I increased my net worth by $30,000 in 6 months by sticking to 3 money rules

My net worth increased from -$15,000 to $15,000 since January 2021 thanks to dedicated saving, investing, and smart debt management.

The author (not pictured) stopped paying her student loans while payments were paused and invested the money instead. Photo: Pekic/Getty Images

By Taryn Williams

Last month — for the first time in my adult life — I reached a positive net worth. As a first-generation college graduate with a Master’s degree who spent most of my working life underemployed, this felt amazing.

First, let me note my privileges: I am a white person from the suburbs who had the luck of attending an elite university with a very significant financial aid package. Being underemployed was always a choice — which is not the case for most Americans in that situation. I chose to pursue opportunities like a Fulbright scholarship and AmeriCorps position in lieu of a stable and relatively well-paying job for the experiences. These are privileges not everyone is afforded.

The author, Taryn Williams. Photo: Taryn Williams

Those privileges aside, however, I have not received any cash windfalls or inheritances. I have never even made more than $40,000 in a single year (though that will change by the end of this year!). Despite this, my net worth increased from -$15,000…