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Could you imagine living full-time in a 16 ft. box truck for 3 years??
Today’s guest, Brandon from Inside the Box, is doing that very thing right now. Not many young tech workers would pass up the chance to score swanky digs with their Silicon Valley pay, but Brandon has ideas that are out of the realm of normal. He tells us what about tiny living you won’t see on Instagram, living small to save $300k, how he sees the truck as a stepping stone to FI, his super secret life hacks, and his advice on how to get hired by Silicon Valley employers.
Move over, Boxcar Children. There’s a new competitor for living in a Box!
We also chat about…
-Possession attachment issues
-His Christmas money website for friends
We had a blast picking his brain!
Enjoy this chat with Brandon from Inside the Box and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!
Show notes and links from today’s episode
Key takeaways from our chat with Brandon From Inside the Box
1 – Living tiny allowed Brandon to save $$$$
By living in The Truck, Brandon was able to pay off $23,000 in student loan debt in his first year after college. Now, he has a net worth north of 300,000 after just 3 years in the work force! Imagine simplifying your finances to just a few bills, and the impact it would have on your savings rate!
Suddenly living in a box truck is starting to sound more attractive…..
2 – Private mail boxes vs PO Boxes vs Traveling Mailbox
What are private mail box, PO Box, and Traveling Mailbox? How are they different?
PO Box: a box to collect mail at the post office. Sometimes PO Boxes aren’t accepted for certain address verifications. They will not call you about anything or open anything. The cost varies across the country but is between $20 and $75 for 6 months.
Private Mail Box: Pretty much the exact same thing as a PO Box but totally different. They might call you if something says urgent but won’t open anything. It uses a standard US mailing address. Costs vary depending on location.
Traveling Mailbox: A service offered by a private company. Best for those without a permanent US location. They will open your mail and send you copies of all of it. Costs are between $15-25 per month.
3 – Brandon’s Super Secret Life Hacks
Tips to invest like Brandon: pay off all your loans, live small, max all your pre-tax investment accounts first, stuff as much as you can into taxable accounts, and invest in low cost index funds.
When looking through your investment options, keep this acronym in mind: BLB. What does BLB stand for? Be Like Brandon.
4- Get hired in Silicon Valley by following these 3 easy steps!
If you really want to be like Brandon, get a tech job in Silicon Valley where they pay you $$$$ and have tons of awesome benefits like free food and free gyms. For more information, watch the movie The Internship. I hear it’s based on a true story!
Speaking of internships, Brandon says that is the BEST way to get into a cushy Silicon Valley job. You don’t even have to go to a hi-falutin’ private college, either!
Work hard during your internship, and impress people who will fight for you to get hired full-time upon graduation.
Also, a really great way to stand out from the crowd is to have some sort of side project you can show off. Brandon says do whatever you’re passionate about and rock their socks off! This shows you’re a dedicated self-starter which are qualities prized by employers.
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