BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Are you building wealth but feel like you can never enjoy it? Do you struggle with money, fearing you carry the same poor financial habits as your parents? Whether you’ve got a lot of money or a little, many of us face the same mental financial challenges—anxiety, shame, and stress—but it doesn’t have to stay this way. Today’s guest is living proof that change is possible. After completely turning his financial life around, from maxed-out credit cards, a rock-bottom credit score, repossessions, and empty bank accounts, to achieving financial success, he now teaches others how to do the same. Steven Hughes, a money therapist, focuses on uncovering the financial beliefs shaped during childhood. Steven recognized that the negative money mindset affecting him in his youth also impacted countless others. To address this, he founded the non-profit “Know Money” to help people cultivate a stress-free, anxiety-free, and guilt-free perspective on money, empowering them to achieve true wealth—both mentally and financially. Do you feel like, even though you’ve got money, you’re constantly worrying or unable to keep a cent in your bank account? Steven provides practical tools to help you finally break free from an unhealthy money mindset. In This Episode We Cover How to find the “root” of your money fears and address it once identified Why some people with extraordinary incomes struggle to save money Healthy vs. unhealthy financial emotions and ways to stop feeling guilty about success Tools to manage your emotions around money so you can truly enjoy your wealth The “family fund” that empowers you to give generously without being taken advantage of And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Steven’s Website Steven’s Affirmations Groove Money Land More Off-Market Deals with Crucial Property Owner Contact Information from DealMachine Grab Your Copy of “The Richest Man in Babylon (BiggerPockets Edition)" Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Use Your Financial Fears to Build Wealth Better (00:00) Intro (01:13) 7 Maxed Out Credit Cards?! (05:56) Teaching Others to Avoid His Mistakes (07:34) Identifying Your Money "Root" (10:08) Getting Out of Debt (11:55) Financial Therapy (16:28) Mental Money Challenges (18:53) Healthy vs. Unhealthy Money Emotions (22:24) What to Do AFTER FIRE (25:46) Tools to Manage Money Emotions (32:34) Family Asking for Money? (38:34) Connect with Steven! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-600 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it a good time to invest in real estate? Yes, and we have proof that real estate may be underpriced, even as we hover around the most expensive average home prices in history. How can real estate be undervalued when prices are at historic highs? Dave is sitting down with Scott Trench, CEO of BiggerPockets, who has condensed ten hours' worth of research into one episode to prove to you that, without a doubt, real estate will be winning over the next few years. Plus, he’s about to make a BIG financial bet on it. We’ve been talking a lot about entering the “upside” era recently—the new cycle of real estate investing—and wanted Scott’s take on it, too. He has invested in real estate for over a decade, reached financial independence through rental properties, and has been openly critical about multiple sectors of the real estate industry over the past few years. Today, Scott makes a compelling case for real estate as a better investment than stocks, crypto, or gold. Some specific real estate niches could see prices drop even more, making 2025 (and 2026) phenomenal opportunities to buy. Make your choice: tune into this episode and build wealth while others sit on the sidelines or wish you had done so in a few years. In This Episode We Cover Why residential real estate may actually be undervalued in 2025  One sector of real estate with enormous buying opportunities nobody is noticing Scott’s MASSIVE real estate bet and why he’s selling much of his stock portfolio Where interest rates will be in 2025 and whether they could rise even more Rental housing demand and the almost irrefutable case that rent prices will rise Why Scott believes Bitcoin will be going to $0 in the long term And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Rent Growth Treasury Yields Real Median Household Income Median Sales Price of Houses S&P 500 Ten-Year Returns vs. S&P 500 P/E Connect with Dave   Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-599 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From over $300,000 in debt to a millionaire in just eight years?! No matter where you’re at, it’s never too late to get on the path to financial freedom. This entrepreneur is proof that a little discipline, frugality, and creativity can radically change your financial trajectory! