over $300k per year and money was piling up We then discuss what Alex plans to do with all that money Then we discuss the drawbacks like all the sitting, bad backs, and carpel tunnel While the business is crazy successful for Alex, it isn't really possible to scale further Currently, Fiverr doesn't have a team version but it may be in the future Alex isn't ready to leave Fiverr anytime soon because they bring her so many clients Even though they take 20% of the profits, she doesn't believe she could find the number of gigs We then talk about some of her biggest or craziest deals including the royal family She's also starting other side hustles like converting horse trailers into mobile bars and ebooks Key Takeaways Brace yourself for change: It was awesome to see how well Alex did with the change that happened when she found herself in a job she hated. We have to be ready for what life hands us and make the most of it. Income can be exponential: Much like investments, income can also grow exponentially as you build a reputation Online doesn't mean easy: We often romanticize working online but it's obvious Alex has put in countless hours to build her dream. Don't expect easy money to just fall in the sky Call to Action Go browse Fiverr and look for inspiration to start selling your own gig! Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android   Contact Alex: Via her blog and grab her book Catch her on Facebook Follow her Instagram In our Facebook group!
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Sep 3, 2019 • 33min

The Low Income Path to FI | Chad Methner

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Chad Methner from Little Brother Life Coach. Chad really wants to encourage people how to reach FI even if they're nowhere near a six-figure salary. We discuss his battles during the recession, finding himself in a job he hated, and how he came through it all. You'll catch Chad now helping others through coaching and setting up local meetups. It's a unique angle so go listen and follow along with the summary below and make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Episode Summary Chad first discovered financial importance from a Dave Ramsey book he stumbled across The parts about debt pay off really hit Chad He's still $20k in debt from college After high school, he just did some manual labor while he tried to figure out what to do for college He got half off tuition thanks to his dad's job at Ohio State After college, he couldn't land a job because it was 2009 and the recession was in full swing He didn't rack up any debt from college until he got his masters in 2015 While the job he had did some tuition reimbursement, it still cost him $25k in debt That along with a car and some other loans left him with over $40k worth of debt He continues at this job making under $11 per hour After he got his masters he went to try and get a promotion Unfortunately, they didn't give him any options After six years there he had maxed out at $13.25 an hour and decided to leave He landed a new job and almost doubled his income to just under $50k and in a role where he was more comfortable We asked why he staid at that first job so long unhappy and underpaid For Chad, it was just comfortable and easy but he finally had enough The discussion swapped to how he saves money on this lower-income The biggest thing for him was cooking at home It turned into a full-blown hobby instead of just a money saver He plans to be out of debt in 3-5 years His big goal is to retire before age 55 and hit that $1M mark Chad is also trying to build up side hustles including coaching and writing a book Then we discuss the "poverty-tax" and the importance of an emergency fund Key Takeaways Everyone can benefit from this journey: Chad began this journey on as little as $10.75 per hour and it's changed his life. Your velocity may be different but the impact is still extremely meaningful. We can always help: Although Chad is still working through his debt payoff, he still has a lot to teach other low-income individuals chasing FI. Don't settle for misery: Chad obviously stayed at his first job too long. After 6 years he was still underpaid and forced into positions he hated. Regardless of pay, working in a job you hate is never worth it. Call to Action Start planning some frugal activities and trips. Maybe even take a look at activities you currently do and find a frugal alternative. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android   Contact Chad: Via his blog Little Brother Life Coach Catch him on Twitter In our Facebook group! Learn More About Your Hosts: Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)
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Aug 27, 2019 • 60min

