• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Beyond Just Numbers

A Journey to Financial Freedom

  • Hometo start
  • Shopin store
  • Aboutme
    • My Story
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Readthe blog
  • Real Estateinvesting
    • Series: Getting Started in Real EstateA step-by-step series
    • Series: Here is the Dealdeal breakdown
  • PERSONALfinance
    • Financial Independence | Retire Early

in Money Mindset | Mental Health · April 13, 2021

If I had known what I know now…

Do you ever hear or read about someone who already accomplished what you are trying to do and think to yourself “If I had known what I know now, I’d be there already”?

I was having a conversation with a friend about this the other day and thought I’d share.

I know we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others, etc. They say you should focus on your own journey, but I am human and I cannot help to think about it. I won’t pretend I don’t feel jealousy or regret because I do. Again, I am human.

The whole point of learning from others is to compare your situation and see whether it would make sense to apply what others have done.

There is nothing I can do to change the past and I am now in control of my present and future and that is what matters today. I get that.

However, what about our younger generations? I see them falling into the same trap, continuing the vicious cycle of living paycheck to paycheck, not saving, not investing and just hustling away indefinitely. The thought that my siblings will look back one day and feel the same way I feel today worries me.

I want my siblings and younger family members to be better than me. They already look up to me because they see me as someone “successful”. However, my “success” is not what I want for them. I mean, if I had to do it all again, I would do things differently.

I could tell them what to do, but would they listen?

The problem is that there is no replacement for firsthand experience. My actions today are a result of my experiences. I fucked up financially and now I am fixing it. The only reason I know to fix it is because I experienced the pain and then I searched for a solution.

I don’t have older siblings, but I have a feeling that I probably wouldn’t have listened to them if they came to me talking about “you have to save”. My motto is lead by example. All I can do is let them know there are options and it’s up to them to make the decision.

More often than not, we are not even aware that we are a financial mess. We live in a world where being financially okay is represented by what you own or where you live. If you own a home, you made it. If you own a nice car, you’ve made it. If you have a good paying job, you are set. Yet, you still have to continue working until you are 65 so that you can maintain the “great life”.

Before I started my financial “rehab” journey, I checked all the boxes: ✅ Good Job ✅ College Degree ✅ Homeowner Boom! Set for life… nope 👎

Back when I was in my 20s, no one told me I could retire early without coming up with a multi million dollar idea. It seemed impossible, so YOLO.

If I knew I could potentially become a millionaire by just living below my means and investing, I probably would have done it or at least tried. I feel like nowadays we are more exposed to this knowledge, but still not enough.

Investing and saving always seems optional. Whatever is leftover goes to savings/investing. Instead of making savings and investing part of the required expenses and then whatever is left is “fun” money or discretionary spending.

Think about it, we do whatever it takes to pay rent or mortgage. If we viewed investing the same way we view our rent bill, imagine what we could accomplish?

Even as I write this, I can’t help to wonder what my life would be like had I started early.

I can’t change my past, but I would like to be able to help change someone’s future.

I share my journey with hopes that I can inspire my younger and future generations to start early.

Don’t care what I have to say? That’s okay. Thankfully, I am not alone on this one! You can listen these podcasts where hundreds of other people share their financial independence journey.

👉🏻 Link: https://www.fiology.com/fi-podcasts/

This post may contain affiliate links. I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this blog.

Previous Post: « Why I Quit My Side Hustle
Next Post: 4 Budgeting Tips I Wish I Had Known Earlier »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Here is the Deal – Buying Short-Term Rentals to Build Wealth
  • Time to Buy- How to Make a Winning Real Estate Offer
  • How to Fund Real Estate Investments – Part 3: Private Money
  • How to Fund Real Estate Investments – Part 2: Hard Money
  • Here is The Deal – Skyline Purchase Breakdown 

Categories

  • Budgeting Tips | Money Talk
  • Financial Independence | Retire Early
  • Money Mindset | Mental Health
  • Real Estate Investing
  • Series: Getting Started in Real Estate
  • Series: Here is the Deal – The Breakdown

Welcome!

Welcome!

Let's talk financial freedom via real estate investing.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Subscribe

Never miss a thing! Subscribe now to get the latest news.

Starting a New Business?

Starting a New Business?

Buy the Book!

beyondjustnumbers

New Blog Post 🚨 In this week’s blog post I am New Blog Post 🚨 In this week’s blog post I am going over why we bought a short-term rental, our experience so far. Plus what we did prior, during and after purchasing our first short-term rental in March 2022, a Cabin in Blue Ridge, GA.

Check it out at www.beyondjustnumbers.com or link in bio @beyondjustnumbers
I can’t stress this enough. Some investors are l I can’t stress this enough. Some investors are looking to make money from day one, but that’s not always the case. It wasn’t for us and I’ve talked to a lot of rookie investors who have told me “Thank God I have my personal finance situation together.” 

This is just my opinion. Do you agree? Let me know in the comments!

Want to join a free community of like-minded individuals? Join our REI Coffee Chat Community where we talk real estate investing, personal finance and financial freedom, and much more! Link in bio @beyondjustnumbers

Want to learn more about investing in real estate? Read my blog www.beyondjustnumbers.com

#realestateinvesting #realestateinvestor #creativefinancing #investmentproperty #buyrealestate #firemovement #debtfreejourney #financialindependenceretireearly #rentalproperty #investinginproperty #personalfinanceblog #wealthbuilding #planforretirement #investorlife #livefree #airbnb #moneyisfreedom #enjoythejourney #reicommunity #realestateinvestments #shortermrentals #cashflow #realestate
I used to think that investing in real estate was I used to think that investing in real estate was for the rich. I became in love with real estate while working for a real estate investment company that owned hundreds of units. This was back in 2011 and I was 20 years old at the time. I had less than 5 years permanently living the US, so I had no idea about anything. I grew up in Colombia and the only talk of money we ever had was the lack of it. 

The investors I worked for were a wealthy family, so naturally, I thought… Real Estate requires wealth. I don’t have wealth. Therefore, I cannot invest. 

I figured… well shit, I need become wealthy so I can invest in real estate. Eventually, after educating myself I realized how wrong I had it. You can build wealth BY INVESTING in real estate.

Took me a couple of years to figure it all out. Hence, why I didn’t start investing until 2019. I wish I had figured out earlier, but it is what it is. In just 3 years of investing in real estate, I was able to accumulate more wealth than I ever thought possible. 

Just to give you an idea…Did you know you could invest in real estate with as little at 3.5% of the purchase price? For a $150,000, that’s only $5,750. Buy a duplex that needs a little bit of work, fix it up, rent one side and live in the other. This will reduce your monthly expenses significantly, save the money and do it all over again.*

Of course it’s not that simple, but it’s also not that difficult. There are some particular steps and considerations which is  why I recommend doing further reading on the subject. 

Book Recommendation:
✅“The House Hacking Strategy” by Craig Curelop and ✅“Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down” by Brandon Turner. 

#realestate #realestateinvesting
🚨 New Blog Post! Continuing the “Getting Star 🚨 New Blog Post! Continuing the “Getting Started in Real Estate Series” 

You’ve found a property either on your own or through a realtor, you’ve run your numbers, you’ve got a lender and now you are ready to make an offer. What’s next?

In this post I want to discuss a few items:

✅Key components of a real estate contract
✅How do you make a compelling offer to ensure you get the property you want
✅The main contract contingencies and how they work
✅Communicating with your realtor

I also provide real examples of what we have done personally. 

Check it out at www.beyondjustnumbers.com

Let me know what you think!
If I listed all of the hats, I’d never end 😂. If I listed all of the hats, I’d never end 😂. Anyone else? Show me the multiple hats you wear and tag me. Let’s have fun with some reels.

Trying to get good at the real game like @investinginyourwealth. How did I do?
The fact that you are not where you want to be doe The fact that you are not where you want to be doesn’t mean you won’t get there. Greatness takes time. Focus on what you control.

And remember, it’s okay to pivot.

#mindset #realestate #firemovement #realestateinvesting #realestateinvestor #rentalpropertyinvestor #rentalproperty #cashflow #motivation #financialfreedom #financialindependence #financialindependenceretireearly
We see a lot of advice around hiring a real estate We see a lot of advice around hiring a real estate friendly CPA. However, when you look up  CPAs that specialize in real estate, they can be pricey.  However, that doesn’t mean that other CPAs or tax professionals aren’t good. They might not be particularly aware of certain items, but they can research and collaborate with theirs peers. Perhaps it may require you to do a little of work to compensate. Things you can do:
✅ listen to The Real Estate CPA podcast or join the Facebook group
✅follow social media accounts of the pricey Real Estate CPA and take notes of what they are saying
✅attend free educational events 
✅read BiggerPocket book on Real Estate taxes 
✅if you know anyone working with a really good Real Estate CPA firm, ask them what they are doing

Then use that to go your CPA or tax professional and be like “Hey, is this something we can do for me?” They’ll probably say, “Let me look into it”. 

If they are good, they are going to research it and/or ask their CPA peer group. (CPAs and tax preparers also have Facebook groups where they collaborate with each other).

Here is a piece of advice, if they tell you “No, we can’t use this loophole or no, you don’t qualify to use this strategy” —> Ask WHY and “How can I qualify in the future?.” This way you confirm they did their homework and aren’t just being lazy. Don’t just take no for an answer. You can then get a second opinion by asking a question in a forum or to your peers.

So don’t panic if you don’t have a real estate CPA or tax professional. 

Next video I’ll be answering the question… “Can I skip the tax professional altogether and do my own taxes?”

#realestate
Load More Follow on Instagram

Footer

Beyond Just Numbers

A Journey to Financial Freedom

Subscribe

Never miss a thing! Subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date when posts are available.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • My Story
  • Contact Me
  • Shop
  • Home

Copyright © 2023 · Beyond Just Numbers · Design by Studio Mommy