The best financial decision you ever made

[Anonymous]

Be conscious of money. I try to be aware of how I am spending money and this helps a lot.

Real estate. Watching it. Following trends. Investing in real estate starting in my 20s including as a landlord. Assuming I keep my rentals, when I retire, I will be clearing at least $4k (net) in rental dollars (in 2018 dollars).

[Anonymous]

Here are my top 10:

1) Buying a house in DC in 1998 when crack Mayor Barry was in office, and then selling it in 2011 and pocketing $700k.

2) Renting out the basement of house (above) for 10 out of 13 years, which helped enormously with the mortgage when we had kids in daycare.

3) Asked for and got a huge jump in salary when I was about 32 years old.

4) Started investing for retirement when I was 24, only making 30k a year and had student loans. Compound interest really is a thing!

5) Always buy Japanese cars and then drive them for 10 years.

6) Bought our house in Arlington in an area that was nice but was on the cusp of really improving.

7) Have always spent most of our money on experiences vs. things.

8) Pulled my money out of the market last Fall. I can always put it back in but for now I’m being ultra conservative since who knows what shit Trump will get this country into.

9) NOT buying a boat, second house, sports car, etc. even though we can afford it.

10) Starting my own business. Was risky but my income skyrocketed.

6)

[Anonymous]

Entering the military as an officer and marrying one. No school debt and buying houses at every duty station.

[Anonymous]

Not borrowing much for school/grad school. Living way below means, now student debt-free! Switching careers from idealistic to practical. Saved a lot for day care in advance.