Living On $26K A Year In Long Beach, CA | Millennial Money

Tiara Simmons, 39, is a lawyer in Long Beach, California and earns roughly $26,000 a year between her job as a law clerk and her social media marketing side hustle. She lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her husband, 3-year-old and chihuahua. Simmons is a below-the-knee amputee and has been disabled for nearly her entire life, and she wants people to know that those with disabilities are "disabled, not lazy."
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.
Check out Tiara's website here: www.4wheeljd.com/
Produced by: Valentina Duarte
Managing Producer: Beatriz Bajuelos Castillo
Camera: Tristan Pelletier
Editor: Marisa Forziati
Animator: Elham Ataeiazar
Reporter: Kamaron McNair
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Living On $26K A Year In Long Beach, CA | Millennial Money

[@CNBCMakeIt]

What's your budget breakdown? We're looking for stories from all ages, not just millennials! Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in a future installment of Millennial Money: cnb.cx/3OxbJ71

[@FranceGaulGallia]

Are you sure they are not getting Aid from government 🤔 This money is way too less for the place to survive

[@Jazzyjayyy]

Please take this video down or turn off the comments. People don’t know how to act.

[@bjonkofficial]

@@FranceGaulGallia even if she did it wouldn’t change the context of the video. her partner works too

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@Jazzyjayyy Why turn it off?

[@paulstandaert5709]

My "budget breakdown": Paid for college myself. I worked instead of borrowing money. Got a zero rate of return on the college education. Drove cars crappier than 99% of those reading this. I dumpster dive and shop on Craigslist. Inherited nothing financially. Bought a house at age 21. Never broke the $30,000/year mark until age 30. Don't drink, don't smoke, no tattoos, no piercings, old cellular phones, no streaming services. Paid the house off in 17.5 years. Never more than liability coverage on any car I ever had. I was cheap and bought only what I needed, and not what I wanted. It worked for me. Your mileage may vary. But ya gotta at least try before you say it won't work. Now, I can go to the store and literally get anything that I want and no credit card required.

[@SophiaChristian-so2of]

Great video! For 2023, it’s hard to nail down specific predictions for the housing market is because it’s not yet clear how quickly or how much the Federal Reserve can bring down inflation and borrowing costs without tanking buyer demand for everything from homes to cars.

[@JenniferDrawbridge]

I suggest you offset your real estate and get into stocks, A recession as bad it can be, provides good buying opportunities in the markets if you’re careful and it can also create volatility giving great short time buy and sell opportunities too. This is not financial advise but get buying, cash isn’t king at all in this time!

[@MarkFreeman-xi3rk]

You are right! I’ve diversified my $450K portfolio across various market with the aid of an investment coach, I have been able to generate a little bit above $830k in net profit across high dividend yield stocks, ETF and bonds.

[@cythiahan8455]

@@MarkFreeman-xi3rk Do you mind sharing info on the adviser who assisted you?

[@MarkFreeman-xi3rk]

Margaret Johnson Arndt, my financial advisor, is widely recognized for her proficiency and expertise in the financial market. With a comprehensive knowledge of portfolio diversification, she is acknowledged as an authority in this field.

[@AntonioBianh]

thanks for sharing this, I googled the lady you mentioned and after going through her resume, I can tell she's a pro. I wrote her and I'm waiting on her reply

[@harmonizewithme]

I’m pretty upset at the family member who didn’t put her 2.5mill in an investment account just for her to have a safe consistent income. 10% a year would have yielded her 250k salary to live on and she could have been set for life. That family member should be held accountable.

[@joea6234]

she said she was spending it for almost a decade in california 2.5 million wont last forever she was living off that

[@joea6234]

its true tho recently many youtubers where investing in crypto coins because it pays the most for views crypto commercials, so they all had invested money to make content and they all lost it one lost 100k in one day

[@papawalter8861]

@@joea6234 you dont invest in crypto even stocks is gambling... You buy real estate. With 2.5mil you could get a big loan easily and buy an appartment complex, live in it and live an easy life

[@SYDAirlineEnthusiast]

She doesn’t have 2.5 million. If she did, then why would she need to work as an underpaid lawyer in the first place?

[@SYDAirlineEnthusiast]

@@joea6234 she never had 2.5 mil. She meant to say she spent around that much in total for her family, though with her income, it’s shocking. 2.5 million can still last you for like 20 years if you are not someone who burns money on useless crap.

[@Arenem88]

Hold the phone! She entrusted a FAMILY member with 2 million dollars and they just squandered it?? No way I would let that slide. That was probably the most costly mistake she will ever make.

[@rickyayy]

Never trust humanity's greed. Even with family. Huge mistake.

[@mikep.473]

She was a kid like 2 years old the state trusted a family member well guardian with the money she had no control

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Thank you for finally focusing on disabled folks and the cost of living for them. My sister is a disabled adult in California and we talk money often. She's doing a degree in cybersecurity but a lot of employers won't even look at her because she's in a chair...she can work from home.

[@tiaralanice8633]

LWHM that is and was my situation. I look good on paper but, when they see me they question my ability to work...not my skills. Just my disability.

[@Sorealj]

Isn’t that against the law to discriminate if it doesn’t affect your job duties

[@tiaralanice8633]

@@Sorealj It is, but there is always away around the law.

