Graduated college in 02 and law in 05. That was just before tuitions/room and board started sky rocketing. They were starting to go up but even still undergrad and law school at Penn with room and board came out to 40-50k/yr all in -- not the current 100k/yr that Penn Law costs now.

With some parental help (though no where near 100% pay), a few small grants, a few summer associate gigs, I was able to graduate with just about 75k in debt combined for undergrad + law. That's a different world than nowadays where walking away with 200k in debt is "normal" unless you come from rich families.

Allowed me to focus on building a stock portfolio early on - which helped in coming up with down payment $ etc.

Anonymous wrote:As a government employee, investing in TSP's C fund starting out as a new 22 year old hire and never moving the money. I always invested the full amount allowed once I was making enough money. Now, I can retire at 56 years old.

I love this story!

Buying a house in the early 2000s was a lucky break for us. My parents also similarly lucked out by buying their house in the late 70s.

Being born into a wealthy family?

Being born into a well off family, no student debt, and receiving a large gift from my grandparents that I used as a down payment. I acknowledge that I was given a huge headstart. These grandparents are Holocaust survivors and my others grew up during the depression, so they worked hard for everything they ever earned and I don’t take their sacrifices for granted.

Real Estate investing. Gained several million from it.

Parents predeceasing grand parents. I'd rather have my parents though

Bought a colonial house in nice neighborhood inside the beltway in the 90's for 300k.

I married a rich girl and “came” into money.

Bought a condo in DC in 2000. It tripled in price over the next 5 years.

maxing out my roth 401k at 22 in fall 2009.

As a government employee, investing in TSP's C fund starting out as a new 22 year old hire and never moving the money. I always invested the full amount allowed once I was making enough money. Now, I can retire at 56 years old.

very good real estate timing. bought during the 00's run-up, sold before the crash, rented for a few years with all the proceeds in a CD, bought again after the crash and was able to pay it off in just a couple years.

A couple big gambling wins.

Did you receive a nice inheritance? Did you t start a business and it took off?