Chabely Rodriguez takes money seriously. She strategically chose an affordable college and lucrative career path that has set her up to live comfortably at 30 years old. 

Rodriguez is a certified anesthesiologist assistant, and in 2024, she switched from a salaried role to working as a traveling CAA in contract positions. As a result, she brings in over $300,000 a year. She has a master’s degree in anesthesiology, which allowed her to then get her CAA credentials — without needing to attend medical school.

She still cleared $200,000 a year in her previous position, often picking up overtime hours and 24-hour shifts on top of her full-time schedule — the product of a “scarcity mindset” she says she carried with her since childhood. 

“I always want to prepare for [the worst],” she told CNBC Make It in 2023. “I’ve worked a lot of overtime hours just to make sure that I always have something extra.”

Now, she sticks mostly to 40-hour workweeks with extra shifts here and there when her staff needs coverage. She could be making closer to $500,000 a year if she worked similar overtime hours to what she previously took on, but she doesn’t feel pressured to, she says.

“I want to make more money, but I don’t want to burn myself out along the way,” Rodriguez says. “So now I’ve hit above the $300,000 mark, I feel good about that.”

As her income has grown, Rodriguez’s aspirations have evolved. She started her career while living in Florida and thought she would one day buy a house there. But she moved to Georgia in 2023 and switched to a six-month contract position there in 2024.

Realizing she wanted to spend more time traveling and that she could make more money as a contractor, her priorities shifted away from homeownership.

“I’m still not to the point of wanting to settle anywhere,” she says. “I still want to continue to explore and switch things around and potentially be outside of the country for two months or something out of the year.”

When her contract finished in Georgia, Rodriguez moved to New Mexico, where she lives now. She invests aggressively, aiming to put 40% of her pre-tax income into her brokerage and retirement accounts. Her total investments hit $500,000 in January 2025.

She’s been able to invest consistently in part because she paid off her student loans — nearly $124,000 — quickly in 2023.

“Because I was aggressive with paying off my loans, I could then shift towards investing,” Rodriguez says. “I would say, I exceeded my expectations along the way. So that’s been nice, and I feel like that’s made me just a happier, calmer person — more secure, more confident.”

Her main goals now are to avoid burnout from work, save for the future and enjoy her life in the present.

She previously set a goal of investing $2 million and retiring early, but she’s become less tied to a number and more focused on sustainable growth so she has the option to slow down by the time she’s 50 — if she wants to.

Rodriguez’s money mindset has also begun to shift away from the scarcity she previously felt. She still aims to live within her means, sharing rent with her partner and driving a standard Toyota Corolla. But she’s willing to splurge on travel, balancing bigger international trips with backpacking and camping.

Rodriguez is now willing to acknowledge her own accomplishments and no longer pressures herself to pick up every extra shift. “That’s something that I feel like I couldn’t have done until I got to this point,” she says.

“I feel so much more comfortable, and I can remove myself from situations if I’m uncomfortable,” she adds. “I can treat my partner to something, or treat myself to something … I am now saying, ‘Hey, I make enough. I don’t need to push it past my limit to pay for this.’ Now, I can just breathe.”

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Could you build a house that’s the size of a closet? That’s the question I wanted to answer when I set out to build what might be one of the smallest livable homes around — at 19 square feet — in my front yard in southern Ohio.

I’ve always been obsessed with tiny living. I love seeing people get creative with small spaces. Over the past six years, I’ve traveled the U.S. documenting more than 300 unique Airbnbs, from treehouses to caves to luxury villas.

One day, after seeing someone attempt to live in a 22-square-foot home, I thought: I can build something even smaller … and better.

It all started with an old utility trailer sitting on my property. It had rust and electrical issues, but there was potential and it was the perfect foundation for a creative challenge.

The build took a month. Thankfully, we barely had any rain and wife helped me with a lot of it. I spent a total of about $5,000, which is less than it would typically cost since I already had a lot of the material. The majority of expenses went into lumber, insulation, solar, and electrical.

