Whether you’re interested in spending smarter or learning how to generate side income, you’re going to love today’s guest. Crystal Hammond is a former day trader and real estate pro. In addition to being a landlord and an engineer with the US Patent and Trademark Office, Crystal blogs about her personal finances – the good, bad and ugly – at sophisticatedspender.com.

Several takeaways from our interview:

— How she became the queen of side hustles

— How her friends helped her repair her credit score (she started with a 580 and now has a nearly perfect score.)

— Why if she ever won the lottery… she’d purposely go into debt.

If you’d like to learn more about Crystal Hammond, visit her website sophisticatedspender.com and follow her on Twitter @crystalh8725.

My favorite quote from the interview: “Spend money on what you love… as long as you have the money to do it.” – Click to Tweet