Living On $47K A Year In Kailua, Hawaii | Millennial Money

JD Wilson, 38, is a third grade teacher making $47,000 a year at St. Anthony's School in Kailua, Hawaii. After his events company, Lead U, was halted due to Covid, JD decided to fall back on his teaching certificate and head to Hawaii for a teaching job. In a span of 72 hours, he got the job, rented out his apartment in New Jersey, packed a bag and moved to the island.
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 Lead U's Instagram: / lead_u_
Read more about about JD's budget breakdown here: cnb.cx/3nEVGa0
At the start of 2020, JD Wilson was earning around $75,000 a year operating his “dream” business, an events company called Lead U that hosts empowerment workshops at schools across the country.
The idea for the company sprang to mind in 2016, when Wilson was a teacher in New Jersey watching the Dribbler, a former Harlem Globetrotter, perform at an assembly for his fourth grade students. Why stick to teaching math when he could craft experiences that would teach students life lessons they would remember for years to come? Wilson thought.
He resigned from his teaching job at the end of the school year, and from 2016 to 2020, Wilson built Lead U, reveling in the energy and enthusiasm of the students he visited and empowering them to “find the leader within.” Life was good: The company was pre-booked throughout 2020 and Wilson was traveling to Canada and England to host assemblies and workshops. He felt fulfilled helping kids gain confidence.
“The money started coming in, and I loved what I was doing,” Wilson says. “I felt like I was really, really making an impact on the kids.”
Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and Lead U lost all of its business since the company relied on in-person workshops and presentations. Like millions of others in the U.S. and across the world, Wilson’s life changed seemingly overnight.
Having lost his mother a few months earlier, and now his business, by mid-March Wilson was at his “lowest point” in years, he says. He knew he needed a change of scenery.
With a teaching degree and experience to fall back on, he began applying to schools in Hawaii, where teachers are often in high demand. In such high demand, in fact, that Wilson was offered a job teaching third grade when he cold-called a school - if he could start in three days.
Wilson packed a single bag, had a goodbye luau with his family and moved to Kailua, in Oahu, Hawaii, in July of 2020. Hawaii is significantly more expensive than New Jersey, he says, and he’s making $47,000 per year, about half as much as he used to.
But despite the drop in income, he loves the island and its energy. When he first moved, he says he was shocked that people in the community who didn’t know him took time to drop off food during his two-week quarantine. It’s helped him gain perspective on how he really wants to live his life and treat others.
“I’m learning from the culture out here. I’m learning from the people. I’m learning from my colleagues,” he says.
Still learning and growing
Wilson says he has a lot to learn, both in life and when it comes to his money.
He took a circuitous route to entrepreneurship. After graduating from high school in 2001, he attended East Stroudsburg University, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in history and around $70,000 in student loan debt.
“It’s not the greatest thing to get after five years of schooling,” Wilson admits of his degree, noting it was difficult to find a job. From there, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to Iraq. He remained in the military until 2010.
The military “humbled me and made me realize you have to do what you want to do in life,” he says. That’s when he decided to get his post-baccalaureate in teaching at Caldwell University, which the military paid for.
Looking back, Wilson says he has made some mistakes. Perhaps the biggest was taking out so many student loans, he says. While the military paid off around $25,000, he still has around $40,000 left and pays $586 a month (he has continued to pay them each month, despite the Covid-related pause on federal student loan payments).
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Living On $47K A Year In Kailua, Hawaii | 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/32TYZ2K​​

[@j.gonzaloaguilar7541]

Love 💕Touch and hold a clip to pin it. Unpinned clips will be deleted after 1 hour.

[@eugeneatkins8928]

AA 0:00 @Q AAAP P+

[@eugeneatkins8928]

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[@eugeneatkins8928]

@Lionel Shepard questionquickly A zzz@097

[@kanakamokunui1039]

This is how Hawaiians get priced out of paradise, READ THIS! TRUTH WHATS HAPPENING I CAN SPEAK FIRST HAND..1)Billionaires form cliques that consist of computer tech giants to Oil moguls. They pay off State to land developers to push shady deals. 2)they build White lotus 5 diamond resorts and hire realtors to buy homes in districts closed to the resort. 3)They post high end position/paying jobs overseas and stack multiple overseas workers in homes to save money over months to years. 4)Management in these white lotus 5 diamond resorts will team up with overseas people who move here looking for work.Form cliques of everyone not from Hawaii then in a team effort They get You fired with lies and twisted half truths. 5)Now You work 2 dead end jobs,where as in a tipping category You bank! I’ve made 30 bucks in a day to $2,200 in one night! Hawaiians won’t survive landscaping at $16.50 an hour.They end up foreclosure THIER homes and these managers that stacked up in the homes the resort bought to house them..BUYS YOURS! 6)Thus,pushing Hawaiians to Vegas where it’s cheaper But who works the hotels in Vegas?? A lot of Hawaiians do so Why are they not working home? THIS IS WHY!!! PRICED OUT OF PARADISE BY RESORTS AND ITS OVERSEAS WORKERS.

