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 a little over 6 feet by 3 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.

(Correction: The dimensions of the home are a little over 6 feet by 3 feet. An earlier version misstated the figures.)

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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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Ayesha Curry started her journey as a mother at a young age.

The 36-year-old chef and businesswoman married her husband, NBA player Steph Curry, when she was just 22, she said on a recent episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. And though they didn’t plan on having kids immediately, Curry got pregnant with their oldest daughter within months.

“I was thinking we were going to be, like, bar hopping,” she said. “It’s like, nope, you’re pregnant.”

The couple now has four kids ages one to 13. Curry shared anecdotes about her life as a mother, like the time she found some of her intimate apparel in her son’s pocket.

When asked about a time when she bribed her kids to get them to do something she wanted them to do, she laughed and said, “my 13-year-old, Riley, and my niece, Ava, I paid them $20 to clean up the kitchen and the living room.”

Experts support giving kids these types of chores.

There’s evidence that assigning kids household tasks improves their quality of life.

A study of 9,971 children published in the Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics in 2018 found that kindergarten kids who were given chores had better relationships with their peers, performed better in school and had greater life satisfaction in third grade.

“Giving our children more chores not only helps them become responsible, it teaches them useful skills for when they’re on their own,” Margot Machol Bisnow, author of “Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dream,” previously wrote for CNBC Make It.

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Wharton professor and bestselling author Adam Grant agrees. “Giving kids responsibility shows trust and builds character,” he wrote in a recent LinkedIn post.

The Child Development Institute suggests giving preschool-aged kids chores such as making the bed without supervision, watering flowers and clearing the table. The institute recommends giving teenagers chores such as cleaning out the fridge, babysitting younger siblings and taking care of pets.

Curry herself was given responsibilities as a child — though, she wasn’t compensated for it. “Back in my day, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity,” she said about paying her kid to do the chore. “I would’ve just had to do it.”

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Studies show that on average, women have a higher chance of living longer than men. Orthopedic sport surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright wants to ensure that when women enter old age it is an enjoyable experience, not one full of pain.

“I am acutely aware that even though we’re living longer, we’re suffering longer, and that most of the conversation around longevity in this country so far has been directed at men, or using the science of men,” says Wright.

For 20 years, Wright was an academic surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh researching musculoskeletal aging and longevity with the goal of “dispelling the common notion that aging was an inevitable decline.” With her fellow researchers, she studied active members of aging populations, including seniors who competed in the National Senior Games, a biannual event for athletes over the age of 50.

“The mantra that I laid down in the early 2000s when I [wondered], ‘What is going to be the guiding light of my career?’ is ‘I’m going to change the way we age in this country,’” Wright says.

Today, she is a practicing clinician and founder of Precision Longevity. She shares tips with her patients for a longer and healthier life in hopes of “building communities of people who believe that they can have the agency to change their future.” She recently published a book titled, “Unbreakable,” which is a guide to healthy aging for women.

Much of what Wright, 58, recommends to her patients, she practices in her own life. Here are her daily habits for health and wellness.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

CNBC Make It: What are some practices that you’re doing to keep your body healthy physically?

Interestingly, in my book, “Unbreakable,” the heavy lifting plan is actually the one I was working on as the book was being written.

I walk at least 45 minutes a day, three to four times a week. When I have a clinic day, I know that it’s 30 steps down the hallway in my office, and I just don’t sit down all day. So I work mobility into my lifestyle, and then twice a week, I sprint. Sometimes it’s on a treadmill or a bike or a stepper.

That sprinting, in addition to lifting heavy, which I do at least twice a week, those are the things that recompose your body and make us lean. Because I’m not trying to teach anybody or myself to be skinny. It does not interest me. But lean is healthy.

And then I jump intentionally a lot. I just got two new jump ropes. One is two and a half pounds. On social media, I reintroduced the game of hopscotch to my followers, because it’s not just jumping up and down that matters. It’s the multi-directional jumping that builds better bones.

