Can You Live on Half Your Income? Here’s the Playbook to Ramping Up Your Investment Potential

BiggerPockets Blog
Published: January 20, 2026
Pricing & Profitability

Summary

This article discusses strategies for saving money and increasing investment potential, which can indirectly benefit STR hosts by freeing up capital for property improvements and marketing. Hosts can apply the principles of cost reduction and smart resource management to improve profitability. Consider automating savings and exploring ways to reduce personal expenses to reinvest in your STR business.

Key Insights

  • Avoiding consumer debt and high-interest credit card balances can help accelerate savings and investment.
  • Living overseas can significantly reduce living expenses, allowing for greater savings. The author saved 60%-70% of their income while overseas compared to 45%-50% back in the States.

Action Items

  • Consider travel hacking through the use of credit card rewards programs and the sharing of accommodations when traveling. This could allow you to enjoy your travels at lower costs, improving your work life balance and mental health.
    Effort: low
    Impact: low
  • Explore creative ways to reduce housing costs, such as house hacking (renting out a portion of your home) or house sitting. Consider these cost-saving strategies to free up funds that can then be deployed to improve your STR property.
    Effort: low
    Impact: medium
  • Analyze your personal spending habits. Look for opportunities to reduce expenses in areas like transportation, dining out, and entertainment. Apply these saving strategies to potentially reinvest in your STR business.
    Effort: medium
    Impact: medium

Related Videos

More from Pricing & Profitability

KC has ‘highest occupancy’ of World Cup cities. Is effort to add rentals working? - Kansas City Star

This article discusses Kansas City's high occupancy rates compared to other World Cup host cities, raising questions about the effectiveness of efforts to increase short-term rental availability. It implicitly touches on market trends and the impact of major events on the STR market. The article likely explores whether increased rental supply can meet demand while analyzing the city's approach to STRs.

1 day agoKansas City, MO75
Best Mountain Towns Where Homes Deliver the Strongest Airbnb Returns - Realtor.com

Realtor.com's report on best mountain towns for Airbnb returns reveals key locations for STR investment. The analysis likely includes data on occupancy rates, ADR, and RevPAR to identify profitable markets. Understanding these trends helps hosts optimize pricing strategies and choose lucrative destinations.

1 day ago85
Airbnb offers $750 incentive for some Ga. hosts during FIFA World Cup - WRDW

Airbnb is offering a $750 incentive for some hosts in Georgia during the FIFA World Cup, potentially boosting occupancy and profitability. This program seeks to capitalize on increased demand from the international event, offering financial benefits to participating hosts. Learn how to qualify and leverage this incentive for your STR.

3 days agoGeorgia85

Curated by Learn STR by GoStudioM