Traveling the World Indefinitely | Kristy & Bryce from Millennial Revolution

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by the incredible duo of Kristy and Bryce from Millennial Revolution. Their story is so inspiring. They start at the most traditional lifestyle route of a professional career and seeking homeownership. Then one day they realize the housing costs are simply out of control and they'd rather retire instead. Three years later they quit their jobs and have been traveling year-round since then. They're keeping busy though with projects like their new book Quit Like a Millionaire. This will certainly be one of the most entertaining episodes we've had to date so go listen now. Listen and follow along with the summary below and make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Episode Summary Bryce wasn’t focused on saving money in college...beer took priority When they graduated they were just solely focused on saving for a home They lived in a modest apartment while chasing a home The house prices kept outpacing the housing Before they could find a home, they realized they’d saved $500k Then Bryce came up with the idea to ditch the house idea and retire instead Kristy saw the value in this after seeing a coworker collapse from stress They hit a million at the age of 31 We then dig into how they actually got the $500k in the first place Kristy credits the scarcity mindset she got from being raised in poverty in China They moved to a cheaper apartment, used public transportation, and reigned in their eating out splurges They weren’t naturally frugal at the start with Bryce dropping hundreds on booze and Kristy collecting high-end purses.  Kristy even got into unboxing videos for these purses Bryce then starts discussing the differences between how he and Kristy see things Kristy is much better at being frugal but was much less comfortable getting started with investing They really fill in each other's gaps to make the perfect financial independence duo Kristy said what helped get comfortable with investing was understanding how much she'd lose to inflation in savings accounts Then Bryce starts covering their investment strategy and how they navigated the 2008 recession That strategy is a big cornerstone of their book which seeks to show how to handle every rough situation you may encounter Kristy covers how they started out with salaries in the $60k range but would get several raises along the way Their savings rates began around 50% and would get up to 72% before retiring Kristy then covers how to use a number centered approach to choosing your major in college Bryce and Kristy then start covering all the work they're doing now in retirement with the book and blog They credit being in a position where the focus didn't need to be money as their key to side hustle success Kristy then starts telling the backstory to how her video about millennials and money went viral At this point, we shift gears to understanding how they continue to travel the world year-round for under $40k per year They prefer Air BnB over a hotel for the kitchen and laundry access Then they discuss how they build a schedule when constantly traveling and some of the bumps to expect along the way Currently, they're staying in a location a little over a month but plan to start rotating between locations quarterly Those three-month stints will allow them to build real lasting relationships Key Takeaways Create your own trend: It was amazing to see them realize that they didn't just have to follow the path everyone else was following. Why buy a house if that house was going to anchor you to a job for decades. Handling the worst: Too often we only tell success stories and don't give enough focus on preparing for non-ideal scenarios. Kristy and Bryce nail this topic. Millennials are misunderstood: Millennials aren't pampered or lazy. They just consistently choose to follow lifestyles that their pa...
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Aug 20, 2019 • 56min

Financial Independence in the Military | Military Dollar

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by the magnificent Military Dollar. Justin really had a blast getting to vent the military money misunderstandings  with someone who could relate. Everything gets covered here. Military housing, insurance, investing and of course retirement. Listen and follow along with the summary below and make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Episode Summary When she was in college she didn't have a lot of money Her parents were also draining on her finances some in college It was clear to her that she needed to get her finances together and started tackling finance books She ended up commissioning as an Air Force officer through the ROTC program She also got a scholarship but because it was a private school, it didn't cover everything When she graduated she had $20k in student debt, credit card debt and a car payment Both of her parents are entrepreneurs but aren't very good with money Upon graduation she got a new car and had a total of $42k in debt After four years in the military she was debt free Her degree was in political science but she ended up in a very different career field Now she's making great headway towards financial independence She loves her job and never wants to work for pay after she retires Then we discuss the flaw with just choosing a job you love We then discuss why it can be beneficial to live in a high cost of living city Mil dollar then starts breaking down exactly what she makes in the Air Force Justin and Mil dollar then break down common money mistakes military make The big ones include housing and comparing military to civilian pay Then we unravel the military 401k also known as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) This includes some big changes coming to the TSP this year! Now the moment you've been waiting for...retirement We go over both the traditional retirement and the new blended retirement system Military Dollar finished the episode with how she plans to travel the world with free flights in retirement Key Takeaways Military is a really solid FI path: Unfortunately people think the military is something people do because they didn't have any options. In reality it's full of some of the smartest people you'll ever meet and certainly one of the most sure fire ways to retire between 38-43. People will find an excuse: Military members often spend all of there housing allowance on a house even if they could get by just find spending  a third. The mentality doesn't make any sense but it's an easy excuse for sure. FI lifestyle possibilities are endless: During the wild card question, Mil Dollar talks about this magical retirement community. That's the beauty is you can do whatever you want and there's no reason to live a cookie cutter life you don't want. Call to Action If you know someone in the military or considering the military please share this episode with them. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android   Contact Military Dollar: Via her blog Military Dollar Catch her on Twitter Join her Facebook group Learn More About Your Hosts: Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)
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Aug 13, 2019 • 54min

Engineering Your Early Retirement | Kim from The Frugal Engineers

Kim's journey from debt to financial independence took a pivotal turn after a transformative year at Disney World and the encouragement from a math professor. She discovered the power of budgeting through Dave Ramsey's teachings, leading to a lucrative side hustle that allowed her family to thrive. Now, both Kim and her husband are self-employed, emphasizing joy over financial stress. The conversation also dives into their strategic relocation choices, revealing insights on health insurance, community assessment, and the benefits of lower property taxes for boosting retirement savings.
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Aug 6, 2019 • 48min

