Brennan Schlagbaum, CPA (Budgetdog)
CPA and author; budgeting, family wealth building, investing discipline, and financial independence.
7‑Step System Paid Off $304
In 7 years, my wife and I: - Paid off $304k of debt - Built a $1M+ net worth - Without a financial advisor Here's our 7-step money system that any family can copy:
Protect Your Family: Estate Planning Beats 40% Tax
If you die without a plan... - The government takes 40% in tax - Probate court costs $100k+ - Your kids get the scraps If you love your family, here's every document you need to protect them: (from a CPA & father of two)
US Heading Toward Debt Crisis Threatens Families
The US is going full speed towards a debt crisis: - Interest rates are high - The dollar is weakening - Bond yields are skyrocketing This is going to be disastrous for families...
Earn $100k+? Paycheck‑to‑paycheck Means Endless Work
I don't want to scare you, but if you make $100k+ and live paycheck to paycheck... You'll probably work until you die. Let me explain:
Raise Kids for Life on Under $500 Monthly
Don't buy your kids Jordans. Don't buy your kids a new iPad. Don't buy your kids an iPhone. Here's how you can set up your kids for life without spending more than $500 a month...
ETFs Turn $50k Into $193k Over 20 Years
In 20 years... - $50k in savings will be worth $41k - $50k in gold will be worth $74k - $50k in ETFs will be worth $193k Here's how ETF investing can make YOU a millionaire:
Skip Car Payments, Grow Six‑Figure Wealth Over Time
Friendly Reminder: The average car payment is $749/mo. If you invest that money instead? You'll have: $142,789 in 10 years. $485,350 in 20 years. $1,311,510 in 30 years. That "new car smell" is your money on fire 🤣
10 ETFs That Could Make You
ETFs made my wife and I millionaires in 7 years. But there's over ~10,000 to choose from. Here are 10 ETFs that can make you a millionaire in 2026:
7 Simple Habits That Saved My Family $100K
These 7 habits saved my family over $100k... And none of them require you to make an extra dollar. Save this before you forget it... Share it with someone who needs it... And follow me for more @budgetdog 🤝🏻
Wealth Without Inheritance: 14 Simple Rules
You don't need an inheritance. You don't need a finance degree. You don't need a financial advisor. If you want to get rich, just follow 14 simple rules:
Tax‑Smart Investing Can Make You a Millionaire in 15 Years
15 Year Millionaire (how to cut your taxes by 48%) 1. Assume you make $100k/ yr 2. Invest $4,400 in an HSA 3. Invest $7,500 in a Roth IRA 4. Invest $24,500 in a 401k 5. Take the $16,100 single filer deduction 6. Enjoy your new 22%...
Keep Housing Costs Below 25% of Net Income
If these numbers make you uncomfortable... You’re probably overpaying 😬 The rule is simple: Your rent or mortgage should NEVER exceed 25% of your take home pay. Not gross. Overspending on housing is one of the biggest barriers to building real wealth... So if you want...
Turn $304K Debt Into $1M in 7 Years
My wife and I went from $304k in debt to $1M in 7 years. Here's how we did it in 30 min/mo:
Invest $288 per Paycheck, Retire with $2M Tax‑free
If you... - Put $288 per paycheck in a Roth IRA - Invest in low cost ETFs - Starting at age 30 - Until retirement You'll only pay $263k. But you'll EARN $2,032,680 (tax free). Here's exactly how it works:
Simple Blueprint: Talent, Value, Passive Income, Tax Mastery
Stocks Bitcoin Real Estate Businesses Private Equity Buy talent Invest in skillsets/education Provide value to marketplace Income to passive investments Aggressively maximize the tax code That’s my blueprint to $100M. Don’t overcomplicate the game.
From $304k Debt to Millions: My Recovery Blueprint
12 years ago, I was $304k in debt. Today, I'm a multimillionaire. If I lost everything tomorrow, here's how I'd get it back:
Earn $100k+? Cut Debt with 17 2026 Changes
If you're making over $100k/yr but are still in debt... Stop what you're doing. Here are 17 changes you need to make to get ahead in 2026:
Taxes Are a Year‑Round Game, Not a One‑Time Event
Treating taxes as a one time event is a middle class move. It’s why you overpay in taxes every year. It’s a year round game for the wealthy.
Stop Paying to Escape Your Weekday Problems
Stop spending hundreds of dollars every weekend just to forget the problems you have M-F
One Hour Weekly Grew Net Worth $150K
This is Taylor. In 6 months, she: -> Found $35k of "free money" -> Grew her net worth by $150k -> Fired her financial advisor for good Here's how she did it in 1 hour per week:
Investors Chase Trends, Repeat Home‑bias Cycle
Over the past decade, most U.S. investors quietly abandoned international investing. Why? Because the U.S. was outperforming. Now that international is starting to lead, give it a few years and watch the same crowd pile back in. It’s the same cycle, over and...
Today's $100k Requires $243k to Match 1990 Lifestyle
Uncomfortable Truth: If your parents made $100k in 1990... You'd need $243k today to live the same life. 30 more uncomfortable truths that nobody's talking about:
Spend 30 Minutes Monthly, End Endless Money Stress
People already spend HOURS every week on their finances. Worrying. Stressing. Fighting about money. Checking their bank balance anxiously. Moving money around manually. When 30 min/mo of focus would fix their finances forever.
Crossing $100K Unlocks Compounding, $1M Becomes Inevitable
The $100,000 portfolio is the mark when a lot of stuff changed for us. It wasn’t the actual amount, but the fact we were able to build a system that generated a substantial enough amount to show us that the...