What are you doing specifically for your brain?

I am religious about my sleep, meaning I am in bed by 9:30pm. I am up by 5:00am. You can count on it, weekend, weekday, because I can tell the difference in my brain.

I like to challenge my brain to learn new things all the time, so I’m constantly learning. I’m reading all kinds of stuff all the time. Learning is pleasurable for me.

But the number one thing I’ve done for my brain since I turned midlife and menopausal is I have chosen to replace my estrogen. Estrogen is covered in estrogen receptors. The work of Lisa Mosconi and the work of Roberta Brinton, show that without estrogen, a brain starves. And I felt that at 47 when I was hit in the wall by perimenopause.

I felt like I was going to die, and one of the things was the loss of the sharpness in my brain. So I chose for many reasons, but brain health being one of them, to replace my estrogen, and I think that makes as big a difference as anything I’ve said to you so far.

Something I see in a lot of longevity studies is the importance of staying connected and staying social. What’s your social fitness like?

I encourage myself, and when I talk about this to patients, to choose five people. Have a very close knit group. So, I have five people. It’s five women within the menopause-y space. A urologist and three OBs, and we talk every day on our chat groups. So that’s number one, connecting. I have found that easier to do in midlife than I did when I was younger.

Number two, I am the mother of a blended family of six children, three grandchildren, three very old grandparents and two very old dogs. So we also communicate every day, even if it’s just a little bit.

And then number three, I really do still answer people on my Instagram. I mean, I know they’re strangers, but it is a way to keep connected. But it’s the five people that you surround yourself with most that are most important to your longevity and health.

On nutrition, what are the foods that you’re aiming to get into your diet each week?

Every single day, I focus on clean, whole-food nutrition with one gram of protein per pound. So I focus on getting 130 grams of protein a day so that I can build the muscle that I need to do all the other things I mentioned, and that’s not that hard.

I eat a lot of green leafy vegetables. I eat a lot of kale, even at breakfast. I have a salad for breakfast. Sometimes it’s spinach and kale. I have basically the same things every day. I get protein in the form of dairy and egg, and I do eat animal meat. Every ounce is six grams of protein, so I eat a lot of that every day.

And I don’t eat sugar. Yesterday, I had three bites of ice cream because I was out with my 17-year-old. But on a day-to-day basis, I don’t eat sugar. And here’s why, I can physically feel the difference in my body. I can feel inflamed. I can feel the dullness in my brain when I’m eating sugar. So I focus on anti-inflammatory nutrition, which is good for my body and my brain.

I don’t eat simple carbs, with the exception of sourdough. I make sourdough every two weeks and then we freeze the loaves, which decreases their glycemic index. It’s wholesome and made out of fermented bacteria. So those are the really simple ways that from a nutritional standpoint, I stay healthy.

One question that I always ask every longevity expert is, what are you currently reading?

I constantly refer to “Estrogen Matters” by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris. I am reading little parts of “The Menopause Moment,” which is coming out by Kelly Casperson. Of course, I’m reading my own book.

I don’t read fiction, but I picked up a fiction book because I met this fascinating author at a book author event. It’s the Red Rising series, which is a futuristic series of science fiction. I’m really surprised at myself because I don’t usually read that. But you know what it let me do for a short amount of time? Escape the real world of taking care of people.

Here’s a brief summary of Wright’s practices for a long and healthy life:

• For her physical health: Counting her steps, sprinting, lifting heavy weights multiple times a week and finding ways to jump more through hopscotch and jump rope.
• For her brain health: Prioritizing sleep, stabilizing her estrogen levels and fueling her appetite for learning.
• For social fitness: Catching up with her friend group of like-minded health professionals, connecting with her family and chatting with her Instagram followers.
• For her diet: Eating a high-protein, anti-inflammatory diet rich in green leafy vegetables, dairy and meat.
• For her media diet: Reading the latest women’s health books about menopause, and starting a new sci-fi series.

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