Most people aren’t struggling because life is unfair.
They’re struggling because their habits are undisciplined, their standards are low, and their money decisions are emotional.
Wealth is not complicated.
It’s not confusing.
And it’s not mystical.
It’s rules.
Follow them and you build freedom.
Ignore them and you build chaos.
There is no middle ground.
Here are the rules I follow — the ones that have kept my financial life clean, stable, and growing.
1. Spend far less than you earn.
If you don’t master this, nothing else matters.
2. Pay yourself first every single month.
Your future isn’t optional. Treat it like a bill that must be paid. I don’t even consider the whereabouts of money I invest. It’s gone. I treat it like I’ve never seen it in my life.
3. Keep rent around 10–15% of your net income (or lower).
Housing is the silent killer of wealth.
4. Avoid car payments as much as possible.
Repairs are cheaper than loans. If you finance, have the cash to buy it outright.
5. Track your money every day.
Daily watch = no surprises.
6. Build 3–6+ income streams.
One income is a liability.
7. Keep your net worth positive at all times.
Stability first. Growth second.
8. Max out your employer match and contribute the max.
Free money is not up for debate.
9. Invest while you pay off debt.
Time beats perfection.
10. Never stop learning about money.
Your income grows when your mind does.
11. Buy only what you actually want and will use.
Everything else is emotional clutter.
12. Use credit cards for points — or not at all.
Tools, not temptations.
13. Monitor your credit like security footage.
Fraud hides in passivity.
14. Increase your income every year.
Your lifestyle shouldn’t outpace your ambition.
15. Be cautious with habits that drain money.
Convenience becomes addiction fast.
16. Live with family or roommates until you’re truly free.
Cash flow builds wealth faster than pride.
17. Don’t date financially reckless people.
Chaos is contagious.
18. Don’t have kids you can’t afford.
Reality > fantasy.
19. Open an investment account for your kid immediately after conception.
Time is their inheritance.
20. Never let anyone else manage your money.
Advice is useful. Control is non-negotiable.
21. Repair your car before replacing it.
New doesn’t mean necessary. I repaired my car for ten years, over and over and over and over and over again.
22. Live in places you can afford.
If you want the vibe, travel — don’t financially drown in it.
23. Don’t spend to impress anyone.
Ego purchases are the dumbest purchases.
24. Take in financial advice but decide for yourself.
Discernment builds wealth. Blind copying destroys it. If I would have waited to pay of debt to invest, I would have considerably less.
25. Avoid student loans if you can.
Scholarships, programs, jobs — exhaust every option first.