The most expensive part of this home was the battery system. These can run up to $2,800, but luckily I already had one. The second priciest item was the AC and heating unit. I bought a refurbished one for about $600. It was a big investment, but worth every penny because it’s part of what gives this tiny house a luxury feel.

A house this small needs to be incredibly efficient. I installed shed windows for natural light and framed a structure tall enough to allow standing room. For the exterior, I got a great deal on cedar wood, stained it black, and sealed it — giving the home a sleek, finished look.

Despite its size, the house has the necessary essentials: a compact AC and heating unit, a tilting bed in the vaulted loft space (I’m 5′9, but if you’re 5′10 or taller, it might be a little bit tight), a storage bench with space for the massive battery unit, a portable toilet, and an outdoor shower system.

The kitchen area has a mini fridge, a folding faucet, and a sink beneath the walnut countertop. When not in use, a cutting board covers the sink to create a seamless prep surface. The space isn’t ideal for cooking lavish meals, but with a hot plate or camping stove, you could prepare some simple dishes.

Everything, including the mini fridge and outdoor shower, is powered by the solar panels on the roof. You can also charge the battery by plugging it into an outlet somewhere (this is faster, since solar powering requires the sun).

My wife, kids, and I live in our 2,500-square-feet home, but I’ve stayed in the tiny home a few times, including once during a massive snowstorm. I wanted to test the structure against nature, and it held up better than expected. I had heat, electricity, and a fire outside.

Another time, I camped in it with my 3-year-old son. He slept on a small mattress on the floor beneath my bunk. We made s’mores and watched a movie on a laptop. It was tight but cozy, and we had a lot of fun.

Would I live in it full-time? Probably not, but someone could. Sure, it’s really small, but it’s also proof that you can create a livable space with almost no square footage if you think creatively. With a truck, I could haul it off-grid or to a campground with no problem.

For anyone wanting to build their own tiny home, my advice would be to decide on your priorities first. My goal was to build the smallest, most functional tiny house possible. If your goal is comfort over minimalism, go slightly bigger — maybe 30 to 50 square feet. Even a few extra inches in width or ceiling height makes a huge difference.

Can you build a smaller livable home than mine? Let’s see who takes me up on it.

Levi Kelly is a tiny homes expert and builder. His YouTube channel is dedicated to showcasing unique, short-term stays, including treehouses, container homes, and luxury accommodations. He lives in Ohio with his wife and two kids. Follow him on Instagram @levimkelly.

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As students head back to school this fall, many parents feel the urge to do more — to book the tutor, add the extra math lesson, or squeeze in one more after-school activity “just in case.” 

The impulse comes from love and wanting our kids to have opportunities. But somewhere along the way, opportunity can turn into pressure.

During my six years of researching hundreds of high-achieving kids, I’ve found that the real engine behind long-term success is believing that your worth comes from your inherent value and your ability to make a positive impact on the world. 

I call it a “mattering mindset.”

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Many young people today are motivated by the fear that if they fall short, they will be less loved or accepted, as if their value hinges on their performance.

In 2021, I partnered with a Baylor University researcher to investigate the impact of achievement culture among young adults. Our survey — which was published in my book “Never Enough” — of nearly 500 students revealed a sobering finding: More than half believed their parents’ love fluctuated based on their performance.

Psychologists call this “conditional regard,” or parental affection that depends on a child meeting certain expectations, whether academic, athletic, or behavioral.

Children raised on conditional regard can become so afraid of mistakes that even minor setbacks can rattle their sense of self. It can erode self-worth, accelerate burnout, and leave them feeling purposeless once the accolades stop coming or vulnerable to depression when they experience setbacks.

We have to help our kids build a mattering mindset from the start. When children know they are valued despite the outcome, they are freed to take healthy risks, to learn from mistakes, to push harder, and to recover faster.

