【Epoch Times, October 2, 2026】Some people in the U.S. are adopting new strategies to save money as buying a house becomes increasingly difficult and living costs remain high. Instead of following the traditional path of finding a stable job, buying a house, and slowly paying off a mortgage, young individuals are now focusing on earning a higher income, taking on side gigs, starting investments early, and even launching their own businesses.
MarketWatch recently interviewed several young individuals who have not adhered strictly to the conventional approach of financial planning. Some have accumulated over $1 million in assets through investments, while others have boosted their income through freelance work or started a side business while still employed. These stories present various paths to wealth accumulation rather than a one-size-fits-all formula.
33-year-old Nicole Ingham was taught by her parents from a young age to save money but was never educated on investing. With concerns about lacking the job security and retirement benefits her parents had due to working in the military, she decided to start investing while working at a financial technology company. Together with her husband, they primarily used her salary for investments, relying on industry funds, market index funds, and individual stocks.
This approach led the couple to accumulate a net investable asset that slightly exceeded $1 million over the years. Inspired by their success, Ingham left her corporate job to become a financial coach in Jacksonville, Florida, with plans to involve their two children in the family business to help them start building wealth early on.
Kaylee Archibald, at 31, did not quit her job to start a business but focused on increasing her income first. Encouraged by colleagues, she negotiated for a higher salary at work and took on additional gigs such as selling clothes and pet-sitting to increase her discretionary income. She now allocates approximately 25-30% of her pre-tax income to investments in S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, and total market index funds, setting a goal to potentially retire in 10 years if she maintains her current savings and investment pace.
While Archibald’s father finds her goal almost unimaginable, she believes that consciously saving and investing more now could positively impact her future life.
Will Freeman, aged 29, took the entrepreneurial route. He initially began his consulting business alongside his full-time job before leaving his job in 2024 and eventually selling his company in 2025. Currently working as a part-time Chief Information Officer in Tampa, Florida, Freeman’s income has tripled from his past corporate job, while his working hours have been halved.
Many of Freeman’s peers opted to pursue an MBA for opportunities in large consulting firms, but Freeman chose a different path focusing on entrepreneurship alongside his full-time job, eventually selling his company for a profit.
Though these individuals employed different approaches, they shared a common strategy: diversifying their income sources instead of relying solely on a single paycheck.
A survey by LendingTree this year revealed that around 43% of Generation Z (aged 18-29) have a side hustle, with over half considering it a means to ensure long-term financial security. Additionally, 35% of individuals with a side hustle intend to continue until their primary job income is sufficient.
Some young individuals are also prioritizing early contributions to investment accounts. Analysis by JPMorgan Chase Institute of their client data in 2024 showed that 37% of 25-year-olds had transferred money from a checking account to an investment account since the age of 22, compared to only 6% in 2015, excluding employer retirement accounts like 401(k)s.
Entrepreneurship remains a viable option, with over half of Generation Z participants in a recent survey indicating serious consideration of starting their own business in the past 12 months, almost double the rate of all respondents.