Living On $25K A Year Just Outside NYC | Millennial Money

Hector Carvajal, 26, owns Don Carvajal Cafe, a Dominican-inspired coffee roasting company based in the Bronx, New York. In 2022, his business brought in roughly $190,000 in sales and from that, he lives off a $25,000 salary.

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

Produced by: Mickey Todiwala
Managing Producer: Beatriz Bajuelos Castillo
Editor: Marisa Forziati
Animator: Elham Ataeiazar
Reporter: Jennifer Liu

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Living On $25K A Year Just Outside NYC | Millennial Money

[hectorcastillocarvajal]

Thank you, everyone, and CNBC for all of the support!

[kman]

I love these type of videos. I’m tired of seeing a bunch of early 20 somethings with a net worth of $1M for being a “content creator”. I want to see people with REAL jobs making a normal amount of money

[masqueradinglampshade]

My god this guy is incredibly likeable. He seems like a humble, down to earth guy putting the work in on his passion and reaping profits while enjoying a modest non frivolous lifestyle. Not distracted by shiny things but just happy to be alive and content with the clothes on his back and roof over his head. He's really living. Much respect to him.

[hangja]

We need more realistic episodes like this. Someone who highlights the value and meaning of work and truly reflects society. This is LONGEVITY

[st.charlesofaberdeen]

Very proud of that dude putting his education to work and remembering his roots and staying humble. I hope God blesses him immensely if he stays on this path

[kyleanderson]

Just so everybody understands. He doesn't make 25k a year, he makes whatever net income the business generates. He just pays himself a salary of 25k for tax purposes. I would be extremely surprised if he wasnt taking more distributions from his business to live on.

[EarlyBirds]

this is awesome the sacrifices he’s making today will pay off in the long run

[jeremiahgonzalez]

As someone who’s from the Bx and half Dominican I’m definitely gonna support and spread the word because this is something I can see in every bodega! I wish you the best of luck!

[dontran]

This guy is inspirational. So disciplined and humble

[philcyr]

The budget slide is misleading. You say he spends roughly $2k a month but don’t include rent. Then the next section he talks about his rent which his half is $1500 a month with utilities. Making his total monthly budget $3500. This would put him at spending $42k a year and significantly put himself under water if he is “making” $25k a year.

[noface]

He's putting his all in to make his dreams happen! Love to see videos likes these of real people trying to make it out here.

[ozzyrules]

little misrepresentative to say that he makes $25k but that salary is just what he doles himself out from his business' sales, no? I don't think this situation applies to most people who make $25k.

[larabraver]

That last shot with his head on mom’s shoulder and her caressing his face is EVERYTHING 💜
Best wishes, brother!

[KiwiiDassit]

Absolutely love this video. This young man represents the Dominican people to a T, hard working, humble, caring. We need more videos like this

[cris_here]

I met this man on a subway and he was carrying a collapsible table and his coffee to bring to a food tasting event. He was very polite and seemed ambitious.

[alexsmith-rszq]

He’s doing really well and seams like a great guy but I don’t think 25K is the accurate amount he actually earns a year going off this video.

[eadruna]

This is a gold content! Not some digital creators that hit the jackpot. This is real grinding!

[darickfoxo]

Very misleading the whole 25k thing. Pretty sure he making a lot of purchases under his llc and paying him self 25k on paper for tax benfit, otherwh use that 1500k in rent don’t make sense

[richiemochi]

His mom did an awesome job raising him with very little resources. You could tell she lives in the projects but still able to raise a son who went into University. Will support his dominican coffee!

[BrainKeener]

These are very valuable rules for anybody who wants to get rich. Unfortunately, most people who will watch this video will not really be able to apply the principles. We may not want to admit, but as Warren Buffett once said, investing is like any other profession-- it requires a certain level of expertise. No surprise that some people are losing a lot of money in the bear market, while others are making hundreds of thousands in profit. I just don't know how they do it. I have about $89k now to put in the market.