This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
The gap between your income and your lifestyle is where wealth is built.
Here are the rules that changed everything:
My lifestyle stays 3–5 years behind my income.
Earn $100K? Live like you earn $65K.
Get a raise to $130K? Still live like you earn $65K.
That gap goes straight to investments. Every single time.
2. Combine that with the 72-hour rule – anything over $100 gets a 3-day waiting period before I buy it. 70% of the time, the desire fades. I wanted the dopamine, not the thing.
That one rule saves me $5,000+ a year. Costs nothing but patience.
Willpower fails. Rules don’t.
Set your defaults to build wealth and you have to actively override them to mess up.
Most people’s defaults are set to spend. That’s the difference.
And building these defaults takes discipline – the kind that compounds just like your investments.
If you’re getting value from this — sign up for my newsletter, a free daily 5 AM email. Discipline delivered before the sun comes up.
Today’s FL10 Minute Workout: Shoulder HELL
Anywhere • Upper Body • 2 min each
Pike Push-Ups
Shoulder Circles
Y-Raises Plank
Shoulder Taps
Arm Circles
P.S. Which money rule do you follow that makes people think you’re crazy? Reply – I read every one.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.