[@saulgoodman2018]

That's illegal. She's going to be behind a desk anyway.

[@way5718]

There is no disability persons quota in US? I mean, in many countries, employers have incentives to hire disabled people.

[@johnjohnson3390]

Finally a story that doesn't revolve around youtube influencers making millions

[@Monkehrawrrr]

This is a beautiful story and this person is an inspiration!

[@AlannaMonet]

Wow your so right!

[@tommyjacobstein1529]

She had millions and lost it and racked up 400k in debt she is gaming to avoid paying sad this is what ppl do

[@tlraymarketing]

@@tommyjacobstein1529 If you listen closely, she says the FAMILY member lost it in investments. She was taking care of her debt until the FAMILY member screwed up

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@tommyjacobstein1529 Sounds like the family stole the money.

[@christenford3864]

Thank you for featuring an older millennial. It's nice to see someone closer to my age and what she is focused on. She is an inspiration and amazing.

[@abolisher]

And she found love ❤️

[@Lelski]

Millennials are the new Boomers

[@mel9662]

@@Lelski and gen z is straight up looney!! They will be the bringers of the apocalypse!

[@Lelski]

@@mel9662 they will be boomers too in 20 years

[@monet.t.t]

@@Lelski no they won’t. boomers are specifically for the generation born after ww2, like my father. he will always be a boomer. and millennials will always be millennials because they were born before the new millennium. they won’t turn into boomers?😭

[@rebeccavl97]

This is the best story I have seen on this channel! She is such a strong, resilient woman who has undergone extreme circumstances. I truly wish her nothing but success and victory in life!

[@Duane_514]

She had success and gave it to a family friend to manage!

[@rebeccavl97]

@@Duane_514 she was scammed, hence why I am hoping she recovers soon!

[@Duane_514]

@@rebeccavl97 she wasn’t scammed whatsoever! She clearly stated she allowed a friend to (who probably had zero financial management experience) to look after her money!

[@rebeccavl97]

@@Duane_514 doesn’t matter really! I just wish her success in life going forward! I am done arguing with you…

[@Duane_514]

@@rebeccavl97 you need to look up the definition of arguing dear then go enjoy your day.

[@cbase06]

This video really made me feel some type of way. How did $2.5 million just disappear? This woman is so motivated, ambitious, and intelligent and she was robbed of her life compensation and now dependent on social welfare. Never should this have ever happened. She really is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Bless her; she seems to be level headed and resilient.

[@rich2583]

Lol she spent it all. She bought a house in NY that she eventually sold. Most likely at a loss.

[@Immacu1ate]

She is placing blame on everything else but herself. She bragged about all she could do with her money. She spent it. End of story.

[@irisxkae]

I clicked so fast wanting to know how to survive on $26K in Cali… She is so resilient. Her story is so sad though - $2.5 million at 1 years old. All they had to do was invest in the SP500 in a trust! She’d be set, her kids and their kids too.

[@magic_fruit_bat5003]

Most individuals don’t have that type of knowledge, and therefore get tangled in the mess that is seen in her story.

[@dwaynebrown3463]

More information please

[@organizedchaos4559]

I know right, 2.5 million dollars, that’s enough to live a modest life for the rest of your life.

[@SuperDoctorprofessor]

@@dwaynebrown3463road market investments like the SP500 have historic gains of 7-9% per year. Generally, inflation is around 2%, so 5-7% after inflation. This means if you invest some amount, you can expect to have the value of your investment go up by that amount each year, so you could sell part of the investment at the new higher value. There is something called the 4% Rule, which says you can safely with 4% of your investment per year due to the increased value without minimizing the core amount, theoretically indefinitely. At $2.5million, she could therefore have assumed a safe withdraw of around $100,000 per year of income without any real work.

[@msf8297]

@@dwaynebrown3463 don't do these things on your own. ALWAYS hire a financial/investment advisor and a lawyer.

[@ill_will1338]

As a person living in Long Beach her story really hits home. Great effort she puts in.

[@ThreeDogsTwoCatsAndAWife]

Right? I’m in Long Beach, too. All the construction to fix the corners for ADA is worth it for her, and only her.

[@chaole1000]

@@ThreeDogsTwoCatsAndAWife Not just for her, but for all all physically impaired users of the road.

[@MinnieOnCam]

I'm a working-disabled person in Canada, there is soo much of being disabled that abled body people don't understand. So happy to see a story that I can truly relate to.

[@HollywoodCharityAuctioncom]

Can you tell your story and post online? Would like to understand.

[@MinnieOnCam]

@@HollywoodCharityAuctioncom I share my joruney on my KZbin channel my name is my channel name.

[@spankbuda5760]

Abled body individuals have written laws for the disabled because they understand the challenges. So for you to say that non disabled beings do not understand is foolish!

[@MinnieOnCam]

@@spankbuda5760 I live it is why I said it. I'm constantly fighting against them in policy changes in my country.

[@chickenfarmer209]

I am disabled and what this person did is akin to fraud and stealing from ACTUAL taxpayers.

[@cris_here]

I'm so glad her loans were forgiven. It's a sticky situation given she's not allowed to make more money, but I am going to stay hopeful for her. She is truly a warrior.