[@shanisafan]

Two things: Thanks for featuring OLDER millennials and middle range income earners. Please do more of these kinds of features. Not every Millennial is on the younger side and we are not all clearing 100k a year.

[@afr0flava]

Amen

[@StayPuft209]

So true

[@holdencawffle626]

i am. youre just a hater

[@mmmbaaby]

AGREED!

[@hdao.filmss]

amen brother

[@Casheverytime]

Everyone else on here brags about their money situation and this dude is out here being real with it. Props

[@sincerelysandi]

You are right!

[@LL-iu6wc]

Not sure why stating their higher salary is bragging when they’re stating a fact

[@juminrhee4255]

Only??? Need some major reforms and increase in housing supply. My rent is $500 per month in Texas

[@juminrhee4255]

Wondering why hawaiian schools don't have housing provided for free or even a nominally fee (under $300) as housing is so expensive compared to salary. It's run directly by the state and the democrats have run the state for years if not decades (not to be political, but they are traditionally the party of workers rather than corporations and rich, supposedly). Fix this and watch people want to enter the teaching field and end the shortage.

[@juliorivera27]

So I served in the USAF with Wilson and he is literally one of if not the coolest guy ever. Very kind hearted and very genuine. Funny as all get out and just a really awesome person to be around. He just always had this very positive vibe about him. Dude was an absolute beast too. He would run like 15 miles or some ridiculous amount after a day of training just for fun lol. Miss you brother. Hope all is well. -Rivera

[@JBrooks0043]

Wholesome content right here

[@samhart42]

Aim High!

[@juliorivera27]

@@socorrofeliciano3391 I appreciate it. Thank you for your support

[@JJ-yu6og]

Thank you for posting!!😀 His genuineness absolutely comes through!😊 You're cool to post that about him, too!

[@juliorivera27]

@@JJ-yu6og absolutely. Nothing negative to say about Wilson. Dude is an all around stand up fella.

[@jrtrading3306]

I had Mr. Wilson my 5th grade year in his first year teaching ever. I'm now graduating high school, and I can still say with certainly he was the best teacher, man, and inspiration I've ever ran into through the school system. I'm thankful he's well and only wish the best for him.

[@iamme50]

Thats awesome! He seems like a great person. Thanks for sharing.

[@alexsmith9915]

it's nice to know as one of his students, your experience matches the image he's shared with us all. he seems like a genuinely good guy.

[@kiersten51]

JD was a regular customer at a coffee shop I worked out. Hands down one of the friendliest, most positive people I have met!

[@tkp97]

He seems nice but the eating budget is too much

[@kingkylie9655]

@@tkp97 he is a grown man he needs to eat haha!

[@denise_abe]

Meal prepping and cooking really does help save money. Buy things in bulk and cook for lunches and dinners. Eating out costs so much.

[@jaysoncasper6889]

W•H•A•T•S••A••P••P••• +..1..7..1..7..9..3..4..1..2..3..9 I•N•V•E•S•T••IN••BTC••C•R•Y.•P•T•O•C•U•R•R•E•N•C•Y..

[@evakeeslar1766]

@@EZ435 he’s not. They discuss where he works in the video. We don’t have DoD schools in Hawaii anyway, those exist on foreign military bases.

[@juminrhee4255]

And DOD would have cost of living allowance so he could actually thrive and not just survive.

[@juminrhee4255]

Instead of side hustles and gigs, how about we unite and demand a decent pay where only one person in the family can support a family of 4 on one income? Don't let the corporate overlords off easily. Wondering why hawaiian schools don't have housing provided for free or even a nominally fee (under $300) as housing is so expensive compared to salary. It's run directly by the state and the democrats have run the state for years if not decades (not to be political, but they are traditionally the party of workers rather than corporations and rich, supposedly). Fix this and watch people want to enter the teaching field and end the shortage. If you include housing costs into the salary, which should only be 30% of income or less and food which should be 5% of income or less, the appropriate minimum wage should be $48 per hour ($80,000 salary) in Hawaii.