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, we’re speaking with Bernadette Joy, founder of Crush Your Money Goals. In 2016, Bernadette had dug herself a six-figure hole—a combination of student loans, credit cards, and mortgages—simply by listening to bad money advice. But in just THREE years, she paid off all of her debt and has since built a net worth of $1.8 million! How did she create such an enormous swing in less than a decade? In this episode, she’ll show you the exact steps she took so that YOU can do the same! Want to accelerate your journey to FIRE? Bernadette has all kinds of budgeting tips, debt paydown strategies, and side hustles that will help you reach your financial goals much faster. Stay tuned to learn how to wipe out your debt as quickly as possible, save for retirement, and even make an extra $100 a day alongside your nine-to-five job! In This Episode We Cover How Bernadette paid off $300,000 in debt in just THREE years Making an extra $100 a day with side hustles (while working a W2 job) The three-bucket, zero-based budget that balances frugality and freedom Using the “snowball” method to pay off student loan debt faster Whether you should keep a large cash position (or invest it!) How to manage financial anxiety on the road to financial independence And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Grab Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 586 – Average Net Worth by Age (How Do You Compare?) Connect with Bernadette   (00:00) Intro (00:59) Getting Into $300K of Debt (04:52) The Zero-Based Budget (14:00) Starting Side Hustles (18:33) Making an Extra $100/Day (24:44) Bernadette’s Portfolio (37:47) Connect with Bernadette! (39:16) Crush Your Money Goals! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-598 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Do I have enough to retire?” is a question most people in the FIRE community grapple with, but today, we’re sharing a FREE tool that will help you put this issue to bed! If you’re concerned about running out of money later in life or developing “One More Year Syndrome,” you won’t want to miss this episode! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Software engineer Lauren Boland has developed a FIRE calculator that predicts whether your nest egg will be able to support you in retirement. This powerful tool takes dozens of key data points—such as your financial independence number, retirement age, annual expenses, portfolio mix, and historical returns—to simulate multiple retirement scenarios. In this episode, Lauren, Scott, and Mindy are going to walk you through this powerful tool, step-by-step! Does the four-percent rule still work in 2025? How much do you really need to save for retirement? Whether you’re just starting your quest for FIRE or looking to tweak your investment portfolio as you approach retirement, cFIREsim will show you where you stand and what you might need to adjust to meet your retirement goals! In This Episode We Cover A step-by-step walkthrough of Lauren’s FREE cFIREsim tool How much money you actually need to retire early Reverse-engineering your financial independence number Whether you can still retire on the four-percent rule in 2025 How to ensure that your money not only lasts but also grows in retirement And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group cFIREsim Tool Lauren’s Bluesky Social Security Administration Get to FIRE Faster with Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number) Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-597 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramit Sethi, the money and couples’ finances expert, is back! This time, he’s teaching you how to have life-changing money conversations with your partner so you can build a “rich life” together and even FIRE faster! You may know Ramit from his popular book, I Will Teach You to Be Rich, or his Netflix series How to Get Rich, but today, he’s sharing brand new insights, techniques, and lessons from his newest book, Money for Couples!  If you’re a FIRE freak like us, you may have a partner who’s having a tough time getting on the same financial page as you. You see their eyes glaze over as you pull up spreadsheets, talking about compound interest and the savings from switching to non-organic broccoli. We’re sure it’s well-intentioned, but this could be doing more harm than help. If you want to enjoy getting “rich” with your partner, have more time to do the things you love, and build your wealth as a partnership instead of constantly persuading your other half, this is the episode to catch! Ramit shares his “script” for having crucial money conversations, diagnoses which “money type” you fall into, and gives the steps to escape the “Middle-Class Trap”!  In This Episode We Cover How to start a “money conversation” with your partner (EVEN if they aren’t into FIRE) The money dates you must have to get on the same page  The four “money types” and how knowing yours can strengthen your relationship  What the FIRE movement gets wrong about money (it’s not all about dollars and cents!) Escaping the “Middle-Class Trap” of not being able to retire EVEN when you’re wealthy The most surprising thing that Ramit has learned about money in most relationships  Why Ramit rents and has NO INTEREST in buying a house!  And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Grab Scott and Mindy’s Book, “First-Time Home Buyer” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 243 - Ramit Sethi’s Money Advice for Couples: Live a Rich Life, Together BiggerPockets Money 73 - Ramit Sethi Will Teach You to Be Rich! BiggerPockets Money 127 - Planning for the Unexpected: Being Financially Ready to Take Advantage of Opportunities w/Ramit Sethi Money for Couples How to Get Rich  Ramit on X Hear Ramit Interview Mindy “We achieved FIRE with $4.3M. Why can’t we enjoy it?” (00:00) Intro (01:01) Ramit is Back! (03:49) The Money Conversation "Script" (09:50) What Couples Should Do (12:28) Your Money "Type" (19:06) Hard Money Talks (24:32) Do You Do This? (30:17) Escaping the "Middle Class Trap" (42:43) Most People DON'T Know This! (46:29) Renting vs. Buying a House (59:52) STOP Caring What Others Think (1:03:07) Grab Ramit's Book! