Issue #24: June 2026

Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners:
Charlie Y., Andrew K., another Andrew K., and Mandy R.

Life

We just wrapped up a family road trip through California. We flew into LAX and out of SFO, racking up 994 miles on our rental minivan along the way.

Our route took us from Inglewood through Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, Monterey and Castro Valley, with plenty of quick pitstops mixed in—including Bakersfield, Visalia, Mariposa, Fresno, and Gilroy.

We dedicated a full day to Sequoia National Park. Even though I’ve been before, seeing those ancient giants never gets old. While Coastal Redwoods claim the title for height, Giant Sequoias are the largest trees on Earth by sheer volume, and standing next to them is incredible. The kids loved scrambling over the rocks, though tackling the steep Moro Rock Trail with our 3-year-old definitely had my nerves on edge! If you are planning your own national park trip, our biggest takeaway is simple: get there early, find a parking spot, and trust the transit. Parking becomes more difficult later in the day, but the shuttle systems at both Sequoia and Yosemite are excellent and make getting around completely seamless.

We spent a couple of days exploring Yosemite, including a night at an Airbnb right inside the park. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and the kids had a blast scrambling over the rocks here too. Between the roaring waterfalls and the towering granite cliffs, the sheer scale of the place really makes you feel beautifully small.

We spent the next few days exploring Monterey, where we packed in tidepooling, a visit to the famous aquarium, a stop at the Dennis the Menace playground, and some paddleboating. From there, we spent our final few days unwinding in Castro Valley with my sister's family. It was exactly what we needed—plenty of rest, hot tub and pool sessions, incredible food, and tons of quality time for the kids to hang out with their cousins. Thanks to my brother-in-law for always being intentional about carving out some 1-on-1 time too.

I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to step away from work for a full 10-day trip, but it completely reset my perspective. In fact, it went so well that we’re already planning a two-week trip to Hawaii next month.

Personal Finance

Let Your Money Work For You

Back in 2016, I launched LiveFrugaLee with two clear goals: pay off my mortgage and hit a $1M net worth. To keep myself honest, I shared monthly updates and laid bare all my financials. In 2021, we officially crossed that milestone in Update #62.

I don't disclose my numbers anymore, but let's just say things move faster when your investments are doing the heavy work. Additionally, the real estate business really took off in 2021 and 2022, although I am trying to slowly step back a little now.

People always say the first million is the hardest. They are right. The first million is an absolute grind because it is powered almost entirely by your manual savings, not market growth.

Take a look at the breakdown below, assuming a $1,250/month contribution and a 7% inflation-adjusted annual return:

• $0 to $100k: 5.5 years (90% manual savings)
• $100k to $500k: 11.9 years (The tedious middle grind)
• $500k to $1M: 7.9 years (The tipping point)
• $1M to $2M: 8.8 years (The market takes over)
• $2M to $3M: 5.5 years
• $3M to $4M: 4.0 years
• $4M to $5M: 3.1 years (Pure compounding velocity)

Eventually, your investments begin out-earning your active day job. But you can't reach that autopilot phase without the foundational habits developed during the first million—goal setting, relentless work, living below your means, and stacking additional income streams.

When I was chasing that $1M goal, I was doing whatever it took. I pulled shifts as a server at Uncle Julio's, drove for Uber and Lyft, and took on all sorts of side gigs, all while using my monthly blog updates for radical accountability. None of this would have been possible without my incredible wife, who deserves a medal for putting up with all my side-hustle shenanigans along the way (at least the real estate one worked out!).

Today? I'm definitely a lot more lax. Now that we are a bit more financially comfortable, my focus has shifted. Turning 40 made me realize just how fast time flies with my kids. The ultimate reward of intentional frugality isn't a higher number in a bank account—it’s buying the absolute freedom to step back and spend time with the people who matter most.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Real Estate

3 High-Return Steps I Took Before Selling My Own House

As a real estate agent, when I consult with clients, I usually go over high, medium, and low-priority items depending on their specific timeline. When it came time to sell my own home, I focused strictly on these three high-priority moves:

• Whole-House Painting: While I don't always paint an entire house for every listing, it is hands down one of the absolute best investments you can make if the walls need it. Fresh, neutral paint completely transforms a space and covers a massive amount of surface area in your listing photos, making the entire home look clean, bright, and modern on screen.
• Strategic Home Staging: I will almost always choose to stage a vacant property. Empty rooms actually feel smaller and make it incredibly difficult for buyers to visualize furniture layout or connect emotionally with the space. Staging breathes life and scale into the listing.
• Curb Appeal Landscaping: First impressions matter the second a buyer pulls up to the property. I brought in my landscaper to take care of the heavy lifting—weeding, trimming back the bushes, planting colorful flowers, and patching up the bare dirt spots in the lawn with fresh sod to make the yard look clean and inviting.

If you have questions about real estate, reach out to me at realtordannylee@gmail.com. Follow me on IG @realtordannylee.