[@ryanhawaiian9671]

Firstly, props to JD for being so transparent with both his financial situation and the lessons he’s learned along the way. You can tell this guy has the heart of a teacher. I believe many others will be able to watch this and empathize with what he’s going through, especially in enduring the challenges with his company. Mahalo JD, and best of luck 🤙🏼

[@NatePolmateer]

So true!

[@JJ-yu6og]

100% ! This is one of the best videos in this series!!! 😀

[@juminrhee4255]

Wondering why hawaiian schools don't have housing provided for free or even a nominally fee (under $300) as housing is so expensive compared to salary. It's run directly by the state and the democrats have run the state for years if not decades (not to be political, but they are traditionally the party of workers rather than corporations and rich, supposedly). Fix this and watch people want to enter the teaching field and end the shortage.

[@ryanhawaiian9671]

@@juminrhee4255 that's a great idea. Some private schools provide affordable housing or subsidize completely to help incentivize teachers. However this is few and far between. If we don't have quality people teaching our keiki and wanting to come into this career, our future doesn't look so good.

[@lindawang5649]

When he said he was the king of uber eats, right after he said he didn't make enough money at his teaching job, I assumed he was delivering uber eats, not spending 300 dollars a month ordering from it.

[@Neil542]

I also assumed this

[@harnessmoney]

Sounds to me like that should be his side hustle right there. And he has a car on the island!

[@brittanywalker8951]

I thought the same thing.

[@MsOverachiever9513]

I honestly didn't realize that until I read your comment. LOL

[@crystallampkin4033]

$300 dollars a month on uber eats in Hawaii is only 10 meals if you have it delivered.

[@damondominique]

and he seems more fulfilled than people making twice his salary

[@sarapalfy5641]

I love that your comments are everywhere!

[@user-fu6cw9or9h]

He also can’t afford a wedding or child so he has no family, no plan or path to home ownership, and no retirement savings at all. He’s 40. I hope he has fun being “fulfilled” for a few more years before his back aches and his knees don’t bend the same. Then he’ll be doomed to 30 years of a hard life with no family.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

@@user-fu6cw9or9h he has a plan - his business just took a detour due to the pandemic. and maybe he doesn't want a family or a wife or to be a homeowner. not everyone wants a traditional life. that isn't a doom.

[@SJ-qd7hm]

@@user-fu6cw9or9h Geez man, why are you already dooming him to a miserable existence? 😂 He isn’t in the best financial situation but he seems aware and is working on it. 38 isn’t the end of your life- he has time to fix his finances and also pursue his passions. And maybe a wedding, kids, and home ownership aren’t his priorities?

[@user-fu6cw9or9h]

@@SJ-qd7hm I'm not sure he is working on it. His budget doesnt include any meaningful savings and didnt even account for every expense (I saw nothing on things like birthday/christmas gifts or Healthcare). And I find it strange that in a video that overdid the personal expose they didnt mention that he doesnt want a kid/wife/home. I think its reasonable to default to assuming he has "normal" financial goals. At a certain point he isnt just harming himslef but also his future child.

[@evakeeslar1766]

$1650 rent in Kailua is cheap, but still expensive for one person. I used to live next door to a house rented by a bunch of teachers. Most of the younger teachers I had growing up in Hawaii either had multiple roommates or worked 3 jobs to make ends meet.

[@Matt-wj6gy]

Yep, his rent is WAY out of his price range. He needs roommates and fast. He shouldn't be paying more than $700/month for his income level.

[@korrabel]

Thanks for showing us someone that is just starting to improve their financial journey

[@miriamstrauss]

Agreed 💯

[@ninjablack4347]

right? I was getting tired of seeing "I live on 200k a year in a rural area!"

[@juminrhee4255]

Instead of side hustles and gigs, how about we unite and demand a decent pay where only one person in the family can support a family of 4 on one income? Don't let the corporate overlords off easily. Wondering why hawaiian schools don't have housing provided for free or even a nominally fee (under $300) as housing is so expensive compared to salary. It's run directly by the state and the democrats have run the state for years if not decades (not to be political, but they are traditionally the party of workers rather than corporations and rich, supposedly). Fix this and watch people want to enter the teaching field and end the shortage. If you include housing costs into the salary, which should only be 30% of income or less and food which should be 5% of income or less, the appropriate minimum wage should be $48 per hour ($80,000 salary) in Hawaii.

