# Cody Berman's Journey Through 30+ Side Hustles to Success The role of side hustles and lessons on the path to financial independence. - **Source:** [Afford Anything®](https://brifing.si/source/c886c1dc-b73e-4787-9394-ba1d7f1f281b) - **Published:** 2026-07-26 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d622a6a9-9859-4185-aabb-05b5f7e4c445 ## The Journey to Financial Independence Cody Berman discovered the concept of financial independence at 19 and achieved it by 25. Along the way, he tried over 30 side hustles while keeping his expenses steady. This disciplined approach laid the foundation for his success. ## Two Paths to Financial Freedom There are two main routes to financial independence: Nest Egg FI and Cash Flow FI. Cody embraced the cash flow approach, creating passive income streams that allowed him to preserve his principal savings. ## The Power of Side Hustles Cody generated long-term income through scalable side hustles like Valentine's Day printables on Etsy. These ventures require patience initially but can yield significant returns over time. However, many people quit before seeing results. ## The House Hacking Strategy Cody's biggest lever on his path to financial independence was house hacking. By minimizing housing costs, he could save more effectively and focus on his investments, accelerating his journey to financial freedom. ## Balancing Income and Expenses Cody's income grew from $96,000 to $403,000 over three years, while he kept his annual expenses at $24,000. This disciplined balance played a critical role in achieving financial independence. ## Life After Financial Independence After reaching financial independence, Cody began living more freely. The lessons he learned along the way continue to inspire others, offering guidance on the path to financial freedom. ## Sources covering this story - https://affordanything.com/cash-flow-fi/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._