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-596 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to know how to make $100 a day in 2025, all while working from home? We brought the queen of side hustles, Jackie Mitchell, back on the show to share how her money-making journey has been going. Jackie set a goal to make $100 a day to save up for a down payment. She did just that, making close to $11,000 in total in her one-hundred-day side hustling stretch. Now, she’s bought a house, still side hustling, and saving a TON of money. How’s she doing it? Jackie reveals the easiest and most profitable side hustles from her $100-a-day challenge. Some side hustles made her $500 for just three hours of work, while other more casual tasks paid her anywhere from twenty to twenty-five dollars per hour while she was hanging out at home. But what has she done with that extra money? Today, Jackie shares the huge money moves she’s made to put herself in a FIRE position early on in life. She’s got a big goal: pay off her new house in her thirties! Can she do it? With these side hustles, it’s looking likely. Plus, she shares how she pays for trips, holiday gifts, and more with her easy work-from-home side hustles anyone can sign up for. In This Episode We Cover The $100-a-day work-from-home side hustles you can do entirely online  One side hustle that paid Jackie over $100 per hour and how she found it The time-consuming side hustle that is NOT worth the money  Paying off your mortgage early vs. investing and why Jackie is going against FIRE advice  Budgeting hacks Jackie and her husband use to spend just eighty dollars a week on groceries (seriously!) Why Jackie DOESN’T want to retire early (but WILL still reach financial independence!)  And So Much More! Links BiggerPockets 299 - Food Spending Eating Away at Your FI Plans? Here’s How to Eat for Cheap w/Budget Bytes BiggerPockets Money 590 w/All the Hacks’ Chris Hutchins  BiggerPockets Real Estate 955 -  Real Estate vs. Stocks, the Ultimate Wealth-Building Debate w/The Motley Fool and Chris Hutchins Jackie’s TikTok Jackie’s Newsletter r/beermoney Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-595 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling all couples! You and your partner may be on the same page financially or off in two different directions; regardless of where you’re at, it’s a great time to start having money dates! In this episode, Mindy and Scott are going solo, talking through why money dates are such a crucial part of any healthy relationship. This isn’t just talk, both Mindy and Scott are adamant about money dates, they do them often with their partners as well! If you’re an individual listening to this episode, you may feel a bit intimidated by the concept of a money date. Do you just sit down and talk about index funds and taxes for an hour? No! A money date can be a perfect time to be alone as a couple, talk about the future, make some positive changes, and hold each other accountable for being the best version of yourselves. If you have a partner who may be a bit averse to the concept of a money date, have no fear. Mindy and Scott have perfected their plan for setting up a successful money date and how to make it enjoyable when you’re in it. With the new year coming up very soon, this is the perfect time to plan a money date with your special someone. You won’t regret it! In This Episode We Cover What is a “money date” What to do before you suggest a money date to your partner How to make the money date successful and what topics to bring up Following up on your money date and setting up systems for success The importance of keeping your ideas simple in a money date How to present the idea to a partner who may not be too keen on finances  Why money dates help create healthier, happier relationships And So Much More! Links The Intention Journal Money Date Homework Template Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-594 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got debt to pay off? You might relate to Leo, a personal finance journalist who’s focused on financial stability over FIRE—at least for now. With six figures in student loans and credit card debt, Leo found themselves in a tough spot after being laid off with no safety net. Determined never to end up in that position again, they began chipping away at their debt, working toward financial peace of mind instead of a relentless grind to early retirement. Leo shares why their approach to financial freedom is different. While they don’t want to wait until sixty-five to retire, they’ve crafted a “wealth plan” that balances paying off debt, building a safety net, and creating a better life today.  In this episode, Leo dives deep into budgeting tips, debt repayment strategies, and the unique financial challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Tired of the all-out grind to FIRE and want “financial stability” instead? Leo has just what you need!  In This Episode We Cover Why financial stability can be just as important as the FIRE grind Leo’s practical strategies for budgeting and paying off six-figure debt How to create a wealth plan that supports your life—even while tackling debt The sacrifices worth making (and the ones that aren’t!) in your financial journey Why an “accountability buddy” is a cheat code for achieving your financial goals  And So Much More!   Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Follow Leo on Instagram Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Get Your Finances in Order with “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt FAST 00:00 Intro 03:41 Serious Credit Card Debt 06:26 Feeling Financial Shame? 08:40 Paying Down Six-Figure 10:33 Wealth "Planning" 13:37 Budgeting Their Debt Payoff 15:52 Financial Stability > Independence 20:06 Does FIRE Change You? 22:10 Best FIRE Advice? 