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Oct 10, 2024
My Journey: From $60K Debt to $10M AUM
When I moved to the U.S. in 2016, I had $2,000 to my name and $60,000 in student loans looming over me. My goal was to launch my startup, but my financial reality hit hard. Today, KakarX has over $10M in Assets Under Management (AUM), and my other venture, Granimals, brings in $3M in ARR. The road was anything but smooth, but it was not impossible & here’s how I made it happen.
Below are three strategies that helped me save money, survive, and eventually succeed as an immigrant entrepreneur.
👉Maximize Earnings as a Student
Coming from a middle-class family, my parents' message was loud and clear: the $2,000 they gave me was all I’d get. That money had to cover my bedding, groceries, rent, and security deposit. It did not take long to realize that my $9.75/hour campus job wouldn’t sustain me.
So, I got resourceful. I networked and refused to accept a low-paying job as my only option. In just one semester, I moved from a $9.75 dining hall gig to a $20/hour office job! Then, I found a niche role as an academic performance specialist for athletes, which let me set my hours.
The result?
I saved $600-$700 a month.
I bought a car.
I had the freedom to prioritize my education and entrepreneurial pursuits.
This wasn’t just about surviving but creating opportunities aligned with my long-term vision.
👉Lived Like a Student Even After Graduation
My first job after college paid $67K, but it was in New York City, one of the most expensive places in the world to live in. While my friends moved to fancy neighborhoods like the East/West Village, I opted for Bushwick, Brooklyn. I rented a 3-bedroom apartment, furnished it myself, and sub-leased the other rooms at a 40% premium.
But why? Because a ready-to-move-in apartment in NYC is a hot commodity!
My rent? $600 a month for three years.
This strategy allowed me to clear my student loans in just 18 months. I didn’t blow cash on luxury restaurants, parties, clubs, or fancy gym memberships. My focus was always on the bigger picture.
👉Stayed Cash Poor
Even now, at 31, I am cash-poor. Since 2018, every dollar that hits my account has been redirected to my investments or savings.
Again, why? Because, as I’ve learned, if you keep cash on hand, you’ll spend it. That’s a rule.
My mantra has been that social norms are just noise. Complaints like “I don’t have time,” “I don’t have money,” or “I don’t have resources,” etc. are just excuses that will only hold you back. I didn’t move to the U.S. to party. I went there to build wealth and make a name for myself. Anything that didn’t align with my priorities was a waste of time. For more on how prioritizing your goals can transform your approach to life & boost your productivity, check out The Most Effective Morning Routine to Boost Your Productivity.
Key Takeaway:
I grew up in a family that had seen tough times. By the time I left for college, we were barely middle-class.
My granddad passed away in his 40s.
My grandma worked as a clerk in the Air Force for just $50/month.
My mom was a government pharmacist, serving in rural dispensaries.
My dad worked 12-14 hours a day, six days a week, without job security, pension, or medical benefits.
One principle was embedded in my brother from the beginning: no matter how deep the hole, the only thing that matters is what you’re doing to climb out. This mantra has carried me through every challenge in life.
In 30 years, I’ve had three major surgeries, lost my in-laws in just two weeks, & and lost two of my closest childhood friends; one to an accident, another to suicide. The mantra remains unchanged for me: What are you doing about it?
You Will Have the Life You Intend to Build. Period.
Being an immigrant or feeling overwhelmed doesn’t define you. Your choices define you. The life you want is possible if you’re willing to make the sacrifices now for the rewards later. Learn how to save money, invest smartly, and make intentional choices. Your circumstances do not confine you; you’re only defined by how you respond to them.
Your dream isn’t just a possibility. It is a certainty if you commit to making it happen. Success doesn’t start with a check; it begins with an intention. So, ask yourself loud & clear, “What am I doing about it?” The answer will shape your future.
If you found this helpful, dive deeper into finding your passion with the 3 Phase Approach to Discover Your Passion.