1. Get a PhD in your child

Become an expert in who they are. What makes them light up? What challenges do they hide? What strengths might others overlook? The more we understand their quirks and talents, the more they feel seen for their unique selves. Feeling known and loved is powerful fuel.

2. Remind them their worth is non-negotiable

When your child fails — gets cut from the team, bombs a test — remind them their value isn’t up for debate.

One mother I interviewed uses this exercise: She holds up a $20 bill. “What’s it worth?” she asks. Then she crumples it and dunks it in water. “What’s it worth now?” Still $20. No matter the setbacks, its value hasn’t changed, and neither has theirs.

3. Get curious, not furious

All children want to do well. If they aren’t thriving, take a step back and ask why. Is it an undiagnosed learning difference? A social conflict? A teaching style mismatch? Struggles are clues.

When we express anger over a child’s performance, it can break the parent-child connection. Curiosity preserves your relationship, and is a gateway to clean fuel.

4. Celebrate their ripple effect

Let them know when their actions make a difference. Whether it’s comforting a sibling, brightening a friend’s day, or coming up with a clever solution, take the time to remind them that their value goes far beyond their achievements.

5. Let your face light up

Too often, we’re so focused on preparing kids for the future that we forget to show them the joy we feel simply by being their parent. At least once a day, show warmth and affection regardless of performance. Let them know they are just as cherished on a bad day as on a good one.

If I could offer one piece of advice to parents this fall, it would be to worry less about the grades and more about the mindset you’re helping cultivate in your child — the one that fuels lifelong achievement.

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller ”Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — and What We Can Do About It.” She lives in New York City with her husband and three teens. You can follow her on Instagram @jenniferbrehenywallace.

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One of the most common myths about long-term relationships is that couples eventually run out of things to say. It’s easy to believe: Life gets busy, routines take over and conversations become more about logistics than connection.

As a psychologist who studies couples, and based on my own experience being happily married, I know how tricky communication can become if you’re convinced there’s nothing left to say. But couples in healthy relationships make a habit of talking about things that matter, every single day.

Their conversations stay fresh, connected and meaningful because they never stop learning about each other. Here are five things people in the happiest relationships talk to each other about every day — that most people neglect.

Couples in thriving relationships always make a point to check in and make sure the other partner is happy.

On some days, that means asking: “Do you feel loved? Supported? Connected?” Other days, it’s about expressing appreciation, sharing a laugh over a favorite memory or talking about something they’re looking forward to doing together.

Having these daily check-ins help prevent small misunderstandings from growing into larger issues.

In the strongest relationships, both partners stay curious about what excites the other. It could be a song they can’t stop listening to, a book they’ve been devouring, a hobby they’re exploring or even a TikTok that made them laugh.

Regardless of whether their interests overlap, they stay curious about each other’s passions. This is what keeps the spark alive.

Over their years together, these little updates remind one another of perhaps the most important thing to remember in a relationship: “We’re constantly growing and evolving, and we’re doing it together.”

Happy couples are never stuck in the present or past. They often have conversations about long-term goals: owning a home, traveling more, starting a business or raising kids.

They also don’t shy away from less practical, more whimsical topics, like what they’d do with a year off, how they’d renovate their dream kitchen or where they’d go if money wasn’t a concern.

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Discussing dreams, no matter how realistic or farfetched, keeps the relationship future-oriented by instilling a joint sense of purpose and possibility. Even if a dream can’t be acted on right away, talking it over allows them to keep track of each other’s values.

Happy couples aren’t uncomfortable bringing up what’s bothering them. A healthy relationship should feel like a safe space where couples can work through their troubles together as a team.

Whether it’s a tough day at work, a lingering insecurity or even a fear about the relationship itself, they trust their partner to respond with empathy.

Over time, this daily practice of being emotionally honest builds a rock-solid sense of safety. Both partners will never feel like they have to carry their baggage alone.

Even a half-formed musing can be a fun way to connect. Happy couples never think twice about sharing their random ideas: their shower thoughts, their “what-ifs,” their “this just popped into my head” theories.

