I found the 50/30/20 rule right after graduating college, when I was making under $50,000 in a very high cost of living (VHCOL) city. That simple framework became my foundation and over time, it helped me grow a multiple six-figure investment portfolio. But none of that started with investing strategies or complicated systems—it started with getting clear on what I wanted my life to look like.

I’ve always believed your money should reflect your priorities, not anyone else’s. For me, that meant spending on travel and food (my 30%), while keeping my fixed costs (50%), especially rent, as low as possible (spoiler: I had roommates!) I paid myself first, consistently investing my 20%, and as my income grew, so did that percentage—because building freedom became something I wanted - even more than anything in my 30% category.

I have no restrictions or judgments about how you CHOOSE to spend your money. It’s about clarity. When you know what matters to you, you can spend freely on those things and the rest falls into place. That’s the system I built for myself, and it’s the one I help others build too.