What's the single thing you've done that has bumped your income up the most?

[Seahawk]

Depends on "income".

After I retired late summer this year I took a Senior Executive Service position with the Army in DC...pretty big deal working for the Army at OSD. About two months into the job (I was renting an apartment in Rosslyn, Va. during the week) my son had the stones to tell me one Sunday noodling around the farm he would prefer I not be away so much.

I put my two weeks notice in that Monday.

The return on investment has been incredible.

I'm making nearly as much and am much happier.

[equality72521]

Adhering to the credo "It's not what you know, it's what they think you know". Doubled my income in less than three years.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Depends on "income".
....The return on investment has been incredible.

I'm making nearly as much and am much happier.

That's "filthy rich" in my world

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by KC911

That's "filthy rich" in my world

Mine as well, Keith...thanks.

[peppy]

Learned to not feel guilty for not being in the restaurant every minute that it is open.

Take the time to get away from work.

[pwd72s]

Married a woman with a talent for money management...

[vash]

for me it has been sticking to my financial goal..."slow and steady, wins the race". a few times, i have been tempted to take my money and dump it into some RE deal with friends. most of them have taken a bath..

going to school and passing my PE was a huge help.

[911Rob]

Originally Posted by azasadny

- Marrying the right woman
- Getting into IT in '91
- Taking on side jobs
- Always learning new skills/technologies
- Living within my means

+1
I guess I have to correct my previous post about self worth.
Without my wife it woulda been nudding!
#1 choice for me would be "Marrying the right woman"

[Oregon Cab]

Invest in passive cash flow until it pays all your monthly nut. Make more or lower your nut or both. Really don't mean to puff with this story but maybe it can help another Pelican. For what its worth.

I was a realtor so I bought rental plex property, fixed it, raised rents and kept tax deferred exchanging them for more and more apartment units as long as they cash flowed at least 10% of my down payment (after debt vacancy and everything). Once the rental income hit the ceiling I would trade for more potential growth. Eventually my wife wanted to go into the wedding business so I got a old commercial building in an prime location (location location). Renovated it with sweat and started a business. Sold the business for cash and leased them the space. They went bust so I took it over again. Someone wanted my location so I closed shop and wrote them a big long lease. They bought out all the businesses in the building to build a huge restaurant (location). Made sure the tenants were gold financially and that they put their own improvements into the building (HVAC, 3 phase, kitchen, first class finish). Went and found a good job with benefits.

Our annual rental income now is more than my original down payment. More than my salary. Won't sell it as long as it keeps belching rent like gumballs. Why sell the cow... ever? Cash disappears but good cows are hard to find and give milk for life. Never refinanced except to lower rates. My newest car is a beat 1990 SUV. My biggest boat was 9' with oars. Same house for 17 years still needs remodeling. No cable or AC. Never bought stock LOL. My European suits are from ebay. My P-parts are almost all used.

10% growth in a $1 stock and you get $.10. 10% growth of a million dollar building is $100k but your down payment was only $xxx k. This grows others peoples money (OPM). Add the rental income to the return equation. This might be up to 30-40% return on your down payment (ROI) after writeoffs and depreciation. Can't depend on appreciation like speculators. We know what happened to that. Think passive income and return on investment. Park the money and get 10-20%. If you only put in $1,000 but after the mortgage and all the bills you only make $60 a month, thats 72% return!! How many times would you do that? Leave that $1000 in the game. If you take it out, it is spent.

Don''t work for money. Money should work for you. Sorry if this seemed like prosthelytizing. I believe it will save me from counting on Social Security and trying to save my way to wealth a nickel a month at a time. Hope this enlightens someone. Truth was it was really hard but I think what some of you are doing now is harder. And when you hit 60 it will be real hard. The 401k is a mirage as the saviour. It is ok for a 20 year place to beat inflation. We shall see. Catfood sucks. Do nothing else until you get there.

My wife says, get back to work, you can sleep when you die.

[911boost]

Took a job opportunity and moved. It was a risk, but it did pay off.

[911Rob]

Originally Posted by Oregon Cab

Invest in passive cash flow until it pays all your monthly nut. Make more or lower your nut or both. Really don't mean to puff with this story but maybe it can help ...snip...., you can sleep when you die.

Good post

[gprsh924]

For me it was simply working as much as possible. Throughout the summer in high school, I caddied almost every day. Eventually this paid off as I got members that would request me consistently and now every time some people play out there, I am their caddy. Persistence, hard work, and sacrificing the occaisonal fun afternoon meant that my loop average went from $77 a loop 2 summers ago to $92 per loop this past summer. I made $1500 more this past summer than ever before and really only worked Tuesday to Friday. However, there a few important weekends over the summer where I had to be there, even when it meant driving home from my lakehouse Sunday morning after the Buffett concert Saturday night in order to caddy at noon, leaving my parents and aunt/uncles behind.

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by Laneco

The decision to specialize in an unusual field - and be really good at it!

I specialize in the highway transporation of hazardous materials. This, on top of a strong DOT background, leveraged me out of a stale dead end State job and more than doubled my income.

That makes Steve very happy!

angela

Originally Posted by masraum

Well I'm glad that you're doing well, but I think that saying that I'm "very happy" is a bit of a stretch.

HAHA!! The world is just chock full of STEVES!
angela

[911Rob]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

For me it was simply working as much as possible. Throughout the summer in high school, I caddied almost every day. Eventually this paid off as I got members that would request me consistently and now every time some people play out there, I am their caddy. Persistence, hard work, and sacrificing the occaisonal fun afternoon meant that my loop average went from $77 a loop 2 summers ago to $92 per loop this past summer. I made $1500 more this past summer than ever before and really only worked Tuesday to Friday. However, there a few important weekends over the summer where I had to be there, even when it meant driving home from my lakehouse Sunday morning after the Buffett concert Saturday night in order to caddy at noon, leaving my parents and aunt/uncles behind.

Ha, Ha Ha! You are a Millionaire in the making buddy!
Success is all in that space between your ears
Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise!

[Porsche_monkey]

Got myself educated beyond my intelligence.

And, (best advice I ever received during my MBA years), I got along with my boss. Simple but effective.

[ruf-porsche]

Change Job.

[juanbenae]

Quit the crack and whores.

[Dottore]

Someone else quoted this here before, but Samuel Butler summed it up nicely:

"The three most important things a man has are his genitals, his money and his education."

[chuckw951]

I stopped working and started making things happen.

[GDSOB]

Worst thing I did financially was move to Ohio. Seriously.