26:23 Connect with Leo! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-593 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to retire early, the Mad Fientist is your guide. For over a decade, Brandon, more commonly known as the “Mad Fientist,” has been running simulations, experiments, and exercises to discover which road to early retirement is the fastest. Now, in his forties, Brandon has time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and his regrets on the sprint to early retirement and financial freedom. And he’s also got a new update that’ll make your early retirement journey smoother. After tinkering with the beloved and rarely challenged 4% rule, Brandon decided it was time to sit down and calculate how much you really need to retire early. For decades, financial freedom chasers have been breaking their backs, trying to have as much stashed away as possible to enjoy their well-earned time off from work. But, it turns out that this number might be overinflated, and you can retire with much less than you think. That means your early retirement timeline just got a LOT shorter. In this episode, Brandon will describe why the 4% rule may be a bit too rigid, how to ensure you’ll have enough during early retirement, what to do during a market crash or correction, and why spending thousands of dollars on a coffee machine isn’t such a bad idea. If you want to maximize enjoyment in early retirement, instead of building a big bank account you probably won’t use, stick around! In This Episode We Cover Early retirement rules of thumb you MUST know when on the path to FIRE The 4% rule and why you DON’T need to follow it to a tee Retirement withdrawal rules and how much to spend during a crash/correction The skill of spending and what Brandon regrets most from pre-FIRE life Tracking your expenses and why knowing your costs is CRUCIAL to early retirement And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money 119 - Coronavirus: Is It Time to Give Up on Financial Independence? w/The Mad Fientist BiggerPockets Money 161 - Backdoor Roths, Mega Backdoor Roths, and Roth Conversion Ladders w/The Mad Fientist The Problem with the 4% Rule (and Why You Could Retire Even Sooner) Hear Brandon's New Album! Try Baselane, the One Platform for All Your Property Banking & Finances Get to Early Retirement Faster with "Set for Life" Find Investor-Friendly Lenders BiggerPockets Money 18 - Accessing Retirement Funds Before Age 59½ with The Mad Fientist Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-592 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you worried you won’t be able to retire at sixty-five? Feeling financially limited in your fifties and need a retirement plan so you can finally stop working? Well, we made this episode just for you. Today, we’re teaching you how to retire on time at age sixty-five (or even retire early!) if you’re starting from zero with no money to your name. We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement! This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time can follow. We’ll walk through two personas: Barb, a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with a zero-dollar net worth. Then, we’ll touch on Sally, a six-figure income earner who also is starting from zero. Both scenarios take slightly different steps, so listen closely because your income level could completely change your money moves! Don’t give up on retirement! No matter your age, these simple steps can help get you to a financially stable (if not flourishing) position. We’ll talk about how to make more money, cut expenses, save every month, which investments you should prioritize for retirement, and what to do if you’re still in debt! In This Episode We Cover How to go from broke at fifty to millionaire (and retirement-ready!) at sixty  The one beginner-friendly investment that could make you richer (faster) than traditional retirement accounts  Starting a side hustle and how to make more money so you can retire faster  The passive, stable, and relatively safe investment that anyone can put their money into  When to pay off debt and which interest rates to prioritize first  How to become a personal finance genius in just a year simply by “listening”  And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money 169 - Breaking the Taboo of Talking About Money with Friends, Family, and Bosses w/Erin Lowry  BiggerPockets Money 586 - Average Net Worth by Age (How Do You Compare?) Email setforlife@biggerpockets.com for a Free Copy of Set for Life Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Grab Scott’s Book, “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 422 - The Late Starter’s Guide to Financial Independence (Even in Your 50s!) (00:03) Intro (02:21) How to Start from ZERO! (06:33) Stay-at-Home Mom, No Income, Divorced (20:08) Six-Figure Income, $0 Net Worth (27:32) Investing Your Money (31:34) Paying Off Debt (36:24) Want More Retirement Strategies? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-591 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to know how to save $1,000 a month (or more!) with simple spending and saving tweaks? Today, we’re giving you the BEST money hacks for 2025 from the expert, Chris Hutchins of All the Hacks! Some of these smart money moves will save Chris over $20,000 just next year, and that’s not even including all the other hacks he shared in this episode. The best part? These money hacks can help you retire early by substantially reducing your cost of living. Chris starts by sharing one of the most genius ways he’s making extra money. You could call it a side hustle, and Chris has a LOT of them to share. Then, we start taking HUGE chunks of money out of your monthly expenses as Chris shows you how to slash all your insurance costs, reduce your property taxes effortlessly, save tens of thousands a year on healthcare, and easily go out to eat for thirty percent less. If your 2025 goal is to save more, spend less, and get to FIRE faster, this is the perfect way to start, and missing out on these tips could cost you tens of thousands!  