[@ciel222]

SORRY to hear about the passing of his mother , I wish him all the best

[@DaechoongMama]

If you are single in Hawaii this is how to do budget eating. Go to Costco get a 10lb bag of frozen chicken thighs (around $10) and Kirkland meatballs. For the chicken thighs, defrost them the night before, fry it, stew it, there’s a million ways to eat it. Get a rice cooker. For fruit: apples from Costco. They last a long time. Always have rice on hand. Go to farmers market at windward mall for all your veggies. You can eat for $300 maybe less for the whole month as a oppose to a few meals with Uber eats!

[@jaysoncasper6889]

W•H•A•T•S••A••P••P••• +..1..7..1..7..9..3..4..1..2..3..9 I•N•V•E•S•T••IN••BTC••C•R•Y•P•T•O•C•U•R•R•E•N•C•Y..

[@brielleimana1408]

As someone trying to move to Oahu next year I appreciate these tips!

[@j.3854]

This x1000. Or if you do plant based. Rice, lentils. Olive oil. Salt and pepper. Fruit. Easy. Cheap. $300 or less a month.

[@luke8838]

Goes to show you don't need to have it all to still carry a positive attitude with you everyday.

[@DouglasLee9]

I love this! Its REAL. Not another person doing the humble brag. Its also good to learn from everyday people so that we can connect with those and learn from their mistakes.

[@beretaniastreet6384]

And this dude is making a ton of mistakes

[@theexperiment8498]

God bless this guy’s efforts to survive and eventually thrive. May the force be with him.

[@theexperiment8498]

@Yes Yes Yes, she reminds me regularly, "The experiment was a failure...."

[@nicolec4011]

idk if the kitchen with the mini fridge and single cup was bc he’s minimalist or spends $500 on uber eats a month!

[@alr1577]

lol fr. Seems like he eats out all the time.

[@hustlehard4L]

He needs to teach himself how to cook!

[@VijSJAAA13]

Exactly, could save so much more if he starts cooking at home.

[@grayonthewater]

He could have a whole set of cups by just washing and reusing take out cups lol

[@daniellevilloria227]

If he’s only spending $650 a month on food on ‘Oahu then he’s definitely not eating out very often

[@khangtruong4515]

In hawaii, teacher are under paid. Living cost is much higher and teacher's pay are lower than most states. Most teacher in hawaii moved away to find better paying jobs in the mainland.

[@DaniMrtini]

Most teachers in the entire country are under paid

[@jacquelinele9170]

@@DaniMrtini Hawaii is definitely at the bottom when it comes to teacher pay vs living expenses though (according to economic lists)

[@rawspace1212]

Working in the public schools system on Maui for 4 years. The turn around rate for a teacher is high. When the kids get used to a teacher's program, the teacher has to leave due to financial stuggle and are filled with temp subs. Ends up being a day care rather than structured teachings for the kids. I had to live in a van to make ends meet.

[@austinselleck9484]

Here in Northwest Arkansas, our teachers average more than this...

[@LifeofKairo]

Teachers are heroes. I just wish that the school system taught us how to ACTUALLY thrive in the world rather than just be an employee.

[@sx3todd]

high school doesn’t even teach financial independence. it’s always liberal art subjects which are great. but yes like you said. i’m not even in education. i’m in business and we were barely taught to be financial independent either

[@Whooshta]

Why would that be the job of the public school system?

[@sx3todd]

@@Whooshta because people go to school hoping to learn and make it in life. but instead they’re taught to be 9-5 wage slaves…

[@raymondcunanan1135]

Very true. Or atleast our parents.

[@harnessmoney]

The school system could def have some type of basic financial education. Debt, Interest, Budgeting. They teach about health, why not money? It affects every human.

[@cheezybred]

He seems like a great guy, im worried he doesnt fully understand the financial mess hes in. Living paycheck to paycheck in hawaii, not tackling his loans and no retirement savings is a big hole. That uber eats money needs to go straight to his loans and he needs to drive uber instead of surfing. The yolo passion stuff needs to wait, Just until he gets out of the mess. Great vid!

[@schwann1826]

Word. Atleast he admitted it, he doesn't earn enough for that much in delivery.

[@ttech4313]

Well he’s putting almost $600 to his loans every month which isnt too bad. It’s just the food and phone bill expenses that are way too high

[@haute03]

I actually had to double back because I thought he said he was making $300 MORE a month *driving* for Uber Eats. Yikes lol.

[@katlennat1680]

Yeah. I agree

[@travel9two557]

100% Agreed. But he has an amazing passion and great personality that will take him far and keep him afloat.

[@Babybaaz]

Lived in Hawaii for 4 years. Great place, great people. Not worth the cost, and it's tough to make a decent wage.