And these don’t always have to be deep or profound. In fact, they’re usually pretty silly, weird or seemingly irrelevant. Adding a little bit of playfulness and spontaneity into every conversation also makes space for laughter and even intimacy.

I always remind couples that a big part of building a successful relationship is about being intentional with the conversations you choose to have. Couples who stay connected day after day create a shared space for curiosity, growth and joy.

Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.

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Movement can be one of the most powerful tools for long-term health. The earlier you start building strength, balance, and mobility, the better equipped you’ll be to maintain your independence and well-being later in life.

As a physical therapist and fitness trainer, there are seven key movements I encourage my clients to work on. If you can perform them with control and without pain, especially if you’re in your 30s and 40s, your body is aging better than most.

Keep in mind, though, that everyone is different. I always recommend consulting with a health or fitness professional before trying anything that may be too strenuous.

Push-ups train key muscle groups used in everyday tasks like lifting luggage, getting off the floor, or pushing heavy doors.

They’re also a surprisingly good indicator of cardiovascular health. A 2019 study found that men who could do 40 push-ups in one set had significantly lower risk of heart disease than those who could do 10 or fewer.

Workout tip: Make sure you keep your body in a straight line from head to heels. Squeezing your glutes and bracing your abs will protect your spine and give you more stability.

Grip strength, which pull-ups demand, has been linked to lower mortality rates as we age.

Pull-ups engage your back, shoulders, arms, and core. These muscles support posture and strength for real-life scenarios like carrying groceries, opening tightly closed lids, and even holding onto a pole to prevent yourself from falling while taking public transportation.

Workout tip: If you’re new to pull-ups, try dead hangs, in which you hang from the bar with arms fully extended. Practice building up to 30 seconds.

Your ability to balance on one leg is a key predictor of longevity. In fact, studies show that people who can’t balance on one leg for at least 10 seconds in their 50s have higher risk of mortality.

Workout tip: Try slowly lowering yourself onto a bench or chair using one leg, then stand back up. Aim for 10 reps per side without losing control or balance. This move strengthens your quads and stabilizers, which are crucial for activities like walking downstairs or playing sports.

This move strengthens the posterior chain (your hamstrings and glutes), which helps prevent low back pain and improves walking and running efficiency.

Training this muscle group is important because research has shown that it leads to better outcomes when it comes to pain, disability, and overall muscle strength.

Workout tip: Stand on one leg, hinge at the hips while keeping a soft bend in the knee, and reach your other leg back behind you. Do 10 reps per side. The goal should be to do 10 repetitions without losing your balance or needing to touch the ground with the opposite leg for balance.

As you age, you lose muscle power (your ability to express a lot of work within a short period of time) much more quickly than muscle strength.

According to one study, power decreases about 10% per decade after age 40. Maintaining explosive strength helps with agility, fall prevention, and playing recreational sports well into older age.

Workout tip: Squat jumps need to be done safely, especially if you’re new to them. You don’t need to jump sky-high. Start with low jumps and gradually increase height.

A hop and stick is a controlled jump followed by a strong, balanced landing on the same leg. It’s one of the most demanding athletic moves, challenging your balance, coordination, and joint stability.

Impact activities like this can help improve bone mineral density as well as tendon health, protecting against osteoporosis and injury.

Workout tip: Stick the landing with control to build both power and balance.

The split squat isometric hold is a great exercise to build lower body strength and stability. An isometric hold is when your muscles are not lengthening or shortening, but maintaining a given range.

The leg in the back will improve hip flexor mobility, which tends to get tight when sitting for an extended period of time. The leg in the front will improve quadriceps strength which is another great predictor of longevity.

Workout tip: Try your best to keep your hips square (both hip bones should face forward). Avoid twisting or leaning over your front leg.

Andy Fata-Chan is a physical therapist and the founder of Moment Physical Therapy and Performance, which specializes in helping patients with chronic debilitating pain get back to high performance. His experience ranges from youth athletes to Olympic and professional-level athletes.

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