We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenine Cinco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenine, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
Coming from credit card debt of almost $30,000, my husband and I have a combined net worth of a quarter of a million at age 30 (this is not to brag at all but to hopefully spark inspiration) thanks to these two books: Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco and Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner. We are both your average employees earning less than $100,000 combined on the journey to financial freedom.

Millionaire Fastlane tells a story on how to leverage your time (not trading your time for money) but instead to finding unconventional ways to wealth. The mindset I had at the time was that, I never even knew what budgeting was nor what it was good for. I said “yes” to things that made me happy; thus, racking my credit debt. Although I never regretted the decision of living my life to the fullest, however I did place myself on a financial bind. From that point on, working for myself instead of continuing to work for someone or in a company became a strong desire.

Which leads to reading the second book, Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner. When I read this book and after having an epiphany from the first book, I took a life audit and slowly aligned myself with the new mindset I have gained. With the new perspective, I started to pay off my debt by means of doing side hustles such as pet-sitting and selling items I no longer need, canceling my city apartment rent and moving back to my parents house to save money, and lastly keeping my day job while studying for the real estate sales agent exam. I knew I had to turn my negative net worth to breakeven first and then, eventually to a positive net worth. However, the only way I knew was to trade my time for money since the side hustles I’m taking up were still trading time for money. Picking up this book, it taught the step-by-step in getting started with rental property investing and started the journey on leveraging my time and having money work for us. At first, the idea was very new and it scared me to take the risk. But as I changed my lifestyle by means of delayed gratification and slowly saving more and more, my husband and I saved enough to a point where we are ready to take the calculated risk of purchasing our first rental property. We speak about this journey of being baby investors in my youtube channel, Self Redefined, in hopes that sharing our journey would inspire and give a clear path to those who wanted to be financially free despite having a limited income.

Today, we are on our second property that we are planning to flip (renovate and sell). Our first property took us 12 months to remodel and it is currently rented for about three years. With the first property’s equity and the sale of the second, we are in hopes of investing in our first multifamily commercial unit.

Reading these two books during the pandemic truly changed the trajectory of our lives. We have not achieved financial independence yet but we are inching closer each day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently working for a company doing finance while building my business in real estate doing investing and sales.

I am proud of everything I took a risk on such as starting a youtube channel, investing in rental properties, and delaying gratification to achieve the goal of financial independence soon.

The hardest and most proud moment I recently did is getting back into my finance career. I have thought that after quitting my day job cold turkey in 2021 and starting my real estate career full time, that I am not to go back in a day job again. Sales is not the easiest job and I learned a lot about myself, so what is best for me is to go back to my other passion, finance, and build my real estate business on the side. This has been a happy balance for me while staying in the course of financial freedom.

I’ve been promoted multiple times within a year in my current job and learned these three valuable skills 1) Always give your 100% and the rest will take care of itself, 2) be in the right environment that will
allow you and give you the opportunities to flourish, 3) being patient will take you farther than anything else, great things take time.

Was it easy? No. There are a lot of sacrifices/comforts along the road. However, I know that someday it’ll be worth it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fun and free things to do for a week with a friend that’s visiting.

Day 1: Check your local museums and see the free days and activity they have! Museum of Fine Arts have Thursdays free and actually have various artistic and cool installations.

Day 2: Another free activity are Saturday mornings where you can volunteer to bird watch to check the bird population at Arboretum & Nature. Then in the afternoon, check the free gardening class they teach! Their garden have so many tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables for you to learn how to grow.

Day 3: A nice long stroll at the various parks such as Buffalo Bayou in Allen Parkway and Memorial Park and then bringing your healthy packed lunch to eat and have a picnic!

Day 4: Visiting the different historic places such as the Battleground of Texas and even going on a ghost tour visiting the Hotel ICON and La Carafe.

Day 5: A relaxing day at Galveston beach and a bike ride along the sea wall. Stroll around pleasure pier and even hop on rides!

Day 6: Day trip to Austin and visiting the caves and caverns such as Inner Space Cavern

Day 7: Day trip to San Antonio and to Six Flags

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother, Marie Cinco, for showing me how entrepreneurship works ever since I was a toddler and seeing her grow her dental practice throughout the years while still dedicating time in giving back to the community.

Kay Stimson of Kay Stimson Properties taught me the ropes of becoming successful in real estate and investing.

My husband who is always ready to discuss and implement ideas together!

Wolf Center for Entrepreneurship for giving me the sales and business tools embarking on this entrepreneurship journey.

Family and friends who showed support in all my ventures, with love.

Website: https://www.har.com/jenine-cinco/agent_jcinco

Instagram: https://www.har.com/jenine-cinco/agent_jcinco

Linkedin: Check out Jenine Cinco’s profile on LinkedIn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenine.trebeh?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@slfredefined?si=6-e4N7Ofar_MNaou

Other: HAR: https://www.har.com/jenine-cinco/agent_jcinco

Image Credits
1 Professional (sit down) photo – Luis Waldo

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