[@jaysoncasper6889]

W•H•A•T•S••A••P••P••• +..1..7..1..7..9..3..4..1..2..3..9 I•N•V•E•S•T••IN••BTC••C•R•Y•P•T•O•C•U•R•R•E•N•C•Y..

[@msthing]

That guy's character *is* his quality of life. On some level, I wish I was as chill and just top worrying about every dollar.

[@miriamstrauss]

Haha good point

[@monica4158]

Looks can be deceiving... I'm sure he's feeling it 😢 Side note: talent show in Iraq 😆😊😊😊

[@sx3todd]

agreed

[@LegolasD]

yeah he has great energy, I wish him a lot of luck. I hope this gives Lead U more recognition

[@ReddingRed]

How is supposed to afford life after he retires if he spends every penny + now? "Chill" in this instance seems more fantasy land than anything else.

[@jeremymcneill8882]

One of the more realistic episodes so far, he has a great story!

[@lavy1513]

JD seems like a good guy. He'll reach all those goals b/c he is focused, has a big heart and his mom is watching over and guiding the way.

[@akirebara]

Graham Stephan will have a field day on his Uber Eats budget.

[@miriamstrauss]

Haha ya

[@ConnieDube]

Honestly while sipping his ice coffee

[@cookwithdrbrooke]

When he said king of uber eats I assumed he DROVE for uber eats to make some side money.

[@jorgepadilla9945]

“Wowwwwwww”

[@akirebara]

@@cookwithdrbrooke Me too! His 600+ food budget made sense after that. My food budget is only $300 and I live in an expensive city.

[@ToddBaldwin]

Thank you for your service, both in the military and in educating the youth.

[@annajones9701]

You are everywhere Todd! Had 6 rentals like you for air BnB but Covid killing me..

[@ohai_mr_e]

Sending you lots of good vibes JD! Thanks for sharing your story in such a powerful and vulnerable way. I hope your workshops pick up soon!

[@kaetmcgee5258]

The cup named “cup” sent me 🤣💀 respect your hustle and dedication to improving your situation with a positive attitude after going thru so much! Air Force vet and teacher is a winning combo!

[@miriamstrauss]

If you’re reading this - in case anyone hasn’t told you yet today - you have the potential to be great, successful, and happy! Keep on going! I believe in you 🙌🏻

[@missdesireindependance5194]

🙌🏻

[@glopez7488]

Thank you 💪

[@C-Thunder]

Thanks, I really needed this! Much appreciated!

[@harnessmoney]

This guy has so much going for him. Veteran, Teacher, Entrepreneur. And he gets to live in Hawaii. He could totally crush it if he just focused on reducing those expenses some and starts investing.

[@oceansky6207]

He's handsome, tall, and white. He can do much better.

[@juliea.hansen8875]

But how do you learn to invest? I've lost so much due to bad advise.

[@harnessmoney]

@@juliea.hansen8875 There are so many resources right here on KZbin. You could also just invest in an index fund like VTI and sit back and relax.

[@juliea.hansen8875]

@@harnessmoney what is VTI?

[@danteamodeo1061]

@@juliea.hansen8875 The ticker (name) for a fund. Look up Boggle Heads

[@alexw322]

So between this and the family from Hilo a couple months ago I hope people get the message that making it in Hawaii is tough!

[@alohaazzie8462]

They won’t, they’ll think they’re something special and exceptional and still end up moving here and complaining about how expensive it is

[@hawaiiansoulrebel]

As someone born and raised here in Hawaii, I can attest to the fact that it just keeps getting more expensive.

[@romelgaspar883]

Making it in Hawaii is very tough, born and raised on Big Island, now living in Oahu. Things get more and more expensive

[@wavyhanzo]

If you have no special skill sets or experience I could see how it could be rough.

[@hawaiiansoulrebel]

@@wavyhanzo Do you live in Hawaii? Are you speaking from experience?

[@sarahadekola]

This is amazing! I just applied for millennial money as there needs to be more representation in Europe! I am based in Dublin, Ireland. Fingers crossed I get accepted.

[@wendy-zarate]

Hey that's awesome hope to see u on here then! :)

[@jess_a_yo]

JD: "I'm bad with money..." Me: it's my time to shine. 😎 until Saturday when I get the notification from Graham

[@missfredmusic3707]

Love it when you feature teachers on Millennial Money. We don’t make a lot but we make a difference and that’s worth more than millions. ❤️

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:

[@4islandbeauty]

Absolutely agree, I have plenty of teachers in my family and the impact you all have on the lives of students is profound, thank you for empowering minds.

