While we do give periodic gifts to tenants, we try not to do so around specific religious holidays.  

Pay your savings like it's another bill every single month religiously.

This was a bit of a rude awakening for me. i had planed to do all the renovations myself but even though I was the owner I was not allowed to do plumbing or electrical as it is a "Commercial Building" and they needed licensed contractors for those two parts.

An investor going into this thinking that just because it says it in the lease it will happen is in for a rude awakening. 

Maybe I will have a rude awakening but I have found that with bigger challenges comes bigger opportunities if done correctly.  

I'm working on getting my first STR, I had a call with a broker from The One Brokerage ( why not, I listen to Bigger Pockets Real Estate Religiously).

Most people fail in this business for a reason and believing being a newbie and running projects out of state (with no experience) is a good mix you may get a rude awakening.

Moreover, for your basic but essential advice; save religiously, build your credit now that you're 18, limit unnecessary debt, etc.

Your current tenant is in for a rude awakening no matter which of those two decisions you go with. 

This was a bit of a rude awakening for me. i had planed to do all the renovations myself but even though I was the owner I was not allowed to do plumbing or electrical as it is a "Commercial Building" and they needed licensed contractors for those two parts.