[Post 930] We Make $263K A Year In California — And Saved Nearly $500K In Our 20s

Summary

At just 30 and 27 years old, Quinn and Brittney Sturgis, a married couple serving in the Air Force, are on track to retire in their early 40s — if they choose to. Both officers are stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, earning just over $263,000 in combined salary and paid military benefits, with roughly a quarter of it automatically stashed in investment accounts.

This story is part of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which details how people around the world earn, spend and save their money.

[Post 929] How A Simple Idea Turned Pimple Patches Into A $90 Million A Year Business

Summary

Starface World has exploded in popularity amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha customers because of its Hydro-Stars. These star-shaped pimple patches are used as an acne treatment and an accessory. The business is on track to bring in about $90 million in revenue in 2024.

[Post 928] How A NJ Mom Turned A Failed Beach Bag Into A $100 Million A Year Business

Summary

New Jersey mom Kim Vaccarella started a side hustle after deciding to create a suitable and easy-to-clean beach bag. However, after a botched shipment of over 1,000 bags for $30,000, Kim had given up on her business -- but then was given a lifeline three years later in the form of a $120,000 investment. Today, Bogg Bag is projected to bring in $100 million in revenue for 2024.

[Post 927] I'm Much Happier Living In Greece Than In The U.S. — Here's How Much It Costs

Summary

Cara West moved from Texas to Syros, Greece with her husband and two-year-old daughter in 2024. She now works remotely and brings in over $100,000 a year through her salary as a luxury travel concierge and through brand sponsorships she receives as a travel content creator. She says that, because of Greece's lower cost of living, her husband can be a full-time caretaker for their daughter. She also says that they're now able to put aside more money to pay down their $62,000 of credit card debt.

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

[Post 926] I Turned A $1 Property In Italy Into My Dream Home — Here’s How Much It Cost

Summary

Meredith Tabbone purchased an abandoned $1 home in Sambuca di Sicilia, Italy in 2019. The condition of the property was "dire at best," Tabbone tells CNBC Make It: no electricity, no running water, asbestos in the roof and "probably two feet of pigeon poop on the floor."

Unlocked is a home tour series focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen.

[Post 925] Buying An Abandoned Train Car For $3K — And Turning It Into A $90K/Year Airbnb

Summary

Isaac French, 27, and his family bought and transformed a $3,000 abandoned train car into an Airbnb in Deary, Idaho. After investing around $150,000 in renovations with his family, the 100-year-old train car now offers guests a unique stay for $325 to $350 a night. Take a look inside.

Unlocked is a home tour series focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen.

[Post 924] How In-N-Out Turned A $4 Burger Into $2 Billion A Year

Summary

In-N-Out defies the norms of typical fast-food chains. It doesn't franchise, avoids rapid expansion and sticks to a simple menu that's barely changed in 75 years. It has a cult following and lines that stretch down the block. Here's how it turned simplicity and consistency into a recipe for success.