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5 lessons from a man who became a millionaire in 10 years

shieldSnaggyCodes Editorial Team calendar_todayJan 13, 2017 updateUpdated Jun 30, 2026 schedule5 min read verifiedFact-checked
5 lessons from a man who became a millionaire in 10 years

Want to get more out of lessons man who became without the guesswork? Below we walk through the essentials in plain language, with practical steps you can use right away.

Key Takeaways

  • Justin McCurry is a retirement success story.
  • He didn’t have a wealthy family member who gave him a large inheritance, nor did he win the lottery.
  • Worth noting: he condensed college down to three years instead of four (or five) by taking added courses during the summer.
  • But Justin and his wife started at a savings rate of roughly 50% of their income after school!

How Lessons Man Who Became Really Works

What he did do was take an early retirement at age 33 when he was facing a layoff as an engineer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); And that was only possible since he and his wife managed to save $1.4 million while raising three children! How did he do it?

Once they both had their first real jobs, they started saving large chunks of money from the get-go. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Most financial planners recommend you save 10% to 15% throughout your working lifetime to have a solid solid retirement. They stayed in the same starter home Justin and his wife have at no point ‘traded up’ in terms of housing.

Getting the Most From Lessons Man Who Became

More importantly, it still requires work, but what house doesn’t?’ They refinanced frequently to get a better rate ‘We have been lucky to refinance the house more times than I can remember, pushing the mortgage rate down to 5%, 4%, 3%, 2.5%,’ Justin notes. Their final interest rate was 1.99% before they paid the house off this year. ‘Each time we refinanced, we tended to make the loan term shorter to assist pay off the house quicker.’ They sought out low-cost investments Justin and his wife started investing with Edward Jones, a full service brokerage firm.

But after a few years, they made the switch to Vanguard and Fidelity. ‘We have saved close to $40,000 on investment expenses by switching to a low cost provider,’ he says. ‘That’s a year or two of living expenses!’ A new study from BuyUpside.com demonstrates that just a difference of 1% in annual fees can mean an $80,000 difference in retirement. Here’s how the math works.

Tips That Make a Difference

Remember that let’s say you invest $100,000 right now with a 5% annual return and you pay 1% in annual fees. In 30 years, you would have $319,694. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Now let’s say you invest $100,000 right now with a 5% annual return and you pay 2% in annual fees.

In 30 years, you would have $196,439. Paying what seems to be a measly 1% more in fees (2% instead of 1%) eats an $80,000 hole in your retirement plan!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As a rule, what seems inconsequential in the here and now actually has a massive effect on your future wealth. Final thoughts: How to apply these strategies to your own life Justin’s story sound incredible, but it all comes down to careful saving and spending.

Since it’s not about the money you earn, it’s about the money you save! For those of you who are wondering, Justin says he and his wife had a combined household income of well below $100,000 when they first got married.

Is Lessons Man Who Became Worth It?

In short, in the ensuing years, their total household incomes capped out at under $150,000 , and that’s where it was when they both retired. Is Justin worried his money will run out and he’ll have to return to work?

He’s a firm believer in the 4% rule that is frequently cited by financial planner. The basic concept is that you can preserve your principal for years to come if you only withdraw up to 4% each year.

Where the Real Savings Hide

Worth noting: justin and his wife plan to live on near 3% to 3.5% of their investable wealth each year. Since they have a $1 million portfolio, they can draw down roughly $30,000 to $35,000 per year and still have their wealth last for the foreseeable future.

Still, Justin stays flexible in his thinking and knows that plans may have to change down the road. ‘I would be lying if I said we have a 100% certain plan to be retired early forever and there is no chance we will ever have to work again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on lessons man who became?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. How did he do it?.

Is it worth shopping around for lessons man who became?

Usually yes. Once they both had their first real jobs, they started saving large chunks of money from the get-go. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Most financial planners recommend you save 10% to 15% throughout you....

What should I check before buying?

Read the terms, confirm any code still works, and factor in shipping or returns. They stayed in the same starter home Justin and his wife have at no point ‘traded up’ in terms of housing.

Smart Ways to Save More on Lessons Man Who Became

  • Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.
  • Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
  • Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.
  • Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
  • Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.

Final Thoughts

Put these ideas to work and lessons man who became gets a lot less expensive. Bookmark this page, check back for fresh deals, and let the savings do the talking.

Originally published at clark.com.

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SnaggyCodes Editorial Team

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