There’s always room for improvement in life, and when it comes to personal finances, there are plenty of lessons all of us could learn from the super rich.
Whether you’re looking for a few tips to help you earn more money or are looking for good habits to improve your life, here’s how the ultra-wealthy spend their time and use their money, according to financial planners.
1. They set goals for their dreams
Tom Corley, an accountant, financial planner, and author of Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, says that one thing wealthy people do nearly every day is setting goals for things they want to achieve. Corley says that 80% of the wealthy people he interviewed spent an hour a day doing this.
Sitting down and putting your ideas down on paper is not only easy to do, but you’re also 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down, according to research from Dr. Gail Matthews.
2. They stay out of debt
Certified Financial Planner Faron Daugs told CNBC a few years ago that his wealthy clients — who didn’t inherit money — avoid debt and try to pay off what they owe quickly. This may mean avoiding high-interest credit cards and other forms of consumer debt.
America’s credit card debt topped $1 trillion recently, indicating that many of us would benefit from developing a strategy to consolidate debt and eliminate it.
3. They learn new things
Most rich people Corley wrote about took an hour daily to learn something new or perfect a skill enough to be proficient. It doesn’t have to be related to your job, either. For example, billionaire and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has learned jiu-jitsu and competes in tournaments.
4. They have emergency funds
While most financial experts recommend having three to six months’ worth of expenses in a savings account, the wealthy have six to nine months saved up, according to Daugs. If you need help starting your emergency fund, open up a high-yield savings account and aim to save $1,000.
5. They exercise
While it may not benefit your bottom line — unless you’re a YouTube workout influencer — getting regular exercise is good for your physical health, reduces stress, and helps your mental focus. You don’t need an expensive gym membership either; you can easily meet your fitness goals on a budget.
6. They build relationships
Corley’s research found that 90% of rich people he spoke with spend 30 minutes per day building relationships. Some of it was networking, but others simply made sure to make contact with the people they knew, whether it was for a life event or just to say hello.
7. They have additional income streams
The super rich invest their money and diversify their income streams, such as by owning rental properties. You can start following in their footsteps by buying a few stocks, renting out a room in your home, or starting a side hustle.
The super rich take practical steps
You might have noticed that none of these habits are earth-shattering. Much of the super rich’s habits are just simple, practical steps toward improving their lives.
And while most of us don’t have access to the same resources as the ultra-wealthy, it doesn’t mean we can’t learn a few good habits from them. For example, I’ve been considering signing up for an online learning platform, like MasterClass, just for fun. When I came across the research about the super rich learning new skills, it reminded me I should follow through with the idea.
There’s likely one habit on this list you might not be putting into practice that you can learn from. I chose learning something new because it was already on my mind…and, maybe, because exercising is hard.