BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Kyle Renke graduated from college and hopped right on the American dream bandwagon. He started off with a starter house, added a couple of kids and moved onto a bigger, better house—one that he could barely afford. He then went back to grad school, tacking on another $40k in student loans. Kyle and his wife spent money left and right, never seeming to be able to get ahead. Finally, he got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Kyle read books and connected with friends in a better financial position. He sold the big house, threw everything at the student loans, and rented a smaller, MUCH less expensive place. Kyle’s story shows that you CAN make big financial mistakes, change your course, and work toward financial freedom—even with children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jillian Johnsrud grew up lacking the privileges that many of us take for granted. Jillian Johnsrud grew up poor, with an abusive step father and a mother unable to leave due to lack of funds. She emancipated herself during her junior year of high school, living in a camper in high school, waiting tables after class. Still, she managed to save $8,000 by the time she graduated. She married young, and medical debt and student loan debt put her family in a tough starting position. From there, however, Jillian began building wealth. In adventures that span tons of different states and even a stint in Europe, Jillian was able to eliminate her debt and achieve financial freedom—all while never earning more than a median income. Hear Jillian’s story of investing when everyone thinks you’re crazy, adopting a group of siblings, and “creating a life that is such a perfect fit she never wants to retire from it.” Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums Simplify Your Budget with Fun Money Accounts (Blog) Museum Pass Ultimate National Park Road Trip (Blog) Camp FI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Graduating from college, Craig Curelop had amassed an impressive $25,000 savings account - AND $85,000 in student loan debt. Conventional advice is to pay off your student loans BEFORE investing. In this episode, we hear how Craig ignored this advice... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show we discuss the highest-probability way that a family can move toward financial independence—without stress and worry—while enjoying incremental freedoms along the way. We’ll also talk about all-cash real estate investing, where... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stuart Grazier joined the military and immediately went into debt. A chance encounter with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University showed him how to manage his finances, and he returned from his stint overseas with his more than $40,000 in debt... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we sit down with Mr. and Mrs. Planting our Pennies, or Mr. and Mrs. PoP for short. Mr. PoP never wanted to be anchored to an inflexible job. Mrs. PoP never wanted to be financially insecure. A reward trip to Hawaii after a good sales year at his... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continuing where we left off from last week’s episode, this show discusses increasing your income by recognizing existing opportunities and making your own opportunities through side hustles. The show progresses through investing basics, both... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve interviewed more than 30 people for the BiggerPockets Money Podcast over the course of this year — and we’ve got a LOT more people to interview! We’ve heard from so many listeners: “I’d like to get started on the path toward financial freedom, but I don’t know where to begin." Today, Scott and Mindy share EXACTLY how you get started with tracking your spending, and how to make SIGNIFICANT cuts in your budget to move you down the path faster. Looking to become financially free? THIS is the episode you need. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums Mr. Money Mustache Mad Fientist Biggerpockets Money Show Waffles on Wednesday Mint Personal Capital Bureau of Labor Statistics Envelope System ChooseFI – Episode 09: Travel Rewards BiggerPockets Money Podcast 01: The Surprising (Scientific) Truth Behind What Makes You Successful with Mr. Money Mustache BiggerPockets Money Podcast 02: An All-Out Approach to Financial Independence at an Early Age with Scott Trench BiggerPockets Money Podcast 05: Jump Starting Your Early FI Plans by Live-in Flipping with Mindy Jensen BiggerPockets Money Podcast 07: How Breakfast Food Motivated Financial Freedom with Mr. and Mrs. Waffles on Wednesday BiggerPockets Money Podcast 29: From $200,000 in Student Loan Debt to $150,000 Net Worth in 3 Years with Nick and Alyssa Paros BiggerPockets Money Podcast 27: How to Get Even MORE from Your Travel Rewards Credit Card with Lee Huffman BiggerPockets Money Podcast 03: Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half with Erin Chase from $5 Dinners BiggerPockets Money Podcast 25: Raising a Family While Seeking Financial Freedom with Chris and Debbie Emick BiggerPockets Money Podcast 06: Fearlessly Paying off Massive Student Debt on $30,000 per Year with Sarah Wilson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick and Alyssa were high school sweethearts, who went to college where their family attitudes toward money came to light. Nick’s “save up for it” mindset saw him graduate with around $50k in student loan debt, while Alyssa’s more spendthrift attitude towards the college lifestyle had her graduating with $80,000 in debt—and her graduate degree piled another $60,000 on top of that. They got married and quickly discovered their vastly different views on money. Through budgeting, communication, spreadsheets and more spreadsheets, they are now on the same page and working toward financial freedom. Their curveball pregnancy didn’t derail them—it strengthened their resolve to get to FI through real estate and traditional investments. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 22: How to Pay Off 6-Figure Student Loans While Pursuing Financial Independence with Travis Hornsby Brandon Turner’s BiggerPockets Profile BiggerPockets Podcast BiggerPockets Forums Do Ask, Do Tell article Yahoo Finance GroVia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Side hustle is a huge buzzword in the FI community. Make extra money on the side doing something fun, something you love, or even just something that pays really well. Today we bring in Nick Loper, Founder of Side Hustle Nation, to share his expertise... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Open up a credit card, earn miles, get a free plane trip or hotel room. Sounds great, right? But what if you could exponentially increase your travel rewards? Fly free every time. Never pay for a hotel room again. Lee Huffman travels the world in... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cody Berman: Remember that name because this kid is going places. Currently traveling in Australia, Cody began his journey into personal finance and intentional living as a child, when his dad taught him about compound interest and the power of saving... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris and Debbie Emick have two daughters—AND are well on their way to financial independence through a combination of local and long distance real estate investing coupled with frugality and conscious spending. Chris and Debbie are everyday Joes... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erin’s parents taught her about money from a very early age. She paid for half of everything she wanted, which helped her figure out financial prioritization. When it came time for college, she decided against her dream college to avoid significant... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becky and Noah are in the first half of their gap gear, a pre-FI road trip around America. They didn’t grow up rich, but they carefully planned out their life to avoid student debt. Both earned the same Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship to Purdue... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Student loan debt is a HUGE problem facing millions of people - and it continues to grow every year. Today we are joined by Travis Hornsby from Student Loan Planner who shares several options for paying back your student loans, including loan... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Gayden grew up in a lower middle class household where money and finance were not discussed. He sought comfort in food, eventually reaching 476 pounds and drowning in debt. In this episode, Tony shares his weight-loss journey and how he... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Collins has literally done it all. From busboy, produce, clerk, and gas station attendant, to ad agency founder, sales trainer, radio co-host, and publisher. He is a prolific world traveler, having visited more than 30 countries on five continents via motorcycle, car, train, plane, boat—and even elephant. Jim has lived a very good life. And along the way, Jim has learned that money is a tool that can offer the freedom to live the life you want to live. He’s also figured out that there is a very simple path to wealth. While you can make money picking individual stocks, the index fund is a very easy way to grow your wealth in the stock market without spending time researching companies. This episode truly is the show for anyone who has money or wants to have more. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums How I failed my daughter and a simple path to wealth (Article) Stock Investing Series - Part XXXII: Why you should not be in the stock market (Article) Stock Investing Series - Part III: Most people lose money in the market (Article) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad Carson has never had a “real job.” Instead, he has parlayed his experience helping with his father’s rental business into his own real estate rental business. Now, Chad owns enough real estate that he’ll never have to work at a real job. In fact, when we spoke to Chad, he called us from Ecuador — where he’s been living for a year in order to submerse his children in the Spanish language. His rental business ran itself while he was away. He was able to take an extended vacation and truly delve into the area — and now his children are bilingual! Chad’s take on “mini” retirements is very interesting. He obviously loves what he does, but he also enjoys spending time with the people who matter most: his family. Real estate provides him the opportunity to work at his own pace. This episode gives you an alternate look at early retirement — it doesn’t have to be permanent. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums FinCon BiggerPockets Money Podcast 12: How to Become an “Overnight” Success in 10 Short Years with David Greene Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early retirement is a goal many people have. Diligently saving for retirement age to fund your life after you stop working is great, but the same programs that help you avoid taxes while saving come back and hit you with taxes AND penalties if you... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Biggerpockets Money Podcast, we chat with Alan Donegan. Alan Donegan watched - and helped - his father run a super-successful sportswear company, until the economy shifted and they lost everything. Determined to not... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a kid, Joel Larsgaard watched his parents work jobs they didn’t like to pay for things they didn’t need. They missed out on some of the priceless moments that life has to offer, culminating in bankruptcy when Joel was 12. We discuss how that... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the last half of the epic interview with Brad and Jonathan from Choose FI. Continuing where we left off from last week, we finish up the Pillars of FI conversation, including beginner level topics you can be doing such as frugality and index fund investing but also touch on more advanced topics like tax optimization and travel hacking. If you have not yet listened to part one, you can find that here. This episode - along with last week’s part one - is a must-listen for anyone on the path to FI, or just getting started. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums Richmond Savers Mr. Money Mustache Articles Listen to the episode on BiggerPockets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s epic show, we speak with Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa from Choose FI. Brad and Jonathan share their pillars of financial independence — the 10 things you need to do in order to achieve FI. We cover beginner-level topics such as... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tanja reached financial independence (FI) and retired from her full-time, high-stress job at age 38—despite not being a natural saver, having purchased two brand-new cars in the past, and not maxing out her 401(k) in the beginning—pretty much breaking every FI “rule” out there. Tanja was not focused on early retirement or financial independence when she met Mark, but quickly got on board. Her 60-hour-per-week job took up all her time and "brain space,” and more than 100 plane trips per year made it very easy to increase her savings rate to be able to achieve her goal. Hear how she reached financial independence and parlayed that into early retirement in today’s episode of The BiggerPockets Money Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While David Greene is a long-time real estate investor, best-selling author, and one of the top real estate agents in California today, his career started in the most unlikely of places—as a busboy at a restaurant. Learning how hard work and hustle,... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel and his wife were barreling down the wrong financial path - saving nothing and spending more than $100,000 every year. A freak car accident literally changed the direction of their lives by causing them to re-evaluate and decide on what was truly... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March, 2014, Liz and her husband made the conscious decision to stop their big city, big spending lifestyle, and adopt a frugal mindset in order to realize their new goal of moving out of the hustle and bustle and into the woods. Their 180 turn took them from dinners out every night to 66 acres in the woods of Vermont, where they happily raise their daughters and live the life they want - with no stress, no financial strains and ultimate financial freedom in just over two years, by May 2016. This is a must-listen episode for anyone curious about what it takes to make this lifestyle change. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums Americorps How To: Cheap Homemade Seltzer with a Modified Sodastream (Article) Frugality Is A Compounding Game (Article) Your Last Chance To Join The Uber Frugal Month Challenge And Revolutionize Your Finances Mad Fientist Check the full show notes here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would happen if someone had early financial independence in mind right out the gate, upon graduating college? Imagine the amount of money that person could stockpile... Today’s guest had exactly that in mind, and made the kind of decisions that will allow him to retire early (maybe even in his twenties!!!). Meet Drew, the “Guy on Fire.” At age 27, he has already accumulated four properties with seven units in the hot Washington DC housing market. He makes the numbers work, and work well, and is reaping the financial rewards of some sweat, self-education, and side-hustles so he can exit the workforce and live the life of his dreams. Don’t miss this inspirational and totally-repeatable episode with Drew! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tiffany Aliche grew up talking about money. Her dad was an accountant, her mother actively engaged the children in grocery shopping and other areas of finance. She was a teacher at a private school and had just bought her first house. Then she met a “friend” who convinced her to invest in his get-rich-quick scheme. Promised future returns led to foolish spending. The economic downturn led to a lost job, and in turn a lost home. Bouncing between family members, Tiffany had a revelation: “I need to take responsibility for my past actions, and turn my life around.” Tiffany took the necessary steps to repair her finances, and then started teaching others how they could fix their finances, too. She’s turned her financial courses into a network of financial resources - including a 350,000+ member facebook group where you can ask and answer questions or get support during your journey. This show is for anyone who is sick of making bad financial choices, and wants to turn their life around. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Podcast Facebook Group Dream Catchers Live Richer Challenge Full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow08 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mr. and Mrs. Waffles on Wednesday (WoW) were doing everything wrong. They ran up ridiculous tabs at a local restaurant/bar just ‘hanging out,’ while getting abysmal returns from their financial planner - and paying 1% for this terrible advice.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you tired of hearing success stories from folks who are earning $60,000, $80,000, or even $100,000 or more paying off debt and moving toward financial freedom? Where’s the inspiration for the folks out there that do not earn above average incomes? Look no further than today’s guest for that inspiration. Sarah Wilson paid off $33,000 of student loan debt. Why is this a big deal? Because she did it while making less than $30,000 a year! Not even considered a “living wage” in most places, Sarah was able to save more than most people in general EVERY YEAR for several years while she ferociously annihilated her debt. If you want some serious motivation to get out of debt and start building your net worth regardless of salary then this is the show for you. Fair warning: This approach is not for the faint of heart. From the floor of FinCon 2017, we are excited to bring you, Sarah Wilson a.k.a. “YouTube’s Budget Girl.” Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums FinCon How the Debt Snowball Method Works Check the full show notes here: http://biggerpockets.com/moneyshow06 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mindy was born in a small town, and then she moved and moved and moved. In fact, moving doesn’t phase her at all, which plays right into the core component of her investment strategy -- The Live-In-Flip. Mindy moves every two years to take advantage... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosemarie Groner was a State Trooper - a good, recession-proof job. Chronic disorganization led to more than $30,000 in consumer debt when she made the decision to quit her job to stay home with her first child. In this episode of The BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Rosemarie shares how she cut $23,000 out of her spending, paid off her debt in less than 4 years, and grew her income to the point that her husband could also quit his day job. Rosemarie gives you actionable tips for establishing routines that will help get you organized so you can focus your energy on your budget - not your day to day tasks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a mom of (then) two, Erin Chase found herself shopping for groceries without a plan, picking up things that sounded good, but no idea what she’d do with them once she got them home. They made their way into the refrigerator, then on to the trash after they rotted. She knew she had to significantly cut her grocery bill if she wanted to get ahead. In this episode of The BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Erin shares how she cut her grocery bill in half - while adding two more kids to the mix. She gives actionable tips for significantly reducing your grocery bill - without clipping coupons! Don’t miss this awesome episode with Erin! Links from the Show Checkout 51 King Soopers Favado Coupons.com Albertsons Safeway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Trench wanted something more out of life, so he grabbed it by the horns and pointed it in the direction HE chose. By accumulating a large financial runway through a 50% savings rate on a median income, he gave himself the courage to take... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this first episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, we speak with Mr. Money Mustache (AKA Pete) about what truly makes you a happy person. (Hint! It isn't money, and it isn't material possessions.) We'll talk about shifting your mindset to pursue financial freedom, how to live for free, tips for living a frugal life, and how to surround yourself with like-minded people. Since this is BiggerPockets, real estate comes up, too. Don't miss this inspiring episode with one of the founders of the Financial Independence movement! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices