I’ve been following CNN Money’s Millionaires in the Making series for some time now. Deshundra Jefferson has posted a new profile online. The featured couple, Ryan and Danielle Quilling, are saving their way towards millionaire status.
Danielle is 25 and Ryan 27. They have no credit card debt; the only debt they have is their mortgage and student loans. Ryan dabbled in stocks for his 401(k) but realized it was a mistake.
These stories start to sound very similar after a while. They use The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko as inspiration, and even were quoted in the article saying a cheesy guru-like quip, “It’s not what you make, but what you do with what you make.”
Being in a DINK (dual income, no kids) household speeds the saving process along. If I could put 30% of my salary into a 401(k) and still afford to live and eat, I would be a happy person, at least in the respect of personal finance.
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12:02 pm (reply)
There’s no doubt that kids are expensive. I love all three of mine to death and would never NEVER want things to be any different. But, it would be much easier to save money if my wife and I had no kids.
I think DINKs should save as much as they possibly can. I know I would!
8:19 am (reply)
Yes, sometimes I have a tinge of jealousy when my DINK friends fly away on yet another exotic vacation. But I wouldn’t give mine up for the world.
However, what you said is interesting because I’ve seen too many people make excuses for why they can’t improve their financial health.
I haven’t read the “Millionaire Next Door”, but I have been a member of the Financial Freedom Society for almost five years. Through their tools and services, we paid off all credit cards, two cars, an RV, and fully funded both of our children’s college educations. And my husband was out of work for nine months in that period of time.
Sadly, too many people think their debt situations are so overwhelming that they feel defeated before they begin. Knowing how to do it if you’re a “regular” person is certainly empowering.