Afford Anything
When Paula Pant graduated from college, she followed the conventional route, pursuing her dream job until she landed it. She thoroughly enjoyed her work as a newspaper reporter in a quiet Colorado town – all except for the lack of freedom.
Like most jobs, hers demanded a full 9-5 workday, even if those weren’t necessarily her peak productivity hours. Whenever she wanted some time away from the office, she’d have to submit a request for time off and wait for approval.
Paula craved freedom. She wanted out. So, she started saving like mad. She chased after weekend gigs and side hustles, freelanced whenever possible and squirreled away as much money as she could. Slowly, her savings grew, and she eventually had enough to fund her dreams. She quit her job, bought a one-way ticket to Egypt, and kept $25,000 in her checking account. And the rest, as they say, is history.
After she’d satisfied her urge to travel (for the time being), Paula researched ways she could support herself without being tied down to a life-consuming career. She eventually achieved her goal by investing in real estate: she bought a triplex, rented out two of the units, and moved into the third. Her passive income now allows her to live the life she dreamed of without being tied down to the confines of the workforce. She spends her time traveling, hiking and working on projects that actually interest her, like her blog. Most of all, Paula cherishes the freedom to choose how to spend her days.
As Paula says, “I’m not a beach bum who wants to drink margaritas all day. I wanted freedom to work on purpose-driven projects instead of relying on a paycheck for groceries and gas.”
Paula founded the Afford Anything movement and blog to help others achieve what she has. The movement is rooted in the theory that you can afford anything, but not everything. According to Paula, this principle applies equally to money, time, focus, energy and attention.
The official goal of Afford Anything is to answer these two crucial questions:
1. How can we make smarter decisions about our money, time and life?
2. How can we align our daily behaviors and habits with the lifestyle we value most?
The blog answers these questions by exploring topics like investing, travel, lifestyle design, financial independence, real estate, entrepreneurship, productivity, personal development and the philosophy of money. Readers are invited to engage with the Afford Anything community of 40,000+ subscribers and to share their own success stories.
Here are some of the blog articles you can read on Afford Anything:
17 Lessons To Improve Your Money & Life
What Most People Don’t Know About Pavlov’s Dogs
The Diderot Effect: How Buying Fuels Itself
17 Lessons to Improve Your Money & Life
Afford Anything is more than a blog. You can also download Paula’s book, “Escape,” free of charge, and tune into the site’s wide selection of podcasts, which often feature guest stars and financial experts.
Just a few years out of college, Paula Pant achieved financial independence. Read her story and learn how you can achieve the same on AffordAnything.com.
