REI Wealth Monthly Issue 15 | Page 5

IT’S HARD TO MAKE A LIVING BUT IT’S EASY TO BUILD WEALTH LINDA PLIAGAS Originally written and published for BiggerPockets.com By Linda Pliagas, Co-Owner and Co-Publisher of REI Wealth Monthly t's HARD to Make a Living. But families on weekends. Plus, with an economy like this, it's EASY to Build Wealth. wages and salaries are just not very The sacrifices made by individuals generous. Companies seem to be In Los Angeles the commute is just to make a basic living (food, using the "bad economy" as an unbearable. a clothing, shelter) for themselves and excuse for poor pay, lack of benefits leading international provider of traffic their loved ones is mind boggling. I and information, reports that the City of know what it's like to drive hours everyone is complaining about the Angels is in second place for the every day to punch a clock, it's tough! limiting In fact, INRIX®, worst congested city in the nation. company perks. amount It seems of career opportunities that are available. Even if you love your profession, Many Angelenos drive three hours commuting for hours, putting up with When I was in college, I was not per day just to be able to work. I office politics and trying to please taught about finances at all, in fact thought demanding nobody that was bad until I discovered people who commute into the city every week and only see their bosses, can overwhelming and very stressful. be When ever I discussed discovered salaries. how much journalists make, I was shocked (and greatly disappointed). Let's just say it's a career that you definitely have to be passionate about it because the pay is modest. Having loved media since I was a child, I decided to enter the trade and watch my pennies so that I could invest as much money as possible in something that I knew was a sure thing: real estate. You see, because I educated myself on the mechanics of money, I knew