[@naomidga]

Yes, the loans should be completely forgiven, period. It's like they want her to stay in poverty. How is that fair?

[@leok7193]

@@naomidga Wha? So she borrowed 400k of someone else's money on an education that makes her nothing because she chooses to work 50 hours / MONTH? I work more than that in a week. Wow, yeah, she dug herself into a hole and it's "they" want her to stay in poverty. I can't summon up sympathy for someone who blew through 2.5 million + 400k in student loans on luxury living.

[@tamaramadison7563]

I know pepole who are Disabled and they ate very Hardworking Pepole

[@marksellinger3736]

@@leok7193 She cannot work more than 50 hours a month. If she does, then she will make more money than is permitted and the loan will be re-instated. Quite a system, huh. Live in poverty...OR ELSE!!!

[@rich2583]

​@Mark Sellinger or else pay the money back you willingly took out

[@JenniferOpal]

It's so messed up. She was robbed of the settlement money, she can't make more than what she's making now otherwise she'll be worse off because the student loans will then be added on. This is so messed up. Loved seeing her share this. It's so important to hear stories from people from all walks of life & their reality.

[@ClarisNdoroRealEstate]

I think she also said she used most of her money on the lovely apartment and traveling, and she was not working.

[@saulgoodman2018]

But if she can work more, in the long run, she will be making more money.

[@tiaralanice8633]

@@ClarisNdoroRealEstate No. I said I used SOME of the $ on travel. And trust me, I wasn't staying in 5 star resorts. nooope.

[@organizedchaos4559]

I don’t know how she didn’t use the 2.5 million to pay off loans, that’s just crazy. If she did that she would be in a better spot at least. Also I’m surprised she doesn’t have disability payments like SSI or something.

[@jmtoomer21]

@@tiaralanice8633you can also teach an online class at a school like snhu. They $1500 a 10 week class. It’s mostly just grading papers like 3 hrs a week. So many options u have to pull in extra and work the system so you can get all the things you want.

[@aidenw207]

Trusting a family member with 2.5 million dollars was a huge mistake. You could have easily retired comfortably on that forever.

[@cieltheeditor7922]

Not in California LMFAO

[@aidenw207]

@@cieltheeditor7922 She is living in California off 26,000, 2.5 Million at 4% withdrawal is $100,000. She would have been retired forever. We all make mistakes, but hopefully someone else will read this and learn the lesson sooner.

[@maritesshoy317]

It was likely less than 2.5 with legal fees & taxes but still a good amount left esp. if decently managed. She still had a house to sell, has a great attitude not embittered by the investment loss, & has a plan to get out from under the debt. 👍🏽

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

What ever she did she should have never trusted someone else with 2 million and she living in expensive California by her own choice

[@maritesshoy317]

@@prettysubliminals2555 - She mentions buying a house at 17. She sold it in 2022. The last bit was onscreen text so easy to miss it.

[@poetchic]

So grateful to see a real person. The transparency in her story is incredible and highlights that it shouldn’t be this difficult for people to try to make a difference in the world.

[@saulgoodman2018]

Numbers don't add up.

[@Kaygeedagee]

@@saulgoodman2018 exactly. A lot of things she skimmed over.

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@Kaygeedagee Or is it a lot of things CNBC edited out?

[@maritesshoy317]

@@saulgoodman2018 - It’s all there but I rewatched. There’s a lot in this episode. Some stuff is easy to miss too as it’s onscreen text. The ‘transcript’ feature is handy. She’s making the right moves now despite the investment loss setback IMHO. Her attitude/outlook is inspiring. I hope things go better for her once the debt is discharged. Wacky the income limits of that program but she has to do it as $400k debt is no joke. Wish they’d mentioned how long she has to do that for.

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@maritesshoy317 3 years for TDS. She should have started it before she graduated. That is still not a reason to live below poverty.

[@aped]

Crazy that she was able to get $400k in student loans. Sorry I thought this would be inspiring, but the more this went on I got angrier.

[@NicksDynasty]

But now she is stuck in poverty or the loans will come back. That's wild

[@puddincup9879]

So you’re mad a woman with no legs got her loans discharged? Tf is wrong with you?

[@enochia]

I'm sorry but this is a bad story, 2 adults and a baby don't need $800 a month for food and the dad working only part time when he has a disabled wife and young child is laughable

[@lindawang5649]

Honestly I know she doesn’t want to work in Big Law, but she should just do it for 5 years. She can knock out her student loans so she no longer has to live in poverty, save up a down payment for a house, and set some money aside for her daughter. Then she could be a public defender!

[@rsimmons1980]

Exactly, that is her only chance outside of working for the government for 10 years and having it discharged.

[@SAnderson54]

I agree!

[@electrogeek77]

It still doesn't work like that. Plus, if you're working in a field that you hate, you're never going to last that long anyway.

[@kingjames80s]

I was thinking the same thing

[@Neyskii527]

I thought the same thing. I think that’s the best option.

[@BenShutUp]

Thank you Millennial Money. This was so well done. And thank you Tiara for sharing about your life.

[@vernonscloset]

My advice would be to pay the minimum on those loans so you can maximize your income potential. The thought process of staying at or below the poverty line, just to avoid paying student loans, in my opinion, is crazy!

