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When people hear "become a millionaire in five years," they usually imagine tech founders or Wall Street traders—not someone earning $60,000 a year. But I’ve always believed that building wealth isn’t just about how much you earn; it’s about how strategically you deploy what you have. Let me share something unexpected that shaped my thinking: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Yes, the video game. These games launched without a Battle Tower—a feature that, for years, let players test teams in low-stakes competitive settings. Without it, experimenting felt risky and inefficient. That’s exactly how many of us approach wealth-building: jumping into high-stakes investments without a testing ground. So, how do you create your own financial "Battle Tower"? Let’s dive in.

First, let’s talk about mindset. I’ve met so many people who think they need a six-figure salary to even start. But in my experience, obsession with income can blind you to leverage. I started with a $55,000 job in digital marketing, and my first breakthrough came when I stopped fixating on my paycheck and focused on systems instead. For example, I automated my savings to funnel 30% of every dollar into separate buckets: 15% to a low-cost index fund (like VOO), 10% to a side-business fund, and 5% to crypto—specifically Ethereum and Bitcoin, which I treated as high-risk experimental plays. Within two years, that 30% habit turned $40,000 of savings into over $150,000. Compounding is magical, but you need consistency.

Now, the real game-changer for me was treating my finances like a game with clear rules. In Pokémon, you can’t just throw random Pokémon into battle and hope to win; you need type advantages, held items, and smart moves. Similarly, I built what I call a "financial battle simulator"—a spreadsheet tracking every expense, investment, and ROI. I tested "strategies" there first. For instance, I’d simulate putting $500/month into dividend stocks versus growth ETFs. I found that, for my goals, a mix of 70% ETFs and 30% real estate crowdfunding (through platforms like Fundrise) yielded an average 12% annual return. By year three, that strategy alone added $80,000 to my net worth. And yes, I made mistakes—like pouring $5,000 into a trendy AI stock that dropped 40%—but because I’d "tested" only a small part of my portfolio, it didn’t break me.

Another pillar is what I call "income layering." Relying on one salary is like battling with just one Pokémon—it might work, but you’re vulnerable. I started a niche blog about productivity tools, which brought in around $300/month from ads initially. Then, I used that to fund a small e-commerce store selling ergonomic office gear. Within 18 months, the store was netting $2,500/month profit. Reinvesting those earnings into more inventory and SEO (I spent about $2,000 on keyword-optimized content) eventually scaled it to $5,000/month. Combined with my job and investment gains, I hit the $500,000 mark by year four. Was it easy? No. I worked 60-hour weeks sometimes, but having multiple streams felt like assembling a versatile team—each covering the other’s weaknesses.

Let’s not ignore frugality, but I’ll be honest: I’m not a extreme couponer. I believe in strategic spending. For example, I drove a used Honda Civic but allocated $200/month for networking events where I met future business partners. That $200 ROI? It led to a joint venture that earned me $30,000 in year three. On the flip side, I cut recurring subscriptions I didn’t use—saving roughly $120/month—and invested that directly into my brokerage. Small leaks sink great ships, as they say.

By year five, I crossed the million-dollar threshold—largely thanks to disciplined investing, side hustles, and that relentless testing mentality. Just like how Pokémon trainers adapt when their favorite feature is missing, we have to build our own systems for financial growth. You don’t need a massive salary; you need a plan, a testing ground, and the courage to iterate. Start small, track everything, and remember: every millionaire was once a beginner who refused to quit.