Until she personally reached financial freedom at 29, Olivia Bennett always felt it was only for wealthy. It had nothing to do with wealth. It was about using my money deliberately and wisely, she explains.
Olivia started with a rigors savings plan straight from college. She paid off her student loans diligently and lived less than her means. I created a budget covering everything. Not one thing was too minor, she says. Following the 50/30/20 guideline, she made investments using any windfalls—bonuses, tax returns.
Investing early was key. Olivia opened a brokerage account at 23 and began buying index funds through Fidelity, a platform she found user-friendly and reliable. “I didn’t try to time the market. I just stayed consistent,” she explains.
She also started a YouTube channel where she discussed cost control strategies. “It was first only for fun. But as the channel expanded, it started to provide still another source of money. Olivia says She put the advertisement income back into her fund.
By 28 her side projects and investments paid for her living expenses. She took a leave to travel and write at 29, then “My choices came from financial freedom. That is the most valuable currency available.
Her first suggestion is “Simulate your savings automatically.” Make it hidden. You won’t miss money you never see, Olivia adds. She advises folks to keep persistent and begin their education using websites like NerdWallet.
