Siege’s guidance mirrors Dave Ramsey’s baby steps, with a few small tweaks designed to increase financial flexibility as quickly as possible.

1. 1. 1. 1. Buy food and pay rent. Do everything you can to support yourself and your family’s basic needs.
         2. Create a budget (we like using Monarch), including only the basic expenses so that your take-home income matches or exceeds your housing/food/transportation costs.
         3. Build up to 2 months of living expenses in a liquid checking account.
         4. Invest up to your employer’s retirement plan match.
         5. Pay off all debt >7% APR (except the house) using the debt snowball.
         6. Save 6-12 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund. This should be in a high-yield checking/saving account.
         7. Save for a house down payment.
         8. Buy your first house hack, repeat as often as feasible.
         9. Evaluate paying off all debt (besides your mortgage) 5-7% APR from highest to lowest interest rate (we like to invest instead of paying down debt <5% APR).
         10. Invest in businesses where prudent.
         11. Pay off your mortgage
         12. Build wealth and give (to your children’s future education fund, if desired).