My entrepreneurial journey actually started in the 7th grade. 

My mom’s snack game was always strong, so I was the kid at school that had some pretty desirable munchies in my backpack. One day a kid approached asking if she could buy my bag of Corn Nuts off me. I usually had a bag of cool ranch or salsa picante Corn Nuts on me at all times. 

Let’s not talk about the subsequent breath that came from this flavor explosion snack…during an already awkward, adolescent time. Le sigh.

So, I offered to trade this girl for her bag of Oreos. Both parties were happy.

But the next morning I saw my Mom’s Costco-sized box of Corn Nuts and decided to slip a few extra in my backpack. At recess and lunch, I started selling them for $1 a bag. There was a huge demand! Sure, sometimes I traded for a better snack–I can be woo’d by another highly processed goodie–but all in all, I was creating a nice little business.

Before I knew it, I had a pretty consistent side-hustle. My mother will be absolutely horrified when she reads this. She had no idea I was sneaking extra bags. Sorry, Mom.

In my 20’s, as I worked my way up the corporate ladder, I wrote one-off press releases for small businesses. It ended up covering my gas expenses for the long commute to and from my day job.

WHY ARE YOU TELLING US THIS, RICHELLE? GET TO THE POINT!

This week on Bound + Determined, I’m talking with Jannese Torres- Rodriguez, a first-gen Latina, former engineer, entrepreneur & business coach. Her journey into personal finance began when she started side-hustling in 2013. 

Since then she’s become an avid investor, built multiple 6-figure businesses AND achieved financial independence at age 35. She’s the creator and host of the Yo Quiero Dinero podcast, and the Yo Quiero Dinero platform.