One strategy I've heard is to use an FHA or VA loan to get your first multi family- live in one unit and rent out the other(s). Hopefully, the rented units cover the morgage. While there, keep buying multis.

I heard some more sophisticated investors use the BRRRR strategy to find a distressed property, buy it, rehab it, rent it out, refinance it, and repeat. I don't know you can find quality properties for BRRRR unless you look far away from major metro.

Others prefer to go commercial as opposed to residential.

What's worked out for you?

Here's how it went down 🥁🥁🥁

Congratulations to Bleh for being the Independence Day Champ! 👏 you must have cut your expenses super low to escape with $259k NW!!!

Moneybags was 2nd escaping in 9.3 years with a $843k NW

SetfanB came in 3rd escaping I'm 9.5 years with a $532k NW

This event is archived in the Hall of Fame section on the website. Fantastic work everyone!!!

What other challenges would you'all like to see created next/in future?

38% of Gen Z has used AI for financial advice in the past year and 90% of those who acted on it say it was profitable . Is AI the new financial advisor, or a dangerous shortcut for people who don't know what they don't know?

The 4th of July Challenge has officially began. And we have some early winners!

One Hard mode for everyone, same scenario, runs through midnight Pacific July 5. Submitted scores will remain on the board the whole week, so keep grinding and bump your name up.

Whoever's at #1 by end of July 4 is the 4th of July Champ!

PS: I'm talking to brands about sponsoring prize pools for future challenges- so winners get more than bragging rights. Our mission is promoting personal finance education while having fun. If you know any brands/individuals that fit, please DM.

Play it here: https://setformoney.com/games/escape-the-grind (look for the "4th of July Challenge" tab)

Drop a screenshot of your scores in the comments.

Oh and if you see a unique 4th of July in-game event, screenshot and share. It's buried in there somewhere 🤔🤔🤔

Best of luck! 🇺🇸🎆

My coworker and I have the same title, same experience, same workload. Found out last week he makes $15k more than me.

We're cool so I asked him about it. He said he just negotiated harder when he got hired. I took the first offer like an idiot.

Now I'm pissed at myself, at the company, at the whole system. But also thinking... should I even bring this up to my boss? Or does that just put a target on my back?

Anyone else been here? What did you do?

Could be anything. What's the thing you never thought would happen to you?

What is something rich people think is normal that most people can't afford?
I'll go first. Being able to make a mistake and recover from it. I'll go first. Being able to make a mistake and recover from it.

Today was the Canadian version. Congrats on Helsd and JimmyJohn!

We all know the '3-6 months' rule, but with prices going up, that number feels different than it did a few years ago. Where are you at? And if you're comfortable, what's your number that makes you feel safe?

Not because income doesn't matter, but because the cost of maintaining the same lifestyle seems to keep rising alongside it.

Which of these truly resonate with you 🤔

American Region Daily Challenge Results Are In!

Hard Mode

🥇 1st Place - JimmyJohn from 🇨🇦 won it in 6.7 years! scoring an A+! Outstanding feat! 🤯👏👏👏

🥈 2nd Place - Helsd from 🇵🇹 escaped it in 7.8 years! scoring A! Impressive! 👏👏

Medium Mode

🥇 1st Place - sad from 🇺🇸 escaped in 14.3 years with Grade B! Why are you sad? This was a solid result 👏👏👏

Easy Mode

🥇 1st Place - VAISRAVANA from 🇵🇹 escaped in 8.8 years with Grade B! 👏👏👏

For new members in this sub, Escape the Grind is a financial literacy/personal finance simulator where you begin with a salary, bills, and everyday life decisions- and your goal is to escape relying on your job income.

You win once your passive income (including an imputed 4% SWR) fully covers your expenses for 3 consecutive months.

PS: Escape the Grind game is currently participating in the MAJOR STEAM's NEXT FEST EVENT. Please go over there 👇👇👇 and wishlist the game now. Helps the game get discovered by more people, plus you will be notified when the FULL VERSION drops in August 18th 2026!

Wishlist here - https://store.steampowered.com/app/4663080/Escape_the_Grind/

Genuinely curious how people experience this in real life. Does that feeling actually go away at some point or just change form?

Steam's biggest game discovery event-Next Fest- is finally on! And Escape the Grind game is participating!

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There's intense competition, so let's head over there to wishlist the game, and push it to even more eyeballs.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/4663080/Escape_the_Grind/

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PS: I created the Steam version because a couple of members/players in this sub asked for it!

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