[@ExNihilo634]

It’s not forever. She said there’s a time period which her income needs to be below a certain amount. She is an intelligent woman, she’s worked out that this is the most strategic way to go in order to have the loans forgiven and have a blank slate in a few years time.

[@debbiemarlow4027]

I agree crazy. Stay in poverty so you don’t pay loans

[@singinwithceline]

As a disabled woman, it’s so encouraging to see another disabled woman who’s successfully moved across the country and living in California. I need to move there. The cold weather in Indiana does me in on a regular basis here.

[@Sandra8675SecondLife]

What happened to the house Tiara said she purchased with the settlement money? And what exactly happened to that money from the house? Why did Tiara start living in a 'luxury apartment' if she had a house she purchased? Who was in charge of the settlement money? What bad investment? Who was the bad investment with, for how much and with whose authority? These things were skipped over in a video that seems to be trying to focus on Tiaras financial status. Yet what happened to the 2.5 million details is being swept to the side.

[@cherishisgrace]

I’m so confused as well, I guess I’m trying to figure where was the settlement the family won kept for all those years before she found out about it

[@Sandra8675SecondLife]

@@cherishisgrace Right... At first I thought the video was insinuating the family blew the money. Yet it seems Tiara did get it. I feel this may be one of the many videos based on little fact and its more about pumping out content as quickly as possible while leaving major details out so no one can say there were any 'lies' about the information provided. Shows where we are when it comes to 'journalism' these days. Sad

[@budasfeet]

6:41 says sold in 2022, probably increased a lot of values

[@danielle6470]

I agree, she isn't telling The Whole Truth & Nothing but The Truth...

[@adc2327]

Why can't her husband work full time? The money they spent on Ubers could have purchased a car. I guess she wants to live poor to keep from paying back student loans.

[@Mari-rd6yt]

Sounds like her husbands a bum, why is he working part time with a disabled wife and kid🤦🏽‍♂️

[@countessstevens63]

Per usual, this was extremely eye opening. She truly is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Blessings to her and her family on their journey

[@leok7193]

Except she stuck herself in there. Clearly she took out the 400k loan knowing she was never going to repay it and that to not pay it and keep access to other welfare programs, she would have to artificially keep her income low. That's also how she's working 50 hours a MONTH, whereas lawyers early in their careers usually work 60+ in a WEEK. She took a spot in her class that someone else could've had, that would've actually used that education and made it a career to move their life forward, instead of using it as a part-time gig while getting a bunch of other "free money."

[@uwone7778]

"bad investment" aka, your family embezzled from you.

[@AmethystSnow]

Disabled not lazy! As someone with MS, i truly appreciate that.

[@ARS757]

$806 on food every month and you are getting SNAP too. I think that expense could be cut in half and then your husband can save to get a car.

[@draynorofscythe]

Inspiring story. These are the kinds of videos that really make you grateful for everything that we've been given in life.

[@msf8297]

What was inspiring?

[@draynorofscythe]

@@msf8297She cannot walk and has not let that stop from becoming a lawyer and having a career. She manages to live on $26k a year in CA while having a child. She at one point had 2.5 mil and lost it all and yet continues to work hard and keep a positive outlook. The list goes on....need I say more?

[@deprivome938]

@@msf8297 what are you doing inspiring with your life may I ask?

[@beatricerights]

@@msf8297 Her positive outlook is inspiring. Despite all the heartaches and tragedies in her life she has persevered. We have all made bad mistakes and trust those we should not.

[@ogo316]

This makes no sense what happened to the revenue from the house she sold?

[@davidcantor293]

Well, in 2012-2014 homes were at their lowest. It may have been a loss depending on when she sold it.

[@BeautifullyZen]

I believe the video said she sold it in 2022

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@davidcantor293 It was still NY.

[@simitometi6219]

Well, that’s what I didn’t understand as well. She mentioned paying rent when she was talking about her house, not a mortgage

[@FinancialShinanigan]

Big yikes, reminds me of "I will never gonna financially recover from this" from Tiger King 1. Loses $2.5 million settlement on a bad investment 2. Spends $250 a month on Uber because they can't buy a car 3. Spending $800 a month on food 4. Has $400,000 in student loans that will be forgiven but needs to be at or below poverty line 5. Want to be a lawyer but can't up her salary due to point #4

[@EllaBelle18]

not to mention why is husband working part time, why does she work 50 hours a month, and where did the money from the house sale go

[@MoistHoleSenpai]

@@EllaBelle18 If she isn't below the poverty line until her financial investigation or whatever is over she's not qualified to have her loan forgiven

[@smellybut33]

He probably works part time to take care of their child, while she is at work. And I mean if he works in place that bus doesn't have good hours then that's what he has to do

[@wallaceferre6198]

exactly shes playing the system just to get her 400k loans forgiven, sad but common with these types

[@tlraymarketing]

@@EllaBelle18 Child care. The interview clearly answers that questions. Child care. I am also guessing the 50hrs a month has a lot to do with...disability.

[@jessehahm3177]

It's nice to know there are still good people in the world. All the best to her and her family.

[@cathyc8461]

What a kind comment 💞

[@itsnotaboutyou]

I loved her message in the end! Sending her and her family all the positive vibes. Wow, I’m also totally inspired after thinking about how far she had come from when she was an infant and being a ward of the court.

