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Just a few years ago, my husband and I were seriously poor. 

We were living paycheck-to-paycheck, in a dark apartment, while the car kept on breaking down in the middle of winter.

And yet, while we were going through this, we started making plans for building our wealth. We both had a dream of  being able to work online and have my husband quit his soul-sucking corporate job.

We worked hard on this; we were really tired of having NO money and not being able to do the things we wanted to do.

And now… because we worked hard to reach our goals for a few months, we’re able to travel full-time and make over $100k a year online (which you can read about here!)

But we’re not alone! There are PLENTY of other people who have formed habits and gone after their financial goals too! And because of this, they always have money in their wallet, bank, and retirement fund. They chose to make plans and stick to them.

And if this is something you feel you struggle with, then I think you’ll find the tips on money habits down below very helpful!

Got any financial habits that help you? Scroll down to the bottom and let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear about them!

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Important Side Note: 

If you’re in debt, then I would definitely read Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover which you can check out here. He’s helped MILLIONS of people climb their way out of debt and have financial peace and security. So DEFINITELY check him out!

Also! He has another great book called the Legacy Journey which is a great read. Check it out here!

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1. Goals

Contrary to what many people think, rich people don’t get rich by chance. Many of them build their wealth. And even people who aren’t rich, but never fall short of money, walk into this kind of life by planning.

They have well-established monthly and yearly goals for their savings (as well as income) and set milestones and deadlines to achieve them.

And to reach these goals, they’re on the hunt for cutting their expenses in any way they can, looking for opportunities to increase their income (such a side hustle like this one here!), taking financial advice from experts like Dave Ramsey, and celebrating their achievements (once they reach a financial goal).

So definitely take some time to write down what you want your goals to be and where you want to see yourself in a year from now as well (example goals: get rid of “x” amount of debt by “y” date, have “x” amount saved by “y” month,  etc.).

Also, feel free to check out my list of 40 ways to make $100 a day!

Related Topics

11 Smart Money Secrets from the Great Depression

8 Tips That Will Help You Get Rich at Any Age

2. They Prioritize 

After getting clear about their goals, they determine which ones are more important. They don’t try to fulfill all the goals at once – this is a great way to get discouraged.

Instead, they accomplish them in order of importance. They prioritize each activity so that the most important things get done and don’t get left behind.

Think of it this way, instead of keeping busy with tasks, you’re being productive by acting on the things that are going to lower your payments the most, give you the most income, and cut the biggest costs. That way, you won’t be running after your goals for years on end, always out of reach.

Quick Note!

Hey, also want to know the 11 smart tips of people from the Great Depression? Click here to check them out!

3. They Have the Right Mindset

The Japanese have a saying called “Ganbarimasu” which means “Do your best!” When my husband and I lived in Japan, we  saw “ganbarimasu” EVERYWHERE. There service was always excellent (and always done with an incredible attitude). And so many things (like their trains) ran on time. They were a culture of excellence.

And people who always have money focus on doing their best when it comes to work. When you put in the extra work, but also makes sure it’s high quality, you’re probably going to start seeing major improvements in your income. And when you apply for a job that pays you more, your review is most likely going to be out of this world!

4. Learning

People who always have money know that they should never stop learning. They know that they must be constantly looking for new ideas and expanding their knowledge. 

They’re finding books that challenge the way they think about investments, saving money, and paying off debt.

The more knowledge they can pull from successful people, the more likely they are to BECOME successful.

5. They Get Financial Education

If they feel that they are not getting the knowledge they need from books or the internet, they go to classes like Financial Peace University.

Taking a class like this helps them get out of the debt they’re drowning in, gives them financials freedom, and a future that leads to retirement. 

6. They Measure Risks

Remember this, don’t let your feelings drive the car.

Your feelings can be in the passenger or backseat, but never the ones behind the wheel.

And when it comes to making purchases, big and small, you need to put your reason in the drivers seat. Make sure you are keeping your goals in mind when you’re about to purchase something. Make financial freedom more important than the wants and desires that pop up in life.

7. They Listen to Podcasts & Find NEW Ideas (Like Retiring in Your 30’s)

Besides books, they’re learning about investing, RETIRING IN YOUR 30’S (yep, that’s a thing and you can read about it here!), and getting out of debt. There are so many possibilities when it comes to learning audibly while on your way to or from work or in the shower.

8. They Follow a Budget

People who always have money follow a budget. They have a plan on how much they’ll spend and which bills they need to pay and when. They constantly have money because they’re able to follow through with this.

Side Note: You can check out my post on 40 different FREE budget printables here!

9. They Have Different Bank Accounts

These people also have different bank accounts so that they can keep their savings in a place that’s not as easy to reach. It’s  honestly such a simple but awesome money hack!

10. They Have an Emergency Fund

They have funds put away for emergencies. This helps them make sure they’ll never panic about the unexpected happening. Things like a trip to the hospital, car problems, or a family emergency.

And if you’d like to read more on building your own emergency fund, then definitely check out my post on how to do that here!

11. They Avoid Credit Cards

If you’re someone who struggles with overspending, then one of the first steps you can take towards financial freedom is to cut them up…  immediately.

And keeping credit cards around for emergencies will only help you go into even more debt, which is why you want to have an emergency fund already in place.

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An old Chinese proverbs says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.” So… are you ready to start your journey towards financial freedom right now?