18 year old noob from Tampa, Florida!!

[Richard Espinosa]

Hey everybody, My name is Richard Espinosa, I'm 18, and I'm from St. Petersburg FL (near Tampa, more widely known). I have been immersed into this wonderful mindset about money. 

I have had the wonderful opportunity of stumbling onto this site about a week ago. It's so great to see an awesome, active community. I can tell there are some great members in here and I'm excited to start interacting with all you knowledgeable people. You all inspire me. I'd love to learn from all of you. I know all of you must be very busy, but it would mean so much to me if you could give me any feedback or tips on some of my goals that I have.

Over the course of some months now, I've been vigorously reaping any information I can find about investing, real estate, entrepreneurialism, human relations, etc. Either through books, podcasts, blogs, you name it. All of this has enlightened me as a person and has given me a better understanding of money.

Not only has it has enlightened me but it has excited me. Excited me to the point where I can't sleep because I'm thinking about something I just learned in a book I just read. I feel like I've hit the lottery honestly. I feel like I have such a head start because I understand all of this at 18. 

I plan to buy my first duplex within this year or early next year. With an FHA loan and a co-signature from my mother (for my lack of credit). I will be living in one half with my girlfriend while of course renting out the other half. I also plan to invest in stocks, definitely with a buy and hold strategy in mind. I also know that I'm young and have a low aversion to risk so I definitely will have cash set aside for riskier investments.

I will be attending my local community college in January in pursuit of an Associate's degree in web development. I think that coding is a useful skill and I can make 50k+ a year entry level. The great thing about it is that it's an Associate's degree (two years) in a community college. I will be out at 20-21 already making a good salary and tuition is cheap so I know I will not be in debt. My girlfriend is also in the process of an associate's for dental hygiene, which is another $50k+ a year salary. 

We will be living well below our means with low or no rent. I am also pretty frugal. With a combined income of hopefully 100k a year, we are planning to invest a whopping 50% of that annually. I have many plans for that money, such as starting a business and investing in real estate. My goal is to be financially free by 30, and I honestly believe I can do it. 

I have not found a mentor but I have learned so much by researching on my own. 

Thank you all so much for spending your precious time to read my words. I appreciate it immensely.