Spending Money Where it Matters | Chris Mamula

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Chris Mamula who is about to release his new Choose FI book. Chris has a great and relatable story that we really think everyone could follow. His story was also met with a lot of the same mental struggles we all face on this journey. Chris and his family are now financially independent in Utah. Listen and follow along with the summary below and make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Episode Summary Chris and his wife have always been financially aware He was able to get through college debt-free His wife started working a year prior to him but she was carrying $20k in student debt Chris got his masters in physical therapy while his wife focused on math and operations research When they graduated Chris and his wife were both making in the mid 30k range They eventually got their income up to the 80-90k range each  From the start, they were saving ~50% of their income Making a move to a rural city would eventually really increase their income Interesting note that medical professionals can often earn more in small markets Chris did end up utilizing a financial advisor that was really taking advantage of him with fees They would go on to pay their house off in seven years and really start investing In 2012 they discovered they were going to have a child after not thinking it was possible Chris admits that he was a touch depressed at the idea of having a child It just seemed like all their financial plans were going to fall apart But just a few months later, he was all in after seeing that sonogram Around this time he discovers FIRE and starts really getting smart on investing He decided to start handling his own investments and how to restructure his $400k nest egg You can check out Chris’ full portfolio at his blog Can I Retire Yet That strategy has obviously worked as they got to retire a year ago Then Chris discusses how they would decide where to live in retirement They ended up landing at Ogden, Utah (skiing was big criteria) In reality, his wife was offered a remote job that allowed them to keep insurance with few hours and Chris got a book idea Chris had no idea what writing a book would entail but knew he wanted to do a series of interviews Being able to tie all those chapters into a cohesive story turned out to be a challenge The biggest thing he learned in the writing process was that designing a life you want is much more important than actually retiring He also calls out what a difference it can make to turn saving money into a fun competition versus it feeling like a chore Chris isn’t sure he’ll ever actually stop putting in work but certainly isn’t worried about pay Then we transition the discussion on how Chris is raising his young child in regards to money and educational path Key Takeaways Saving fixes all: They didn't make a ton of money, they got cheated by advisors, they had a kid...but they retired early Mental is tougher than money: Several examples were covered about psychology and those mental hurdles are so much tougher than an equation Relief not retired: The main focus should be on building a life you love not simply retiring because that's where the happiness really comes from Call to Action Chris has such a love for the outdoors and so do we. This week we just want you to lower the stress and back away from the computer and get outside. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android   Learn More About Chris!
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Jul 30, 2019 • 49min

Achieving Early Retirement through Airbnb | Zeona McIntyre

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Zeona McIntyre who is an absolute boss with Air BnB rentals. Her story starts by getting a degree she'd never use and $50k in student debt. Fast forward to 2011 and a roommates exit opened her eyes to the possibility of Air BnB. Today she owns six homes and manages over 20 more that are all making huge profits on Air BnB. Listen and follow along with the summary below and make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Episode Summary She grew up in a family that wasn’t good with money and included moments on food stamps Finance was always an interest to her and she started digging deeper into studying it around 18  She actually grew up in Maui There was always a deep interest with her in entrepreneurship and hustling Her dad didn’t believe in college but she ended up going even though she admits she didn’t use her degree and a lot of people go into debt for it with no benefit  When she graduated she came out with $50k in debt after getting a fashion marketing associates degree in Los Angeles She realized her degree was pointing her towards a corporate environment that wasn’t appealing to her After college she bounced around fun jobs like being a tour guide She was able to save money even with these fun jobs With the tour guide jobs, they were living on the road so she didn’t have housing costs During this time she was trying to pay student debt but only the minimum  After 10 years she realized she had barely lowered her student debt at all because of interest She moved to Boulder in 2011 to become a massage therapist and discovered Air BnB Because she already had experience with Couch Surfing, it felt comfortable to her She had a two bedroom apartment she was renting but had furnished it all herself After a roommate left, she decided to just Air BnB out the extra room It wasn’t steadily rented, but enough to cover the rent After it started being successful, she rented another apartment Yes, she was renting two, two bedroom apartments for Air BnB! At a point she started cleaning the places herself which allowed her to quit her $12/hour job We talk about how to give your Air BnB a unique touch to make it more desirable She feels like Air BnB is way more interesting and profitable than long term rentals Her first real introduction to financial independence also came in 2011 via Mr. Money Mustache She was 25 and wanted to retire by 30 When she started the focus was just on the large nest egg It eventually pivoted to a cash flow mindset when she saw the success of Air BnB She became cash flow FI at age 28 and began buying homes Now she owns 6 homes and manages over 20 properties at age 33 It’s important to remember that anyone can try this All you need is a couch or a backyard with a tent to get started Remember though things like towels and sheets! Then we talk about managing other people’s Air BnB vs posting your own place Rates range from 20-40% (Much higher than long term rentals) Key Takeaways Weird Works: Who would ever think to rent a second apartment just to put on Air BnB? It sounds weird but it's high profit and low risk! Build Habits: Zeona didn't have much money at first but she started good habits even if it was just $50. That allowed her to handle her money when she actually had a lot of excess coming in. Mix Business and Pleasure: Zeona has found a way to travel and support her business. By owning Air BnB's across the country, she can visit them to check up and get a vacation at the same time. Call to Action Look around your house or maybe a family members house and if you have a room or space that goes unused, pop it on Air BnB. Just get started! Join the Community
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Jul 23, 2019 • 29min