In This Episode We Cover Chris’s favorite side hustle of 2024 that’s making him extra money (nobody has thought of this!) How to slash your property tax bill in exchange for a couple of hours of your time Reevaluating your car insurance and why you MUST get new quotes ASAP Savvy healthcare hacks that could save Chris $24,000 this year alone  How to get a deep discount whenever you eat out (twenty to thirty percent off!) The one thing you can’t (and probably shouldn’t) hack  And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money 473 - Holiday Shopping Hacks That’ll Save You Hundreds (or Thousands) This Season w/Chris Hutchins BiggerPockets Real Estate 783 - Home Buying Hacks: Finding The Perfect House (and Agent!) w/Chris Hutchins BiggerPockets Real Estate 955 - BiggerNews: Real Estate vs. Stocks, the Ultimate Wealth-Building Debate w/Chris Hutchins and The Motley Fool Why You Shouldn't Stop Working Once You Hit Financial Freedom w/Chris Hutchins All the Hacks  All the Hacks 34 - Insider Tricks to Healthcare, Prescriptions and Medical Bills with Marshall Allen All the Hacks 104 - Optimizing Your Insurance Policies (Auto, Home/Renters, Umbrella, Life, Disability, Pet, and Travel) All the Hacks 181 - Making an Easy $3k/mo from Online Deals with Kai Blueberry Pediatrics  in-kind - Restaurant Savings App Ownwell - Property Tax Reducer  Summer Health    Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-590 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Preziosi wants to reach financial independence by the age of forty-five, and with several hundred thousand dollars in retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, and savings, she’s on pace to do just that. But now, she’s thinking about quitting her W2 job. Can she still hit her FI goal? Today’s guest has good problems, but problems, nonetheless! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Since we last spoke with Alex, she has made two major leaps on her journey to financial independence. First, she has taken up house hacking, which pays for most of her mortgage in an expensive area of the US. But that’s not all. She has also grown her side hustle as a real estate agent into a full-fledged business, where she now earns more than she does at her W2 job! These moves have only widened the gap between her income and her expenses, and, as a result, she’s sitting on an even bigger pile of cash. Now, Alex finds herself at yet another crossroads. Is her W2 holding her back? Should she pursue full-time entrepreneurship while she has such a strong cash position? Stay tuned as we dive into the numbers and try to figure out Alex’s best path to FI by forty-five! In This Episode We Cover The best path for Alex to reach financial independence by forty-five When to leave your W2 job and pursue full-time entrepreneurship How to lower (or eliminate!) your housing cost with the house hacking strategy Where to invest a large amount of cash (stock market versus real estate) Tax strategies that could help you save a fortune over your lifetime And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group How to Talk to Anyone Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 395 – Finance Friday: House Hacking, Side Hustles, and the Path to FI by 45 w/Alex Preziosi Connect with Alex (00:00) Intro (01:14) Alex’s Money Journey (04:26) House Hacking Numbers (08:01) Money Snapshot (14:24) Leaving Her W2? (23:30) Buying More Rentals (29:57) Alex’s Investing Strategy (36:13) HUGE Cash Position (43:21) Connect with Alex! (44:57) “Unlock” Your Potential!   Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-589 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people struggle with money anxiety, even those in the FIRE community. Your money fears could keep you on the sidelines, or it could have the opposite effect, making you ultra-conservative with your retirement savings. Today, we’re diving into five of the most common financial fears, whether they’re worth fretting about, and what to do about them! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Do you ever worry about your finances? You’re not alone! Maybe you’re concerned about your FIRE number being too low and running out of money in retirement. Maybe you’ve wondered whether you’ll ever be able to afford a house or if the “grind” to financial independence is even worth it. We’ve pulled the most common concerns about money and are going to respond to each of them in today’s show! Tune in to learn how much money you actually need to comfortably retire, how to deal with burnout on the journey to FIRE, and if you’re “missing out on life” by practicing frugality in your youth. Scott and Mindy will even debate whether the returns from real estate investing are worth the trouble of managing rental properties! In This Episode We Cover How much money you actually need to retire (and if the four-percent rule still works) Renting versus buying a house amidst today’s high home prices and interest rates Whether the “grind” to early retirement is worth it (and what you should do if it’s not!) Active versus passive real estate investing (and which delivers the highest returns) Whether you “miss out on life” by living frugally and racing toward retirement And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money 455 – REITs: How to Make Real Estate Money WITHOUT Owning Rentals Rent vs. Buy Spreadsheet The Passive Real Estate Investing Show The 1% Rule “Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data” Try Baselane, the One Platform for All Your Property Banking & Finances Buy Scott and Mindy’s Book, “First-Time Home Buyer” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 522 – How to Get PAID to Live in an Affordable City & Fast-Track Financial Freedom (00:00) Intro (01:27) “Missing Out” on Life (08:01) Running Out of Money (15:41) High Housing Costs (24:10) Low Rental Property Returns (32:13) Burnout Before FIRE (34:19) What We’re Reading! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-587 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dion McNeeley retired in just ten years after starting from not just zero but NEGATIVE. He was forty years old with $89,000 in debt, had no assets, a low-paying job, and zero investing experience. Thanks to his “lazy” method of building wealth, he was able to amass millions of dollars in assets, create over $200,000 per year in passive income streams, and retire just ten years after starting his journey to FIRE. Can you do it, too, even in today’s markets? Yes! Dion did what most people aren’t willing to: lower your cost of living, spend less, save more, and yes…house hack. He built a small real estate portfolio just by house hacking alone. Still, thanks to the compounding effect of real estate, Dion’s passive income from the rentals began to overtake his monthly expenses. Now, he rakes in four to five times more than he could ever spend. Who wouldn’t want a $200,000 per year income stream in retirement?! But it’s NOT too late to copy Dion’s exact strategy. In fact, Dion is sharing why NOW is one of the best times ever to get into real estate investing and how you, too, in ten years or less, could be making major passive income and enjoying early retirement! In This Episode We Cover How to explode your passive income by slowly investing in real estate Dion’s journey from $89,000 in debt and low-paying jobs to financial freedom Why Dion encourages you to IGNORE what everyone is saying about the housing market  A $1,000,000 mistake that Dion made that you should NOT repeat (DON’T pay off your house!) Why Dion doesn’t care about growing a big real estate portfolio (and you shouldn’t either!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Want to Retire Early with a Small Rental Portfolio? Grab the Book “Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The Lazy Person’s Guide to Financial Freedom in Less Than 10 Years with Dion Mcneeley Connect with Dion (00:00) Intro (01:00) $89K of BAD Debt (07:00) Do This NOW! (10:58) Great News for Landlords (13:43) Dion's $1,000,000 Mistake (16:19) No Stocks, No Bonds...Just Rentals? (18:15) "Reverse Budgeting" (19:58) Emergency Reserves and Current Portfolio (22:13) Working 2 Hours a MONTH! (23:49) Dion's FIRE Advice (27:39) Connect with Dion! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-587 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you beating the average American in personal finances? Today, we’re sharing the average net worth by age to see where exactly you stack up. Whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, or fifties, we have the data showing whether you’re behind (or ahead of) the norm. What do you do if you feel like you’re falling behind? Don’t worry; we’re also giving tips on how every age bracket can improve its net worth.  Don’t know how to calculate your net worth? It’s easy, and you can do it in minutes after (or even during) this episode. Once you know your net worth, it’s time to decide your next move. Do you need to make more money so you can invest faster? Are you close enough to FIRE that you can let your foot off the gas a bit? Should you buy that new boat? No! Don’t ever buy a boat.  We’re also sharing our own net worth journeys and the money moves we made that skyrocketed our wealth to millionaire status. You can’t go back in time and copy everything we did, but you CAN copy some of our same strategies to boost your net worth!  In This Episode We Cover The average net worth for Americans in their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties  How the rich invest differently than most of us (and what they’re buying) How to calculate your net worth and whether primary residence equity is included or not  What everyone in their twenties should be doing with their money to secure a comfortable retirement  Why you DON’T need to be a mega-high income earner to become a millionaire  The reason Scott thinks YOU should be starting a business to FIRE faster  And So Much More! Links BiggerPockets Money 35 - Hacking Your Life to Live for (Almost) Free with Craig Curelop BiggerPockets Money 416 - Codie Sanchez: These “Boring Businesses” Will Make You Rich BiggerPockets Money 491 - Why You DON’T Need a College Degree to Reach Financial Freedom w/Adrian Zapata and Javier Leyva Visual Capitalist Composition of Wealth Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-586 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a “middle-class trap” that can keep anyone from FIRE—yes, even high-income earners. Today’s guest has a sizable nest egg that should allow her to retire early, but there are a few roadblocks in her way! At forty-seven, Allie has already built a net worth of $3,800,000. She would like to retire, and most people would assume she has enough to retire, but there are two problems. First, she lives in Orange