[@YourChicGeek]

Thank you for having the courage to share your story! Just blown away by her resilience and perseverance through everything thats happened to her.

[@calibby85]

Thank you for sharing her story. I love seeing how different people live, especially those who aren't rich and don't engage in hustle culture. Also refreshing to see someone who is disabled and seehow they navigate life in a world that isn't designed for them. Most ppl have no idea that disabled ppl must remain below a certain income to receive crucial benefits.

[@MsMaureen1975]

I had a legally blind co-worker who went from part-time to full-time and lost most of her disability related benefits, even though she still had a relatively low salary. She tried to better herself and ended up losing. It's a bad system.

[@oco987]

This is a really important story. Thanks for sharing

[@thearaitjusticeshow6303]

I appreciate her resiliency but... What happened to the money she got from selling her house in New York? Also why not just rent the house out? In New York she could have had tenants in there paying 4K-7K a month during her college years. I hate the situation that she is in but it seems like it was avoidable.

[@clairesweet1]

Honestly, nothing makes sense in this video. Renting is a great idea and if not, selling her house in New York she could have paid off all or most of her student loan debt and be able to get out of HAVING to live under the poverty line.

[@BlairCadetabc]

Interesting story. Though I'm curious what does her husband do for work? Why is he only working part time? It appears the burden is on her to support the family....I find it peculiar that her spouse is not going the extra mile to not bring extra income so they don't have to be on SNAP... In addition, it's great she wants to be a public defender but spending a few years working in corporate can give her family the financial means to live a better life, then afterwards return to being a public defender.

[@dragonlover2085]

Tiara is a strong, intelligent and very beautiful young woman. She never let distruct herself and this leads her to success. She is a role model in my opinion.

[@normalgirlcvco]

I didn't understand certain things. She had 2 millions and bought an apartment in a fancy building but at the same time she paid rent two months in advance? Also, she had a house in New York that she sold but couldnt buy a house in California yet?

[@Erin-rg3dw]

I think the timeline got a little messed up - I think she bought the house in NY at 17, and then moved to CA where she rented the nice apartment. Then it was there that she found out about the money disappearing. After the money was gone, they sold the NY last house last year.

[@FaithandNova]

@@Erin-rg3dwso where's the house money? That part of the story isn't adding up

[@Erin-rg3dw]

@@FaithandNova Not sure. I'd presume she would have made money in the sale, but it's possible she lost money or just broke even after fees, taxes, etc.

[@MichaelRosenzweig-cr6xr]

CNBC has really been making excellent mini documentaries lately, from all kinds of topics, and this is a really wonderful video as well. I wish her the very best for her and her family. Long Beach really is an excellent place to live as well.

[@leklekjasmine416]

Im so sorry but a whole abled bodied man who cant get a car??? She has such a hustlers spirit!!! Why not him

[@TheAlfredPlatform]

Thank you for showing these stories! We really need to hear these!!!

[@michaeledwards8609]

Nice work CNBC Make It for finding a truly inspirational person and making a great video!

[@MovieJustin]

Wonderful piece. I left Long Beach for Dallas in 2018 and its been a great decision. Peace and blessings Tiara. Something tells me things are going to change.

[@Gabriela.H]

My heart goes out to this woman but I wish she would get a mentor or financial advisor. She has made some terrible decisions and the first one was moving from one expensive city to another. Secondly, she has 4 college degrees and chooses to remain poor due to a loan she could easily just pay the minimum on for 10 years and then get it dismissed? She could be making bank as a lawyer right now. Not to mention trusting the family member with 2.5 mil. Rule #1 about finances, do not trust family or friends with handling large amounts of money like that (unless they are a financial professional) but even then, just no. Seek counsel from a credible financial professional and store your money away. This is what happens when people are not financially literate or leverage their potential. Sis if you’re reading this, please do not raise your child in poverty when you dont need to! Break the cycle! Get you a nice paying job, move to a cheaper city with no state taxes, and when that loan hits, just pay the monthly minimum. Use some of the rest of your income to invest. Seek out a mentor and teach your son valuable money lessons and break that generational curse of poverty. ❤

[@Jazzyjayyy]

Oh shut up becky….

[@Gabriela.H]

@@Jazzyjayyy becky? 😂 girl Im DOMINICAN. Please go somewhere else with your ignorance. My mother was an immigrant single mother who didnt even speak English and I grew up in poverty myself. So YES, when I see another person of color staying in the poverty mindset, I will ALWAYS encourage them to do better. Your mentality is a prime example as to why people remain stuck instead of growing.

[@jynaemiller1170]

#GoodAdvice👏👏👏

[@rickyayy]

Amen

[@yvonnea2915]

Very good points ! Move to NY to California? Not smart at all smh. It seems like she's comfortable being stuck. So many excuses. No hussle at all. Then she marries a man without no ambition to want to be better not for just them but their child.

[@LA-cm9ly]

What a lovely person. I do hope she makes it big. God bless her.

[@thrawn-ys9hf]

lady admits to only working 12 hours per week. . .doesn't want to work in "big law" where she admits the money is. . . so it is not factual to say she is stuck in poverty, she is actively choosing to stay there. . .