Managing Monthly Expenses with Cody & Justin

In today's episode, Cody and Justin take you on a behind the scenes tour of their monthly budgets. For some context, Cody is 23 and moving to Boston in September and Justin is 29 living in Boston with his girlfriend. Neither of them has kids. It's also important to note that despite their low monthly expenses, Justin and Cody do not feel deprived whatsoever. They're both enjoying life to the fullest. Ready to nerd out on some numbers? Let's dive in. Housing Justin - Currently paying $837 per person in Boston for a 2BR apartment. Cody - Paying $600 to share a room in Boston in a 3BR apartment with three roommates. Both Justin and Cody do an extensive amount of research before committing to a housing arrangement. Transportation Cody - Spends approximately $225 per month for gas and maintenance on his paid-off Nissan Frontier. Justin - A whopping $110 per month despite owning both a car and a truck... in a big city! The absence of a car payment or lease drastically reduces the cost of transportation each month. Food Justin - Spends $60 per month on groceries and ~$100 on all other food-related items (including alcohol) for a total of $160. Cody - Grocery expenses are typically around $110 and eating out / alcohol come in at about $190 for a total of $300. Justin and Cody are able to keep their food costs down by buying only primarily on-sale lean meat and vegetables and cooking 90%+ of the time. Entertainment/Travel Cody - Total monthly expenditure is around $400 per month. Justin - Spends about $300 per month in this category. Both Cody and Justin agree that experiences are 10x more valuable than material possessions. That's why they allocate a fairly large portion of their budget toward this category! They also take advantage of credit card rewards to gain free flights and airport perks. Miscellaneous Although it was hard to pin down exact numbers, Justin and Cody do have a miscellaneous category. Basically, anything that doesn't fit into the four categories above makes it into this one. Recently, Cody and Justin have started to focus more on quality instead of just buying the cheapest option possible. Key Takeaways Keep the big expenses low: Since Cody and Justin keep housing, transportation, and food low, they have a lot more flexibility when it comes to the fun categories (a.k.a. entertainment and miscellaneous) Do the extra research: One of the reasons why Justin and Cody are able to keep their monthly expenses low is because they are willing to put in a little bit of extra work to find a deal. Income Matters: Both hosts understand that saving isn't everything. If you're having trouble saving because your income is simply too low, consider starting a side hustle or figuring out ways to move up in your current role. Calls to Action Justin: Do you remember what you ate for lunch last Tuesday? Probably not. Figure out what other "Tuesday lunches" you have in your life and cut those out as much as possible. Cody: Lifestyle inflation is one of the sneakiest enemies of financial independence. Start experimenting for a week (or more) at a time and cut different things out of your budget. If you don't miss it, don't add it back in! Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android   Contact Us: Twitter Facebook Email Learn More About Your Hosts: Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)
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Jul 16, 2019 • 49min

