Overview of Things I Did by 27 to Become a Millionaire
In this episode of Financial Feminist, Tori Dunlap breaks down how she went from having $100K in the bank at 25 to becoming a millionaire by 27. Rather than framing it as luck or a “just save more” story, she lays out a repeatable formula built on three pillars: strong financial habits, increased earning power, and a financial system that runs on autopilot. She also emphasizes that her path included real privilege, and that the goal is not to copy her exact life, but to adapt the underlying strategy to your own circumstances.
The Core Formula
1) Build strong financial habits early
Tori says the habits she built while making far less money were the foundation for later wealth.
- Negotiating salary consistently
- Side hustling and building income outside a job
- Spending thoughtfully and avoiding lifestyle inflation
- Saving and investing automatically
- Learning how money works before the stakes got huge
Her point: if you can manage $10K well, you can manage $100K, and eventually a million.
2) Increase earning power
She argues that wealth grows faster when you focus on earning more, not just cutting expenses.
- She negotiated raises and compensation whenever possible
- She left roles that underpaid or undervalued her
- She shifted away from corporate work that limited her growth
- Her business income became the biggest driver of her wealth growth
Her message is especially aimed at women, who are often told to shrink budgets instead of expand income.
3) Create a financial system
Tori stresses that wealth-building should not rely on willpower alone.
A good system includes:
- Automated savings and investing
- Bills and money flows set up in advance
- Clear rules for where extra money goes
- A plan for both good months and bad months
- A structure that keeps working even when life gets busy
The goal is to make money management run in the background.
What Was Specific to Her Circumstances
Tori is explicit that her story was helped by privilege, including:
- Being a cis white woman
- Growing up with financial education from her parents
- Graduating college debt-free
- Having some family support
- Working multiple jobs in college and summers
She says her success came from a mix of privilege, hard work, and strategic choices.
Key Mindset Shifts
Wealth is about options
For Tori, money is not about excess — it is about freedom.
- Leaving unsafe or abusive situations
- Supporting causes she cares about
- Traveling and having flexibility
- Funding family needs and future goals
- Being able to respond to crises without panic
Wanting money is okay
She openly rejects the idea that wanting wealth is greedy.
- Money in the hands of women means more freedom and agency
- Wealth can be used for good, generosity, and community care
- She believes women should be unapologetic about pursuing financial success
Wealth should not require misery
She pushes back on the idea that the only way to get rich is to cut every joy from your life.
- Don’t obsess over deprivation
- Don’t wait until you’re wealthy to learn money skills
- Don’t let fear of spending replace a strategy for earning
Main Takeaways
- Financial success starts with habits, not just income.
- The fastest way to grow wealth is usually to increase earnings.
- Automation and systems prevent money from slipping away.
- Your financial path should reflect your real life, values, and goals.
- Wanting to be rich can be ethical if wealth is used to support yourself and others.
Action Items / Homework
- Download Tori’s free “first million” worksheet and formula at herfirst100k.com/ffpod
- If you’re earlier in your journey, download the first $100K version instead
- Review your current money habits:
- Are you automating savings and investing?
- Do you know where every dollar is going?
- Are you under-earning in your current role?
- Identify one step to increase earning power:
- Ask for a raise
- Negotiate a new offer
- Build a side income stream
- Look for a better-aligned job
- Start acting like someone who manages money well now, not later