[@missfredmusic3707]

@@4islandbeauty That is so kind, thank you!

[@molly139]

He should move in to an apartment with roommates. That way, he would have an equipped kitchen that he can cook in to save money.

[@bettywith2girls]

I'm guessing him and his girlfriend will be moving in together as soon as she gets to Hawaii, where she is moving to.

[@tatianab2049]

Thank you for sharing your story, JD and helping all of us grow and learn! You are doing great

[@NinaThomas]

Now THIS is a CNBC Make It I would love to hear Graham's take on. Housing and living expenses can so easily just eat up an entire budget.

[@TheDanaYiShow]

Really enjoy all these videos, keep it up!

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:::::

[@AvaElizabeth]

I really appreciate his honesty and self-awareness. Thank you for your service JD!

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:::::

[@athletescollective4214]

If you're reading this JD, first of all props for doing what you're doing. Second, an easy way to save a few hundred a month is to literally cook every meal you eat. This doesn't mean eliminating snack here and there or morning coffees, but you can probably save $300 a month by breaking your uber eats habit. I started doing this 3 months ago and literally saved $350 a month on my food bill. The toughest part for me was making my own coffee and breakfast every morning which I never used to do. I would eat out breakfast 4-5 days a week. Breaking that habit is the first step, then I moved to making my own lunch ($10 + a day savings). At first it was a big sacrifice but after a few weeks I got used to it. Yes it did deprive me of some of my favourite foods, but I became a better cook, ate healthier and felt amazing about saving all that money. Hope this helps. Cheers.

[@ShaqDaddyx380]

This guy has a great personality, and with that, I genuinely feel as though he will go far with that. Plus, he's aware of the situation he's in & trying to work on getting himself out of it. I truly wish him the best & I hope he's doing better mentally & emotionally after his mom's passing. Anyway, good luck, man, you got this!

[@patrickallen1760]

Despite the student loan debt, this guy is gonna be fine. His look on life is dope. He's lived a more fulfilling life than most ppl with a bunch of money.

[@Brokeloco]

Very true, but nobody asked the real question. We all know that schools didn’t teach us about money. But here is the real question where is the money and why hasn’t it changed millennials quality of life???

[@WhaddupImJohn]

@@Brokeloco gotta work for it, it aint going to just fall in your lap. When opportunities arise, take them

[@djetton1]

God bless your journey JD! Excited to see how you will succeed in the future.

[@ananyav3395]

WOW! Great episode! Awesome story of the guy:)

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:::::

[@LRB9498]

I love his positive attitude and I hope this was a good wake up call to learn to budget and save money. Hawaii is such an amazing place; so jealous he gets to live there! Also, I just want to make him a bunch of home cooked meals!

[@WeLoveRey]

teachers are literally my favorite! i love this.

[@tristanrodenhauser5267]

This is so more real than some of the other episodes. He is living in paradise and making it work.

[@CrazyWatcher670]

He is living a true dream.

[@kimberly77ish]

He has ONE CUP and sleeps on an air mattress, but spends $350 a month on Uber Eats???. He definetly needs to learn how to budget and manage his money. Dave Ramesy and Suze Orman helped me. Next month I should be finished paying off my Student Loans. I was originally in$55,000 of debt. It's been a journey to discipline myself and pay it off, but I'm glad I did.

[@haute03]

Congrats on finishing up your debt free journey!

[@eaqua56]

Should def take time out to prepare food

[@kimberly77ish]

@@haute03 THANK YOU!! I'm so excited:-)

[@domesticmamaasmr2251]

Inspiring story, this man has given back so much.

[@socaldude83]

Good for him for not letting this bring him down even more than he already was.

[@poupeth1]

I'm rooting for you JD! You seem like a really genuine, cool dude to be around.👍🏽

[@alensufli]

I don’t know why but this video has helped me to get out of depression moments ago.

[@miriamstrauss]

That’s good

[@happinessiallyouneed]

Yay!

[@Brokeloco]

It’s , Hawaii that’s why.. stress just goes on vacation ..

[@jch010]

Hawaii will do that, strongly reccomend

[@jeanetteortiz2220]

I love this episode. its so relatable haha

[@JohnMikaelian]

He should delivering UberEats to pay off those student loans, not ordering.

[@no1no1655]

I agree he should at least do the math on that! Accounting for wear and tear on his vehicle, gas costs, etc, it could be at least stabilizing move.

[@kronikakuma8]

Yee and u should be eating less chubby cheeks..

[@WhaddupImJohn]

Truth. I doordash and make $25+ an hour

[@dasheight203]

One month till I move to Kailua, Oahu! I can’t wait! I’m really excited.

