Multimillionaire Tori Dunlap on What She Refuses to Spend Money On

Tori Dunlap on Financial Literacy and Success

This article was inspired by a conversation with Tori Dunlap, the founder of Her First $100K and author of “Financial Feminist.”

Dunlap learned about money management from her parents. Despite their middle-class background, they were smart about their financial decisions and passed those skills on to her. In her college years, Dunlap became the go-to friend for finance advice.

By the age of 25, she had managed to save her first $100,000. Just two years later, she became a millionaire. At the age of 32, she has become a multimillionaire. Despite her wealth, she chooses not to display her affluence in the typical ways.

Rejecting Wealth Signifiers

Tori Dunlap has often been told she doesn’t fit the image of a multimillionaire. For instance, her hair is often pulled back when creating content instead of being professionally styled. She gets her hair done every three months, which is more than most, but sees no reason to invest more time or money into doing it more frequently with a company to run.

Driving a 12-Year-Old Toyota

Dunlap still drives the Toyota RAV4 that she bought when she was 22. Despite her wealth, she has chosen not to upgrade to a more luxurious vehicle. She values reliability and practicality over the prestige often associated with expensive cars.

Rental to Homeownership

Even though she was already a multimillionaire, Dunlap chose to rent an apartment until last year. She purchased a house only when her landlord decided to sell, realizing that homeownership was worth investing her time in.

Spending with Intention

Dunlap believes in spending money on things that matter to you. In her book, “Financial Feminist,” she encourages people to stop spending on things that don’t personally bring them joy or value.

Choosing Privacy over Public Display of Wealth

While Dunlap is not shy about spending on travel, she prefers to keep her private life, including her house and partner, off the internet. She believes in maintaining a balance between sharing her life and preserving her privacy.

Defining Success Beyond Material Wealth

For Dunlap, success is not about opulence and material wealth but about financial security and independence. She takes pride in being able to contribute to causes she believes in and providing for her loved ones without worry.