Working in big four 8 years in mid 30s to early 40s and using it to land a big job. My salary went from 55k to 330k in a ten year period.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? Being born an upper-middle-class white person.

You didn't decide that.

That's the point.

Getting divorced.

Usually, this is a horrible financial decision even for people with moderately bad finances, but his/our finances were such a shitshow, despite me begging, pleading, creating budgets, hiding savings, going to counseling, etc that I am better off on my own.

Living at home with my parents when I started working. I was a consultant, travelled a lot and frequently had to stay for several weeks at the client site. My company paid for my living expenses and so my cost was minimal. I saved nearly all my salary because I did not have to pay for anything at home. 4 years later when I married my DH, I moved out of my parents home with $500,000 saved and invested.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? Being born an upper-middle-class white person.

You didn't decide that.

Buying our house for under $300,000 in Fairfax County even though we were approved for double that.

Starting my own law firm.

Quitting my first "real" job to start my own business doing the same thing but for myself instead of for someone else.

Still doing it 27 years later, and the financial rewards are incalculable.

Anonymous wrote:Marrying my husband.

Honestly.

Anonymous wrote:Buying a house in a neighborhood most everyone considered to be too dangerous.

3 blocks from Eastern Market.

+1. Except it was on the "wrong" side of Old Town Alexandria. Two blocks from King Street.

Buying a new build and paying it off in 7 years.

Similar to other posters. Buying a house that is much less than we could have afforded. This is allowing us to pay for some very expensive IVF.

always living below my means

studying hard, getting good grades, getting into good college, studying hard, getting good job in good field and building from there.
- a good, lucrative career can take care of every other financial need along the way

Investing the full amount in a Roth IRA every year since my early 20s.
Going to graduate school.
Not buying a house until I was nearly 40.
Buying a house in 2009.

Getting my MBA at a top 5 school. Even after taking time off with young kids, I was able to reenter the work force in a job I find very fulfilling and make plenty to support our family even if DH loses his job.