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Mark Cuban didn’t get rich clipping coupons or stockpiling airline miles. His advice? Keep your junker car, avoid credit cards like the plague, and save up six months of income — not because it sounds good in a finance blog, but because life happens.
“If you don’t like your job at some point or you get fired or you have to move or something goes wrong,” Cuban said in a Vanity Fair video, “you’re going to need at least six months’ income.”
But for many Americans, that kind of cash cushion feels more like a pipe dream than a practical step. In fact, most adults in the U.S. don’t even have $1,000 saved, according to a Bankrate survey.
Still, Cuban’s “get rich advice” isn’t just for aspiring billionaires — it’s a survival-level strategy in a shaky economy.
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Even people who’ve been steadily employed for years often feel “house rich, cash poor.” They’ve got equity tied up in their homes but little flexibility when an emergency hits. That’s where some are getting creative — unlocking liquidity from real estate without selling their homes or taking on new debt.
Enter platforms like EquityMultiple, which offer a modern way to put money to work through passive commercial real estate investing. These platforms allow investors to earn cash flow from real estate without becoming landlords — while still keeping their own home intact and their equity untouched.
Think of it as making your money multitask: while your primary residence appreciates quietly in the background, your real estate investments can generate monthly income and diversify your savings.
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Cuban’s approach to building wealth might involve investing in mutual funds or even tossing a little into Bitcoin — if you’re feeling bold — but the underlying theme is always the same: maximize return, minimize regret.
“It’s so hard to make a return on regular investments… you’re better off, when you see a sale, [buying in bulk],” he said in the same Vanity Fair video. “That’s an immediate return on your money.”
That logic — stretching your dollars with purpose — is why more investors are shifting toward income-generating alternatives like real estate-backed offerings. Instead of letting money sit in savings accounts losing value to inflation, they’re deploying it in vetted property deals that pay out on a regular basis.
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Most people aren’t hitting Cuban’s six-month cash goal overnight. But that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach. It just requires some strategy — and maybe a shift in how you think about savings.
Start small: rework your budget, look for dead weight in subscriptions, and automate deposits to a high-yield savings account. Then, once you’ve got your emergency fund foundation set, diversifying into passive real estate could help build the next layer — with monthly income that can go right back into your cash cushion or be reinvested for growth.
Because, as Cuban says, “the one thing you can control in life is your effort.” And putting your money in the right place? That counts, too.
Read Next: With Point, you can get up to $500,000 in cash from your property with no monthly payments and no income requirements — even if your credit isn’t perfect.
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This article Want to Get Rich? Mark Cuban Says To Save ‘6 Months Of Income’ — Here’s How Some Homeowners Are Using Real Estate To Make It Happen originally appeared on Benzinga.com