County, California, one of the most expensive areas in the U.S., and has no plans to leave. The other issue? She has no cash! All of her money is tied up in home equity and retirement accounts. To retire, Allie has a BIG bet to make—one that could have a multi-million-dollar impact on her portfolio! Using Scott’s “Keep or Sell Your Home” worksheet, we’ll look at whether it would make more sense for Allie to keep or sell her Laguna Beach property. Will turning this home into a rental property give her the cash flow she needs, or is selling it and investing in the stock market the better long-term play? Tune in as we attempt to thread the needle and provide Allie with the best roadmap for a long, early retirement! In This Episode We Cover What Allie should do to reallocate her $3,800,000 nest egg and achieve financial freedom What to do with money locked up in home equity and retirement accounts Keeping your home as a rental property versus selling it and investing elsewhere Creative ways to improve your cash position so that you can retire early Building wealth with short-term rentals, live-in flips, and other real estate strategies Escaping the “middle-class trap” of earning high income in a high-cost-of-living area And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Buy Scott’s Book, “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Finance Friday: How the “Middle-Class Trap” Stops Your Early Retirement (00:00) Intro (01:00) Allie’s Money Journey (03:36) Money Snapshot (13:50) Retiring in Laguna Beach (19:01) Keeping vs. Selling Her Home (26:06) The BIG Bet on Real Estate (34:01) Growing Cash & Renting Her Home (43:41) Real Estate vs. Stocks (52:02) What Should Allie Do? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-585 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is frugality overrated? Is hustle culture a waste of time? Do we over-save for retirement? You don’t have to look very far to find a hot take online, but is there some truth to these opinions? Today, we’ll wade through bad financial advice, bust common money myths, and (hopefully) find some personal finance tips we agree with! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Personal finance is personal for a reason. Spending, saving, and investing vary from one person to the next based on their habits, risk tolerance, and season of life. But how much advice is just flat-out wrong? In this episode, Mindy and Amanda Wolfe are breaking down some of the internet’s wildest views on money. First, we’ll share some of the biggest lies we were told about money when we started our financial independence journeys—like “the stock market is too risky” and “you should work until age sixty-five.” Then, we’ll dive into seven controversial opinions and whether there’s any validity to them. Should FIRE-focused folks ever take work sabbaticals? Is a one or two-month emergency fund enough in 2024? Is being a lifelong renter ever a savvy move? Which takes do we oppose, and which advice is actually worth following? Stay tuned to find out! In This Episode We Cover The biggest lies about money Mindy and Amanda used to believe Whether work sabbaticals are a smart use of money on the journey to FIRE The case against budgets and why you probably have one (even if you think you don’t) Whether Americans save TOO much money for retirement (and why!) Why it’s not overkill to keep a six-to-twelve-month emergency fund in 2024 The costs of buying a house and whether renting is ever the better retirement play And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money 97 - Intentionally Choosing the Path to Financial Independence with Financial Mechanic BiggerPockets Money 110 - Systematically Increasing Income and Intentionally Decreasing Spending with A Purple Life Amanda’s Website Reach FIRE Faster with the Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Do You Need Debt to Reach FIRE? How to Use Leverage to Build Wealth (00:00) Intro (00:58) Money Lies We Used to Believe (03:25) Sabbaticals Are “Irresponsible” (07:33) I Don’t Budget! (11:47) We Save TOO Much (19:54) Frugality Is Overrated (25:45) Hustling Is a Waste of Time (32:23) I’d Rather Rent Than Buy (34:57) Your Emergency Fund’s Too Big (41:42) Connect with Amanda! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-584 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you follow the almost unbelievable path of today’s guest, you, too, could achieve financial independence in your thirties. Would we recommend mimicking his strategy step-by-step? No! Because if you get it wrong, you could be further from FIRE than when you started. Only the most prudent, risk-tolerant, and financially savvy among us could do what Andrew Schrader did.  After racking up six figures in car loans and student debt, Andrew knew something needed to change quickly. Thanks to his financial discipline, he paid his debts down fast, but what would he now do with the money he was sending toward debt every month? After a coworker threatened to quit on the spot without a care in the world (the coworker was FI), Andrew knew exactly what his next goal was. So, he set out to do the impossible: Stretch his dollar as frugally as possible, spending in a year what many Americans live off of for a month and taking calculated bets that he knew the risks of. His unbelievable journey to FI will have you squirming in your chair (like Mindy did!) as you hear what incredible lengths you can go to reach your financial goals WAY faster than most Americans.  