I am 23 years old and recently read “Smart Women Finish Rich” after being out of school for 5 months. I was most impacted by ‘The 12 Commandments of Attracting Greater Wealth’. I graduated from a top public university and was working at $19,000 a year job with no benefits for a small start-up company. I immediately realized I was not getting paid what I am worth and went to my boss and asked for a raise. I did not receive it and quit my job the very next day. I realized I had no more time to waste and that my job was actually COSTING me money. In the next 45 days, I more than doubled my salary, received outstanding benefits and I am now working for a Fortune 100 company. In my new position, I am focusing on becoming a “go-to person.”

I immediately signed up for automatic deductions into my 401(k) and I have already earned TEN FREE DOLLARS of interest on two weeks worth of before-tax contributions! I understood that I could become a millionaire in 40 years, but I had no idea I could be earning FREE MONEY in two weeks!

I am continuing to drive my old but reliable car since this is much easier than making a monthly payment with interest. I transferred my savings into a money market account so that I can earn interest on my liquid assets. I was surprised by how easy this was, I only had to make a 5 minute phone call to my bank to have the funds transferred.

Now that my retirement basket and emergency basket have been taken care of, I plan to start making car “payments” to myself so that I can purchase a “new” used car without financing.

Thank you for giving me the financial education that I never received in school. My dreams really are within reach now!