About Me

Ever told your bank account to just behave itself for one month? Yeah, me too.

I’m Marissa, and I created Thirty Six Months because I got tired of financial advice that assumed we’re all willing to live on ramen for a decade to buy a house someday.

My financial story isn’t a straight line. I earned a multiple graduated degrees in STEM (that I never use), worked a six-figure corporate job (that I eventually walked away from), and made plenty of questionable purchases along the way (hello, impulse trips and “investment” shoes).

But somewhere between the student loan statements and credit card bills, I figured out that financial freedom isn’t about deprivation—it’s about making smarter choices that align with the life you actually want.

Today, I juggle being a Managing Director at a consulting firm with managing my real estate investments and co-founding tech startup. I’ve helped close friends and thousands of readers transform their relationship with money by showing them that investing isn’t just for people in suits, and financial tools like Wealthsimple aren’t as intimidating as they seem.

Why “Thirty Six Months”?

The name comes from research showing that if you can’t clear consumer debt within 36 months, psychological “debt fatigue” sets in, making it significantly harder to stay motivated. I’ve found this timeline to be the sweet spot for making meaningful financial changes without losing your mind.

On this blog, you won’t find:

  • Advice to cut out coffee (because sometimes that latte is keeping us sane)
  • Get-rich-quick schemes (sorry, no crypto miracles here)
  • Judgment about your past money decisions (we’ve all been there)

What you will find:

  • Straightforward strategies for building wealth while still living your life
  • Real talk about real estate investing without a trust fund
  • Practical tools for creating financial independence on your terms

Because ultimately, money shouldn’t be scary or complicated—it should be a tool that helps you build the life you want.

Questions? Ideas? Want to compare notes on financial wins and fails? Drop me a line at Marissa@thirtysixmonths.com.