Ten financial basics
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Let’s talk about some of the excuses people give to explain why they aren’t doing so well at money:
I didn’t come from a wealthy background.
My family is not educated like others about money.
I have no clue what I’m doing, and I don’t want to fail.
I’m too old to learn about money; my time is long gone.
Investing and numbers aren’t my thing; it’s complicated.
They didn’t teach personal finance and economics in school.
I don’t need to know about money; my partner handles that.
I’ll never earn enough money to get out of debt; what’s the point?
There are rich and poor people. Not everyone is meant to have money.
I had all the excuses. My family didn’t come from a wealthy background. Both of my parents came from poverty. But for some reason, they had us read personal finance books at the dinner table, got us piggy banks, and set us up with individual retirement accounts at a young age.
I chose to take everything they introduced me to seriously and continued the practice.
But do you need to read financial books at the dinner table, use piggy banks, and start an individual retirement account as a kid to succeed at the money game?
NO.
There is no perfect path to financial success, but there are basics that will help you succeed, and they genuinely are basics.
Money is a relatively easy game to play.
As you continue playing the game of money, the concepts can become more intricate, but you never have to play the complex games if you don’t want to. To succeed at money, you only have to implement the basics.
One of my favorite lessons I’ve learned is how important it is to master the basics. We frequently believe that we need to implement some secret and complex strategy to succeed at money, but this is not true.
You can experience financial freedom at many levels of income. You can experience financial peace and satisfaction without being a millionaire.
I knew early that financial freedom and independence were my priorities. Because of this, I chose to educate myself and continuously seek to build wealth by implementing the basics.
And they work.
If you haven’t applied the basics, learn and apply them. As you apply them, you will notice your financial situation shift.
Ten Financial Basics
1. Stay under your income.
2. Consistently increase your income.
3. Diversify your income.
4. Invest 10% of your income.
5. Establish a 3–12 month emergency fund.
6. Avoid credit card debt.
7. Don’t buy more car than you should.
8. Don’t buy more house than you should.
9. Avoid student loans.
10. Continuous Education
The problem isn’t that the basics don’t work. The problem is that most people refuse to practice them consistently. They want results without restraint.
Progress without patience. Freedom without responsibility.
The basics feel boring because they require repetition, not excitement. They don’t give you a dopamine hit. They don’t make you look impressive. But they quietly change everything over time.
You don’t need a six-figure income to start winning with money. You need discipline, awareness, and the willingness to say no to things that feel good now but cost you later.
Master the basics long enough, and the rest becomes optional. Ignore them, and no strategy in the world will save you.
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This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, tax, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a licensed financial advisor before making financial decisions.