[@vincecastillo4962]

I like these episodes because they are real and relatable. Good work!

[@DavidNassau]

Totally agree!

[@benjithedog]

This guy's doing the right thing building his CV by teaching in Hawaii for a year.

[@JJ-yu6og]

This is one of the best videos in this series!!! 😀 His joy and genuineness come through!!! We need more people like him in the world!! P.S. Please feature "older" millennials!!!

[@luvndrip9703]

Congrats for creating your dream life! Thanks for the video as well - Aloha

[@DavidNassau]

Multiple Sclerosis is no joke. Some treatments may cost $60k+ per year! My dad has been battling MS for ~15 years with no cure in sight.. Great video. Seems like a great guy and I wish him all the best!

[@Tabbylover55]

Your comment resonated with me, and I wish your dad the best quality of life possible. MS is an awful disease, I hope we get to see it eradicated in our life time.

[@DavidNassau]

@@Tabbylover55 you and me both, my friend. Thank you for your response and I wish the best for you & your family as well!

[@makemoneywithsense8476]

I wish they would've spoken more about retirement savings. I understand his teaching job may be new, but military service members are eligible for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and he served for a few years. It sounds like he may have previously liquidated that account.

[@haute03]

I was curious about this as well.

[@alohaazzie8462]

He either liquidated it or never invested in it at all

[@adjoaaa8431]

Great attitude and seems very self aware. Seems like he has made the most out of a number of difficult situations and hasn't let it stop him from moving forward. These types of people are always successful.

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:

[@EAAAA1505]

He has the most beautiful eyes.

[@hotandsour100]

You should date him

[@EAAAA1505]

@@hotandsour100 I would but unfortunately, he is not single. He introduces his girlfriend at the end of the video.

[@hotandsour100]

@@EAAAA1505 I have nicer eyes....and I'm single.....just saying

[@EAAAA1505]

@@hotandsour100 picture? I do want a conservative man though. I want a good family man.

[@AntonChigurh989]

I paid a friend a visit a few weeks ago and he couldn't wait to show me a youtube video showing "the world most expensive house" I was not interested in what I saw at all. Stories like the one above are what I am a lot more interested in.

[@issecret1]

That house is boring anyway

[@mrxyz985]

This guy came to my middle school a couple of times back then. With his company Lead U.

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:

[@raymondcunanan1135]

I love this episode! Wish he can start managing his finances because he deserves better life.

[@swiftassociates]

This dude is super humble and making a difference. Wishing this guy the best of luck.

[@livetosmileandlaugh5368]

Thank you, JD, for being honest and telling your story. Most Americans are struggling with their finances. With the right direction, we can all make it through. :)

[@TonyaS]

I LOVED this episode. I appreciate the honesty and humbleness of this guy and I LOVE what he's doing with his work and really hope it's successful. I'll follow their Instagram and would love to support them somehow. Being good with money is not a linear process. There are highs and lows and ups and downs, and even when you "know better" sometimes it's hard to "do better." What a positive, cool guy who I wish nothing but great vibes and success!

[@vivieni7920]

This guy has such a great attitude and outlook- I love it

[@koreancook]

After 30yrs in NJ I went to HI as well. Life has been a blessing since.

[@jaysoncasper6889]

W•H•A•T•S••A••P••P••• +..1..7..1..7..9..3..4..1..2..3..9 I•N•V•E•S•T••IN••BTC••C•R•Y•P•T•O•C•U•R•R•E•N•C•Y...

[@oco987]

Get a mattress love. You need that. It’s important for your back and neck. I used an air mattress for a long time. It hurts your neck after a while

[@willwin43]

Stop the Uber eats for two months and cook. Save money for a nice mattress. Self accountability is important

[@anakitasmiles3261]

Sleeping on the floor is great in for your back. I've been sleeping on the floor for a while (no mattress just some folded up comforters)

[@ZoeClaire]

Waiting for Graham Stephan's reaction lol

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8::::

[@archergg9226]

I have one cup. His name is cup. Best line ever lol

[@CalebOliver]

This is great! I wish this man well!

[@WICKMANMITCH]

Truly wish him all the best ❤️

[@grayonthewater]

Thank you for your honesty it makes me feel less alone🙌🏽 I feel so stupid by not having it together financially but I’ve been working on it the past couple years and sometimes it’s disheartening to see how far behind I am but I appreciate someone else sharing that they are right there with me. (Although I don’t even have food delivery apps cuz I don’t have a budget to get to go food very much in the first place, so at least I have that 😂)

[@soyou4217]

believe in yourself!! i was in debt way over my head but once i understood finance, i worked on it. and it got a lot better.

