166 | How to Live on $25,000 a Year and Pay Off Student Loans

Court and Nick turned six figures of student loan debt into millionaire status within nine years while living on under $25,000 annually. Their Calgary-based family of three maintains this lifestyle not through deprivation, but by ruthlessly cutting expenses that don't bring joy while investing in what does. Their strategy combines aggressive debt payoff (eliminating $110,000 in student loans in two and a half years), house hacking to slash housing costs, and a cooking-at-home approach that keeps food spending minimal without sacrificing quality. The couple credits a shared financial mindset as their key to success, treating money decisions as a team sport from day one. Timestamps [00:00:43] Introduction to Court's Story [00:01:46] Living on $25,000 a Year [00:03:45] House Hacking Strategies [00:04:55] Mindset Around Spending [00:06:01] Debt-Free Journey [00:12:07] Financial Independence Mindset [01:00:45] Career Ownership and Advocacy [01:00:51] Final Thoughts and Advice Key Points Cut the Fluff, Not the Joy: Focus spending on what genuinely brings value and eliminate everything else ([00:02:34]) Shared Mindset Required: Financial independence requires partners to align on goals and communicate openly ([00:06:09]) Rapid Debt Elimination: Paid off $110,000 in student loans within two and a half years through prioritized aggressive payments ([00:12:01]) House Hacking: Renting out portions of their home significantly reduced housing costs ([00:03:45]) Home Cooking Strategy: Preparing 95% of meals at home keeps food expenses low without sacrificing quality ([00:02:34]) Travel Rewards Leverage: Strategic use of travel rewards enables affordable experiences without budget impact ([00:08:45]) Action Items Evaluate current expenses to identify what can be eliminated ([00:05:33]) Set financial goals with your partner and establish open communication about money ([00:10:00]) Consider house hacking to lower housing costs ([00:03:45]) Notable Quotes "We've just kind of figured out a way to eliminate the fluff." ([00:02:34]) "It's not like we're living this deprived life... we've just focused on what truly brings joy." ([00:04:55]) "The mindset is the biggest thing to reaching financial independence." ([00:06:07]) "We each respectively killed our student loans, which is pretty unheard of." ([00:12:01]) "There's no one else looking after you and your career as much as you are." ([01:00:45]) Resources Mr. Money Mustache ([00:54:54]) Your Money or Your Life ([00:54:19]) Key Terminology House Hacking: A strategy to reduce housing costs by renting out portions of a residential property ([00:03:45]) Financial Independence (FI): Achieving a level of wealth that allows living without traditional employment ([00:12:01]) Travel Rewards: Points or benefits earned through travel-related expenditures that can be redeemed for free travel or lodging ([00:08:45]) ▶ Listen Next: Ep. 168 — Time Management and Productivity for Financial Independence | Essential Listening