• Discounts and special offers
  • Subscriber-only articles and interviews
  • Breaking news and trending topics

Already a subscriber?

By signing up, you accept Moneywise's Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.

Not interested ?

Her steps to success

As a CRNA, Reeves is an advanced practice registered nurse. Her job involves administering anesthesia and other medications to patients. CRNAs are the highest paid of all nursing specialties due to the high level of skill required to manage a patient’s anesthesia.

If you want to make the big bucks as a CRNA — or in any other specialized field — you’re going to have to “sell your soul” to school and sacrifice the party life, according to Reeves.

Beyond that, she encouraged her viewers to keep learning, “join all the societies … get all the certifications.”

“Be proud of your education,” she said in her TikTok clip, adding that a good college degree and a strong work ethic can open up a lot of doors — and not just for nurses.

She was able to effectively use the earnings from her high-paying nursing job — where she claims to earn between $250,000 and $500,000 a year — to pay off all her student debt by the age of 27.

Whether you make $50,000 or $500,000, here are three things you need to do if you want to reach your own version of financial freedom.

Don't miss

  • Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years — but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger
  • Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof — and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month
  • These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 — and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how

Prioritize paying off debt

Reeves admits that, like many Americans, she “did not have a penny saved going through anesthesia school," so she took out student loans.

But the first thing Reeves did when she finished school and started woring as a CRNA was pay off her debt.

Higher-interest debts on your credit cards or your car loan can weigh you down and often outpace the money you’d make saving and investing any excess income.

Even if your debts have a lower interest rate, like on some mortgages and student loans, there’s an argument for paying them off first. The savings you’ll see paying off your debts are guaranteed, while lucrative investing opportunities typically carry a fair amount of risk.

Work a side hustle

So how exactly did Reeves find the cash to pay off $200,000 of student debt before she hit her 30s?

“I threw money at it every month, working over time, working different shifts, working things to pay off my loans as soon as I could,” she explained in another TikTok.

Not all jobs offer overtime pay or additional shifts. Of course, you could always look for a new job that offers a higher salary and more work opportunities.

If you don’t want to change careers, but you do want to boost your income by working beyond the average 40-hour week, consider getting a side hustle.

Working two or more jobs is more common than ever in America. According to the job-search site Zippia, 45% of working Ameircans have a side hustle in 2023 and they spend an average of 13 hours per week doing it.

Being a YouTuber or influencer is the highest-paying side hustle, with potential earnings of over $10,000 per month — but since success in those ventures is never sure, you might want to look into popular gigs like grocery delivery, dog walking or online tutoring that can all pay more than $1,500 a month.

Discover How a Simple Decision Today Could Lead to an Extra $1.3 Million in Retirement

Learn how you can set yourself up for a more prosperous future by exploring why so many people who work with financial advisors retire with more wealth.

Discover the full story and see how you could be on the path to an extra $1.3 million in retirement.

Read More

Invest for passive income

Once you have a handle on your debt situation and good grip on money management, you might consider putting any extra cash that you have to work.

It doesn’t have to be a lot, at first. You can invest your spare change and easily generate passive income through dividends without having to lift a finger.

If you’re unsure about where to start, there are lots of apps and digital tools that can help you dip your toe in.

For more veteran investors, keep in mind that alternative investments can act as an inflation hedge and insulate you from the sometimes-shaky stock market. Whether it’s more conventional like real estate or colorful like fine wine, you can find options that suit your needs by answering a few quick questions with Moneywise's investment-finder tool.

What to read next

Bethan Moorcraft is a reporter for Moneywise with experience in news editing and business reporting across international markets.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.