In This Episode We Cover How to reach financial freedom in your thirties by taking “calculated” risks  The exact method Andrew used to pay off $100,000 in debt  Why house hacking may be the single best decision for FIRE-chasers  Why Andrew put an entire home renovation on a credit card when he was close to broke Emergency funds 101 and why it’s crucial to have money in the bank when buying real estate  Saving tons of money by cutting out a “category” every month  And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Creative Financing Forum Finding and Funding Great Deals Raising Private Capital, Revised Edition Wealth without Cash Andrew’s YouTube Channel  Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Grab "The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down" Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area House Hacking 101: What It Is and How to Get Started Connect with Andrew (00:00) Intro (01:48) Stock Betting and $100K Debt (04:12) Watching His Coworker FIRE (07:16) Income and “Overtime” (08:41) Taking SERIOUS Risk (BIG Reward!) (16:21) 10Xing His Money (19:46) Rock Bottom Expenses (27:34) Building a Business (36:45) Quit His Job? (43:16) Make the RIGHT Bets Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-583 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you move abroad to reach FI faster? That wasn’t Brooklin Nash’s original goal when he left the US and began freelancing from afar. But now, years later, he realizes how much of a leg up he has financially by going all-in on “geo arbitrage.” He’s saving a boatload in Guatemala, paying less to live the life he loves, and enjoying a tiny tax bill. Now in his mid-thirties, he’s already Coast FIRE and works when and where he wants. But Brooklin’s money story didn’t start so stable. Being raised in a home with “risky” finances, to say the least (pyramid schemes, gambling, etc.), left him scarred and constantly worrying about keeping enough money in the bank. Thankfully, he changed his ways and realized that making money, rather than just saving every cent, was crucial to becoming financially free. He’s paid off a significant sum in student loans and did it all while making a very meager income. Then, he scaled from freelancing abroad to building an entire business, making a phenomenal income while living in a low-cost-of-living area. He’s living his dream life outside the US, making more money than Americans at home. Imagine what THAT can do for your FIRE number!  In This Episode We Cover Using “geo arbitrage” to save more, invest more, and lower your cost of living  An almost unbelievable income tax exclusion Americans abroad can access  How Brooklin paid off $80,000 in student debt (even on a lower income) Turning your freelancing work into a full-blown (and VERY high-paying) business  Why the optimal FIRE lifestyle may actually include working a few hours a day  And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Beam Content Try Baselane, the One Platform for All Your Property Banking & Finances Reach FI Faster with “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The Best (and Worst) States in the US to Retire in 2024 (FIRE Faster?) Connect with Brooklin (00:00) Intro (01:00) Pyramid Schemes, MLMs, and Risky Bets (04:35) Paying Off $80K Debt (10:30) Finding FIRE and First $100K (14:19) Freelancing to Boost Income (16:40) Building His Business (20:11) FIRE Progress (26:40) Why Live in Guatemala? (30:54) Investing from Abroad (32:43) Geographic Arbitrage 101 (38:19) Connect with Brooklin! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-582 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could a few years of aggressive saving put you in the fast lane for financial independence? Is the grind even worth it? Today’s guest was well on his way to a comfy retirement but had never thought about retiring early. Then he discovered the FIRE movement, and with just four years of all-out hustle, he was able to retire at fifty! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! In 2020, Eric Reinholdt experienced a financial “awakening” that set him on a death march to FI and early retirement. For four years, he minimized his spending, maximized his savings, and threw every extra dollar at his investments. Today, he’s “chubby FI,” has a paid-off house, and is recently “retired”— working just ten hours per week on his own business while preparing to travel the world in 2025! But was the glamorous destination worth the grueling journey? Should Eric have started earlier or slowed down to reach his FI number? Tune in to hear about the major lifestyle changes he and his wife made to accelerate retirement, the different levers he pulled to grow his nest egg, and the steps you might need to take if you want to replicate his success! In This Episode We Cover How this entrepreneur reached “chubby FI” by the age of fifty When to slow down and enjoy the journey to financial independence Flexing your “spending muscle” while saving for an early retirement Why building your own business gives you a huge “buffer” for FIRE Why you need monthly financial check-ins with your significant other What Eric plans to do in retirement (and why he’s NOT giving up work entirely!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Buy Scott’s Book, “Set for Life” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders FIRE by 50: How to Have FUN on Your Journey Toward Early Retirement (00:00) Intro (01:25) Discovering FIRE (05:01) Major Lifestyle Changes (14:15) High Income + Low Expenses (22:53) “Retired” at Age 50 (27:08) Eric’s Investment Portfolio (33:35) Life in Retirement (37:14) Connect with Eric! (38:06) A “Cheat Code” for Wealth! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-581 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices