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.
50% Of People Who Earn Six Figures Live Paycheck To Paycheck
I know people who do it every day. But are we really surprised by this fact?
Most people live above their means, and the more money we make, the more we spend. We’re addicted to spending more than we earn because that is what society teaches us; not only that, but everyone else is doing it, too.
You’d be surprised about the people who earn millions of dollars and have nice things, but all of their things might be taken away tomorrow or within the next year because they consistently overspend.
Making Good Money Won’t Change Your Habits
Making “good” money doesn’t mean anything if you don’t know how to manage it. A good indication of how you will manage six figures is how you manage your money before you earn six figures.
You won’t magically manage your money better if you start earning more money. That’s not how it works.
If you’re in debt now before you earn six figures, you will be in debt after you start earning that amount.
If you’re spending more than you earn now, you will spend more than you earn when you bring in six figures.
You won’t budget with six figures if you’re not budgeting now.
If you’re maxing out your credit cards now, you will most likely get increased credit limits and max out your credit cards when you earn six figures, too.
You won’t finally have more than enough; you will find it even easier to spend more money because you have more money to spend.
As You Work To Reach Your Financial Goal…
Focus on improving all the habits that are not moving you forward financially. The sooner you can work on them, the sooner you can positively impact your money situation.
Create a budget, and follow the budget.
Continually decrease your expenses by eliminating them.
Live below your means; never spend more than you earn.
Never utilize more than 30% of your credit cards, and always pay off your credit cards by the end of the month.
Set firm financial boundaries with your family, friends, and all others who may have or ask for access to your money.
Figure out a way to save 10–50% of your income. The more you save and invest, the more wealth you will build over time.
Money Does One Thing
First off, money doesn’t change people; it reveals who they are. So the question is, who are you now, and do you like who that is? Is your money situation healthy, or is it in an unhealthy place?
Make the changes now before you come into more money.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.