Becoming a Financial Grownup | Bobbi Rebell

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Bobbi Rebell from the Financial Grownup Podcast and author of How to Be a Financial Grownup. She has a really interesting beginning from the ground floor and working her way up to multiple large media outlets and building a career on camera. Bobbi eventually saw an opportunity to step away and become her own boss which would end up being both a great financial choice and a great choice for her family. Come listen to where she finds her inspiration and the tangible steps she took to building both a successful corporate career and a business. Listen and follow along with the summary below and make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Episode Summary Her dad was a Wall Street guy who would give the kids an opportunity to plan out their total expenses for a semester and they would make their request and that'd be there only chance to ask for money. (pretty awesome parenting exercise) She admits she had a lot of fortunate events and circumstances in her life but she also has had a great work ethic and paid her dues along the way Bobbi's working career started with working at a bakery, wrapping presents and folding clothes before her unpaid internship at CNBC She would come in during the middle of the night because people were a lot more likely to allow her to help and actually build a resume When she graduated college she didn't have any student debt which she credits to her granddad starting the trend of putting money back for her own parents' college Bobbi actually bought her studio apartment straight out of college at 23 in New York City and would end up flipping a couple of properties which lead to her nicer, larger apartment she owns today in NYC That first studio was only $90k which she bought during some down years in NY real estate Her friend actually got a similar apartment for under $70k! While she was making some big financial moves and making great progress, she wasn't without fault She bought a $3k chair with a home equity loan but she obviously rebounded Her career would quickly take off and she attributes it to always doing a little more than is expected and always adding skills She actually got her CFP from NYU thanks to some of the training her job paid for During her career, she became close with the likes of Tony Robbins and anchored shows at PBS and Reuters There were a couple of transitions obviously in that career and she details advice on loyalty to people vs businesses and how to handle transitions One day on a walk she decided to start a brand and write a book to help young people become financially responsible grown-ups Through the process, she was transparent with her company about her eventual transition The transition was a big one as she had three kids and a lot of groundwork to build for her business but she took a thorough approach over a three year period A big tip she gave us was to see if your company offers buy-outs for your job before you simply quit After agreeing to a slight delay in leaving, she did get a pretty nice buyout We then jump into some rituals and habits that keep her motivated and to help avoid burnout with such a high energy personality After making her transition, she realized that it really wouldn't take that much money on the side to make it a smart decision because of how expensive it was to work and raise children With this entrepreneur ventures, she doesn't pay for childcare and she can write off a decent amount of things as business expenses While she felt comfortable that she'd be able to make enough money on the side, she was surprised at what ended up being the most profitable Her favorite and most profitable part of her work is doing sponsored content for different brands On top of that, she MCs events, wrote a book, has two podcasts....  and more!
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Jul 9, 2019 • 45min

The Dreamer’s Path to FI | Diego Corzo

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Diego Corzo from House Hacking Club. His story is incredible and highlights why so many view America as the land of opportunity. Diego didn't even know he was undocumented until he attempts to get a drivers license. He faced a ton of obstacles but never stopped trying. Some luck and hard work meant he ended up qualifying for the Defense Action on Childhood Arrivals and DREAMER acts. Now Diego is living a successful life, spreading his story through places like TED talks...and yes paying a healthy sum of taxes. So go take a listen, leave that 5-star review and give us some feedback! Episode Summary Diego's family came to the United States on a VISA but it lapsed and left Diego here undocumented as a child He didn't even realize it until he started trying to apply for a drivers license and didn't have all the necessary paperwork He hits more roadblocks when he looks to college Eventually, he would get into Florida State University He could make money to help pay for college by building and selling study guides to fellow students or building websites Things seemed to be going Diego's way until he realized he couldn't actually work for anyone in his current status Then came the DACA and DREAMER programs under the Obama administration This gave Diego a chance to work and be as successful as any other kid raised in America He wasn't satisfied with the status quo though Diego came across the Book: Rich Dad, Poor Dad and it changed his whole view on life From then on, he knew his focus was to have assets and make his money work for him and not the other way This led to the first of many house hacks and his entry into real estate He actually bought his first home at age 23 After three years he quit his full-time job as a software developer and now owns a plethora of properties Diego is now a Realtor in Austin, TX and continues to grow his rental property empire   Key Takeaways Someone has it worse: This one just jumped out at me. I always think about how life was different if I had a better start and then you see people who started so far behind those who we'd consider at the back. But he still succeeded. Headlines are people: Man, when we see talking heads on TV, regardless of what side you're on, it's so easy to forget that things are complicated and that these are real people who are impacted greatly by the decisions and laws we're considering. Your message is important: If I was Diego, I'd be terrified to tell my story from worrying about what might happen to my family but he realized he could inspire so many people. It's not even about having a great story. Your story will be more relatable to some person than any other story they could hear. So tell it. Call to Action Imagine a young Diego scenario. No one can hire you but you need a job. What skills can take advantage of, what creative money making opportunities are you prepared for in case someone else isn't around to hire you. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android   Learn More About Diego! House Hacking Club More in-depth look at Diego Diego's TED Talk Contact Diego: Twitter Facebook Email Learn More About Your Hosts: Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

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