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8..

[@ysa7823]

I sincerely hope his company, Lead U, can pick up right where it left off. And I wish him happiness and success 😊

[@thomasron8513]

Hi Mrs Jane is legit and her method works like magic I keep on earning every single week with her new strategy

[@kamiltermil7153]

Wow I' m just shock someone mentioned expert Mrs Jane I thought I' m the only one trading with her

[@kamiltermil7153]

She helped me recover what I lost trying to trade my self

[@jeanne2238]

Thanks for introducing me to Mrs Jane

[@kristen374]

Yes I' m also a living testimony of expert Mrs Jane

[@kristen374]

Mrs Jane is obviously the best, I invested $3,000 and she made profit of $28,000 for me just in 15 days

[@emmanuelardama]

Thank you for your service to our country.

[@jaysoncasper6889]

W•H•A•T•S••A••P••P••• +..1..7..1..7..9..3..4..1..2..3..9 I•N•V•E•S•T••IN••BTC••C•R•Y•P•T•O•C•U•R•R•E•N•C•Y..

[@soysaucetina]

i luv his energy fr

[@pablovint]

I really like these videos way better. They feel more authentic and relatable

[@alley5869]

"Put your passion over your paycheck." This quote can get a little extreme at times and results in a poor quality of life. Maybe people should start finding ways to combine their passion with their pay checks instead.

[@Ladysolitude24]

I am always amazed at how low teacher pay is in some areas.

[@miriamstrauss]

Ya same 😟

[@theendurance]

teachers are generally overpaid

[@Hatsumi1993]

Hawai'i has one of the highest costs of living in the country and teacher pay is some of the lowest in the country.

[@DebraJohnson]

He would have done much better teaching in an urban area on the mainland. He wanted to live the dream in Hawaii.

[@jch010]

@@theendurance Could not disagree more. You are in charge of controlling 20+ kids each day and making sure they learn enough value to become successful citizens of a democratic country. If you are just scraping by and can hardly afford your own life than the motivation to make sure your students succeeds can definetly dwindle and the chain reaction continues. The key to a successful society IS education. If anything they are severly underpaid.

[@hunt4malikah37]

Yooooo super early crew. 2 min upload 👀🤪

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8::::

[@devonforsure260]

Mans has humbled his soul. Good on him

[@aldralee]

Dude needs a mentor! If he can make it through boot camp and multiple tours, he can get control of his spending and better manage his finances. Seems like he’s a late bloomer who will find his way. Hoping that insanely gorgeous girlfriend is a saver and they pave a path to financial abundance and security. 🤞🏼

[@oddsummusic9110]

wishing this guy nothing but the best. so chilled. just going with the flow..

[@JeanneCassidy]

this video was a lot better than the older videos with unrealistic salaries

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:::::

[@Jaysaflame]

Just because we don't make those salaries doesn't mean it's unrealistic. It's literally what someone makes 😂

[@JeanneCassidy]

@@Jaysaflame it's unrealistic because it is statistically not relatable to the majority of the population. it's what someone makes and that doesn't mean that it is realistic. :)

[@lindaakinbusuyi-wilson5957]

This man is honest about not being so responsible with his money, and I appreciate that. I myself have never had a good foundation with money, and now married with a kid on way, I am playing catch up to teach myself all I can about money. Thank you for being honest

[@khill704]

Requesting CNBC do a follow up of these people. Please!!

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8:

[@khill704]

@@kevindavid827 I don’t understand?! 🥲🥲

[@JoshIsOnAMission]

This was refreshing. I'm glad he's happy, hope he achieves what he wants. Let's calm down on those uber eats tho lol

[@Tom_from_Midtown]

This dude is so real - cracked phone screen, and all!

[@RokuX51]

Weird request, but JD if you see this, can you tell me where you buy your shorts. I been shopping for new shorts lately and I like how yours fit lol.

[@no1no1655]

girlfriend moving out should help. A side job for her will make a diff. Lived on Kauai 5 years. Hawaii is expensive, but worth it at some point in one's life for almost everybody!

[@TFlowers]

What a handsome intelligent guy!!!! Thank you for your service.

[@kevindavid827]

I have something real big I would love to introduce you to +:',,1:',,5,,"1"',,8:,,"7,,''2:,,"2:""4':, 6:,,4 :,,:8::::

[@thrillhouse22]

Great story and wish the very best for him.

[@jeffdorris5321]

Nice work ✨🎆🎇