[@anyhootyepo654]

It does bother me that her money was taken! I wish that there were ways to seek justice for what was prematurely taken from her. I wish you and your family the very best! God bless in your endeavors to become a public defender. Your honesty is above board.

[@Muslimvegan2010]

Considering she a lawyer I thought she would have gotten justice for that situation.

[@Kay-12345]

You are a true blessing! I needed to see your story. Wishing you the best for your future in law. Your determination was inspiring to me 🙏❤️

[@MsCleo-nl6de]

What a story! I love her attitude; truly inspiring!

[@javianjohnson8746]

Very transparent and real story from this woman. Hope the best for her and her family

[@kimberlymbutler]

Thank you for sharing this story. Best wishes to Tiara and her family, and for her law career goals. That Loans Inspection Period is a tough one. I really appreciated the insights into people's lives that I gained from this video.

[@friedrice4015]

How long is the inspection period?

[@MarcelandrieW]

Wow this was so inspiring. I love how passionate she is about serving her community and I feel like she's going to make a huge impact on her client's lives in the future.

[@mike48084]

Not really. How is being financially irresponsible inspiring?

[@guyfawkes9252]

Corrigan id hate for you or any of your family to receive the fate and endure the same adversities. When you speak negatively of others it comes back to bite.

[@mike48084]

@@guyfawkes9252 not speaking negatively of her. I just don’t find anything she is doing inspiring at least from a financial sense, which is the whole point of these videos

[@1717Morris]

Best Video on this Channel, thank you Tiara for sharing your story

[@17napps38]

$806 on food? And they're talking about budgeting? Get outta here lol

[@lauriedettelback1179]

I love this story! I am also in a wheelchair and I worked for many years doing estate planning law so I know things can happen! I have faced prejudices in court rooms and in work rooms and everywhere else you can possibly think of when you are employed. I also faced problems every day with stores and other things that are not accessible easily to me but you make do and you push through. Much luck and love to this young lady and build your associations. I live down in Huntington Beach not too far from you and a bunch of us in chairs get together down here playing cards, etc. at my house! We share our stories and it’s great to hear what other people are doing when facing some of the same things I am facing.

[@cjo4210]

Her ABLE BODIED husband works part-time? He cant get a full time job? Smh

[@biscaynesupercars]

I really want to know if that money was gone due to bad investments or was it straight up stolen or squandered by her family member

[@lucerocastaneda9497]

I mean, it kinda sounds like she did spend 400k on her degree

[@ClarisNdoroRealEstate]

She spends $400k on the degree that she doesn't use. 😯

[@rashidamichelle]

@@ClarisNdoroRealEstate sounds like you need to re-watch the video. She didn't say that

[@biscaynesupercars]

@@ClarisNdoroRealEstate doubt she spent that much and even if she did I believe she said it was 2.5 million so there would still be over 2 million left

[@rsimmons1980]

A family member probably squandered. She seems bad with money. You don't just lose $2.5 million and not know how you lost it. Then she racks up $400,000 in educational debt. I have a law degree and it did not come close to $400k even taking undergraduate loans in consideration.

[@WWEFANSCONNECT]

Thank you for sharing your story😊

[@jewelsjkm]

She seems like such a sweet person. Praying she gets her success and financial stability. ❤

[@myimperfectdiary890]

I love her honesty and realness. This more real life for maybe most of us

[@carlosdeleon6472]

Her story is so admirable! It’s makes no scenes how her students loans were forgiven under the conditions of her staying in poverty, while trying to better her life. She’s pretty much being forced into poverty despite her disabilities and trying to better her life.

[@tracycaldwell1736]

Loved the transparency of her story. Maybe now some will stop saying those of us on lower incomes aren't managing our money well or that we need to stop drinking Starbucks every day. Starbucks is a rarity for me. It's deeper than just telling folks to save money, when things cost so much.

[@ceustis2004]

Right? Some people will never get it, though. When I was struggling, I didn't drink coffee, never went to movies or on vacation, cooked ALL of my food at home, and trimmed out every cost apart from rent, gas and utilities, and food (sometimes taking instant ramen from the break room at work so I could eat on the weekend). I had barely $25 left over at the end of the month. You can't save when the cost of the basics eats everything. There's no way to cut out avocado toast when you can't afford avocados in the first place.

[@CarlosG2288]

She got 2.5 million dollars AND still racked up $400,000 in student debt. Pretty sure she mismanaged that money or allowed someone else to mismanage it.

[@holdupnow2326]

​@@CarlosG2288 she said a family member said the settlement was gone. If I'm being raised by the state I would never trust my family members.

[@cmac3764]

I’m so hurt for her, that a large portion of the settlement wasn’t put in a trust given her age plus disabilities.

[@General8675]

@@CarlosG2288 That is the truth here, She never was taught/learned that she could have a reasonable standard of living and that she needed to control her spending. 2.5 mil seems like a crazy amount of money, but it really isn't if you are trying to make it stretch over a lifetime. You can live a comfortable middle class life, but a really nice one in long beach? while getting every degree under the sun? sorry, it ain't gonna happen.

