Newbie in Omaha, Nebraska

[Daniel Thomas]

Hello my name is Daniel R Thomas but I go by Rob. I am new to real estate and have not yet actually done anything besides read and listen to a ton of resources (mostly Bigger Pockets). I grew up very poor in a single parent family and remember thinking at a very young age that I didnt want to live paycheck to paycheck like my mom.

I joined the USAF at the age of 21 when I realized I had no plan for life and needed a job. I did 6 years and 4 deployments, met my wife, moved to Omaha, used my GI Bill to get a BSN (nursing) and now work as a RN case manager. I realized that I am indeed living paycheck to paycheck trying to provide for my family and get ahead which just isnt working well. Our debt is typical but is a weight my wife and I are both sick of. We have two little girls (3&1 yrs) and I want to go on vacations with them, my last vacation being my honeymoon 9 yrs ago.

Like many, I came across Rich Dad/Poor Dad about 3 months ago and it changed my entire perspective on money and life in a surprisingly profound way. I never really considered real estate investing as a real thing until that book. Now, three months later, I've read 4 more RE books including several BP offerings and have listened to 40-50 BP podcasts. I cant get enough! The thing that I love most about the potential of REI is that I can work hard and I BENEFIT DIRECTLY. Being a nurse, raises are often difficult to come by and the job itself is very taxing both emotionally and physically. I need a real change in my life and I believe that REI offers a unique blend of security and independence rarely found elsewhere.

I am hoping to find a community that will not only help me grow in my new journey but also allow me to help others when I finally knock the newbie smell off me. Thanks for reading!