What I Did With My Commission Check Yesterday

Yesterday I closed a real estate deal and walked away with just over $5,400 in commission. 🎉 Closing day always feels like the finish line of a marathon, you’ve been running alongside your clients, jumping over hurdles, keeping pace through the ups and downs, and finally, you cross together. It’s rewarding, but here’s the part I don’t think enough people talk about: what you do with the money after that big check hits your account matters just as much as earning it.

So, I thought I’d share exactly what I did with mine—because I’m a firm believer in transparency, discipline, and turning income into wealth.

Step 1: Knock Out Debt Before It Knocks Out You

Out of the $5,400, I immediately took $5,000 and threw it at my credit card balance, prior to the time interest would accrue. Why? Because carrying a balance on a credit card is like pouring water into a bucket with holes, it drains your wealth before you even realize it.

Credit card interest rates in the U.S. currently average over 21% APR, which means for every $1,000 you carry, you could be paying $210 a year in interest, money that could’ve been working for you instead of against you, and I absolutely refuse to do that.

So my rule? Never carry a balance. Use credit cards for points, perks, or cash-back, but don’t give them the satisfaction of charging you interest. Use it like a debit card, if you don’t have the money available (or won’t) don’t put it on your credit card.

Step 2: Investing in Our Future (Even If the Market Looks Ugly)

That left me with about $400. Instead of letting it disappear into random spending (Target runs, anyone? 🙋‍♀️), my husband and I split it evenly: $200 each.

And where did it go? Straight into Robinhood.

👉 Here’s my referral code if you want to start investing too: Sign up for Robinhood with my link and we’ll both pick our own gift stock 🎁.

Now, let me be honest: yesterday the market was a bit of a blood bath for me. My portfolio was dripping red. But here’s the thing—when stocks are down, they’re essentially on sale.

Historically, the S&P 500 has returned about 10% annually since 1926 (closer to 7% after adjusting for inflation). That means if you consistently invest when the market looks scary, you’re actually setting yourself up for long-term gains.

Some of my favorite buys right now are:

• Bitcoin (crypto’s still here to stay, no matter the headlines)
• Nvidia (NVDA) (the AI darling with insane long-term potential)
• SPY (an ETF that tracks the entire S&P 500 instant diversification)
• Costco (COST) (because who doesn’t love a business that makes billions off $1.50 hot dogs and loyal memberships?)

Why I Share This

I don’t post this to brag about making a commission check or to hand out financial advice. I share it because too many people earn money…and then wonder where it all went.

The truth? Wealth isn’t built from how much you make. It’s built from what you do with what you make.

For me, that means paying down debt aggressively, investing consistently, and refusing to let fear of the market stop me from taking advantage of long-term growth.

Yesterday’s $5,400 wasn’t just a paycheck—it was another building block in the financial freedom I’m working toward.

💬 Your turn: If you got a $5,400 check today, what would you do with it?