[@smellybut33]

This was a very interesting story, it's nice to see different people represented on this channel. I wish her luck in her future endeavors

[@porter29]

Video title is misleading, c'mon homegirl won a 2 million lawsuit plus she's got a husband plus she had a house in New York, am i suppose to feel bad for her ?

[@RK-fx4sv]

Amazing story! Thanks for sharing

[@peni1641]

LOL, Tiara is running game yet everyone is looking at her like 'oh poor disabled woman'. She moved to Ca from NY for better soical benefits. Because of ther disablity she get disability pay & food stamps & metro card. B/c she chooses to stay at 26,000/yr she also gets Section 8 housing and she get loan forgiviness. She is trying to get ppl to pitty her even after she sold her house in NY. Tiara has the money from this sale to live well, but she'll lose her all of her benefits.

[@monbx90x]

OMG, $2.5 million in the S&P500 for 39 years with a compounded yearly return of 5% & no other deposits would be over $15+ million today.

[@rickyayy]

She would have been set for generations

[@monbx90x]

Literally generations and it would've kept compounding.

[@joyaustin6581]

A cds would have even been a safe bet. They were paying 5-9% back then

[@CharmingAthens]

After watching this the title is misleading. She is making 26k a year but also pulling SNAP, disability and had 400k in student debt wiped out and sold a house. She can't use the degrees because she will have to pay back her student loan. In a nutshell she will live off the system the rest of her life.

[@dfkgjdflkg]

I am impressed with her attitude and perseverance. An example for all of us

[@leok7193]

I don't need an example on how to get by working 50 hours a month after blowing through almost 3 million of money I never worked for. Pretty easy to figure that out on your own.

[@fancyflower3298]

Something about her story doesn't add up. What happened to the home she sold in NYC? Why owe student debt when you had your settlement money? You're family is struggling but you refuse to take on work that would help them out of poverty? Am I missing something?

[@lunab.1136]

As a woman of color living with cerebral palsy that also emancipated from the foster care system even though I’m not sure that this person had actually been in foster care versus a group home situation this story really Gives me such a sensation of shared marginality in regards to disability

[@tysone1254]

2.5 million could have invested in a fixed income asset and never have to work a day in her life but instead she trusted someone else with the money what a shame.

[@msf8297]

So what do you want her to do with this information?

[@tysone1254]

@@msf8297 with what information?

[@ejgonzal13]

I love seeing the shots of Long Beach! Love this city!!

[@akasurvivor]

Hi, my CNR sister! It's so good to see you. You look great! I enjoyed your story. Keep working hard. God will continue to bless you

[@saulgoodman2018]

She's making 22k. So he's only making 4k. So basically he's making no money. It cost almost the same in Uber, as he is making. This guy needs to man up, and get another job.

[@xbi4147]

I guess they will need to pay the 400k debt in that case.🤣Why bother to work if you can make 400k by staying at home and taking care of the family.

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@xbi4147 In the long run, she will make more.

[@uniworkhorse]

I really admire her pragmatism and resolve. You can hear tinges of pain in her voice but also determination when she talks about not being able to save money. The whole debt forgiveness stopping her from being able to make more income is so heartbreaking... It must be difficult with transit not being very comprehensive in Socal as opposed to other corridors - really hope to see improvements to the system down there so that people don't have to worry about how they're going to get to work without paying for a car!

[@katharinelandry6902]

Thanks for sharing God bless you and your family take care

[@bobbyleeswagger8421]

I know that she's disabled but working only 50 hours per month? I don't know exactly her situation but that seems low. I make $25 an hour and on average works 45 hours per week, 10 hours of OT every bi-weekly to live comfortably and still pay $1,000 a month for child support for one kid.

[@BT2thaR18]

Fellow Long Beacher. Heart goes out to her

[@puddincup9879]

She’s amazing. I wish her husband matched her energy. Sorry, I had to call it.

[@biggerthanhiphop7641]

They didn't interview her husband ..u must be miserable

[@saleemahfareed4790]

Tiara thank you for sharing story God bless you and your family and friends 💜😊🙏🏾

[@lourdesassal6441]

Bless her. She is so positive with all the difficulties she has. A lesson for us all.

[@asecmimosas4536]

I get that the weather in CA is good but there are other places where it doesn't snow and rent doesn't cost 1540 a month for a 1bdr apt...

[@ScreamTatumRiley]

Where?

[@asecmimosas4536]

@@ScreamTatumRiley haha is this serious? I cant tell. Like 50% of the country never sees snow.

[@imjustsayin34]

@@ScreamTatumRiley texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia etc….

[@dwichiesa]

$2.5 million gone due to bad investment is crazy. Someone gotta be liable for that. Even taking a conservative 4% yield with little to no risk, you would have had a comfortable $100K income per year doing nothing

[@loveandjoy810]

Oh no. She bought the lie of being the noble poor. I wouldn’t be satisfied living on the edge like this. I would work for that big firms to get myself comfortable and THEN donate time and energy helping people who couldn’t afford a lawyer. You have to put on your own oxygen mask first. For real.

[@goraidersndodgers]

You think she should ruin poor people's lives as a corporate lawyer, then help poor people after? What exactly do you think corporate lawyers do? Nothing wrong with her having morals.

[@tiaralanice8633]

Big Law won't hire me. I tried.

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@tiaralanice8633 Need more experience. Start with little firms first. I would hire you. But they took all my money. And I'm in jail.

[@loveandjoy810]

@@tiaralanice8633 I’m sorry about that. I guess I thought that you hadn’t applied for the big firms. In that case start where you are and do what you can with what you have.

[@BlackWarriorsFA]

Question: how long is the inspection period during which she needs to be at or below the poverty line regarding income/year?

[@Dilettanteworks]

3 Years, and the financial inspection period was waived during the COVID 19 pandemic.

[@NicksDynasty]

Thank you for sharing this story

[@iriemo721]

Great attitude. Inspiring woman. May she get back what she gives out to the world.

[@ShawneeTalksMoney]

Very inspiring! Focus on your mission Tiara. Things are always working out for us. Your story is proof that the only limitations we have are the ones we give ourselves.

[@G00dlife00]

You can almost feel her positivity and strength through the video. Props to her!

[@sbostic08]

I dont understand why she had to emphasize that disabled doesn't mean lazy. Normal sane people don't assume that. Furthermore, how much money did she make off the sale of the home in NY and what did she do with it? It sucks that she lost her settlement money to a bad investment????? ( I wonder if the family member took off with the funds 🤔). I also don't get her moving to California (very expensive)besides weather . There are plenty of other cities she could've moved to where the cost of living would've been cheaper. AND how much is her husband making?????????????? Is she saying that together they only make 26G's a year. If so, her man needs to increase his skill level for a better paying job b/c that's embarrassing 😳. This story is a bit off in my opinion. A lot of bad decisions.

[@bobbymatousek]

Might be easier if her husband worked a full time job…

[@anyhootyepo654]

Much respect for you!

[@LinzyLinz7]

Girl you have so much potential to change your circumstances!!! Consider this: Use your lawyer degree to get a six figure lawyer job and make bank for a few years so u can: 1. Pay pack the loans. ($400k is scary but is doable on a lawyer salary!) 2. Bring your family out of poverty And then after the loans are paid off, go for the public defender job! Don't let the govt keep u in poverty limbo in California of all places! You can do this and still get your dream job! It may take a little longer but it will be WORTH IT ♥️

[@rsimmons1980]

$400,00 is only doable if she lands a big law job paying $200,000, which she said she does not want to do. Otherwise she would have to work for the government for 10 years and have her loans foregiven.

[@LinzyLinz7]

@@rsimmons1980 I know! That's why I said to consider it. We all have to do things we don't want to do sometimes to dig ourselves out of the hole or mess we're in. She can continue to ride out the 10 years, but if it's an overwhelming burden for her staying in those circumstances she's in for her family than again I would urge her to reconsider her stance. But hey, if she's ok and doesn't feel overwhelmed by it than by all means sure, ride out those 10 years.

[@misjuiceefroot]

I am lawyer. I graduated with honors and passed the CA bar on my first try. If you don’t come from a top tier or Ivy League school or have family or friends in high places, you don’t get 6 figure offers. It’s a lot of work and sometimes decades before you actually reap the reward. It’s wonderful that you are encouraging her and offering her advice but those in the legal community know that it’s easier said than done.

[@rsimmons1980]

@@misjuiceefroot This is totally untrue. You might need top grades and top 50 school to land big law or top 10 school to land big law NYC, but you can make $100,000 3 years out of law school. There is insurance defense, government, and other opportunities.

[@misjuiceefroot]

@@rsimmons1980 No, it’s not “totally untrue.” I experienced it myself. Top of my class, honored at graduation, full ride scholarship for 2/3 years in school, internships and externships with LADA office, deans fellow, witkin awarded, President of an org on campus, passed the bar on my first try…. it was very hard to find legal employment for me. And even if she does, the cost of living exceeds 100k in CA easily…especially if you have children. To add student loans, which don’t account for living expenses when determining your monthly repayment, is extremely burdensome. So, maybe that wasn’t your experience. Congratulations. But, you can’t discount or deny my experience and the experiences of many other lawyers I know.

[@selfridgesforever4399]

Respect to her for trying to make it! Gives me inspiration to go for it career wise. Although I feel awful that she lost all the money she had! I’m surprised no one put a financial advisor in place to protect it. As someone whose dealt with financial abuse from a parent I feel for her, that money should be helping her now!

[@oldtwinsna8347]

From my understanding, the court did just that but when she turned 18 it was her money to spend and nobody had any right to dictate how she would be able to use it.

[@lifewithPam]

I will pray for this amazing woman. God bless this woman and her family.

[@richardturner1063]

You go Girl, I hope everything works out for you and your family. Stay strong and move forward.

[@michelewilliams2920]

So many red flags in this story but I’m just going to keep quiet

[@constancelequesne601]

Right?

[@ogo316]

@@markthorntonsailsthroughli4976 if the system for taking on personal debts for colleges is unfair and rigged by financial institutions, then how is she gaming it? and who are these usual suspects you mention of?

[@drewskiv686]

How is she gaming the system? I don’t see her living in the lap of luxury unless I’m missing something

[@markthorntonsailsthroughli4976]

@@drewskiv686 why does she deserve luxury, she said she has to keep her income below poverty level to erase the 400k student loans

[@markthorntonsailsthroughli4976]

@@ogo316 did she even pass the bar exam