Give me 5 min of your life to share the money habits of the rich I discovered during my insurance career.
Most people believe that building wealth is simple: get a good education, land a high-paying job, and you’re set.
I believed that too.
And to be fair — it works… to a point.
You can earn 100K, 150K, even more, and still feel like your life isn’t really yours. Your time is scheduled, your days are rushed, and no matter how much you earn, you’re still trading hours for money.
So what’s missing?
Here’s the shift that changed everything for me:
Wealth is not about how much you earn. It’s about how much you keep — and how you structure your income.
In this article, I’ll show you the money habits of the rich that helped me go from having almost nothing to building real financial comfort – and all through a corporate career and intentional money decisions.
Why a High Salary Alone Won’t Make You Wealthy
You might be earning a great salary right now. On paper, everything looks right. You did what you were supposed to do.
But let me ask you this: If your income stopped tomorrow, how long could you maintain your lifestyle?
That’s where the difference between income and wealth becomes very real.
Because earning 150K per year doesn’t automatically make you wealthy. You can:
- earn a lot
- spend a lot
- and still build… nothing.
This is where most people get stuck — especially in high-cost environments.
I’ve seen this among my colleagues: they earn more, but they immediately upgrade their lifestyles, too. I get it, having nice clothes, a fancy bag or better apartment feels good. But it is not about showing off to anyone. You may look “wealthy”, but you actually have just higher spending—and sometimes even more liabilities!
This is a key mistake you must avoid.
The problem with upgrading your lifestyle after a salary increase is that the margin between your earnings and spending often stays the same. And what does that mean?
It means you don’t have more money left to build real wealth.
In my own journey, moving from having almost nothing to becoming financially comfortable didn’t come from income alone. It came from building intentional money habits.
The Real Metric: Net Worth (Not Just Salary)
The number that actually matters is not your salary – It’s your net worth. Which basically means: everything you own minus everything you owe. Savings, investments, assets — minus any liabilities.
This is exactly what determines whether you are actually building wealth or just… maintaining a lifestyle.
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: You can have a high income and a low net worth.
And that’s exactly what happens when your lifestyle grows with your salary!
This is the secret and one of the most important money habits of the rich: they focus on growing net worth, not just income.
Let me share a personal example. When we decided to have our first baby, we initially wanted to move into a bigger apartment. But we quickly realized that adding just one more room would almost double our rent.
So we paused and re-evaluated our priorities — not just our lifestyle, but our long-term financial goals.
Instead of upgrading, we made a conscious decision to stay in our current apartment, even with a child. In the short term, it felt like a downgrade in comfort. But in reality, it was a strategic choice for long-term financial stability and wealth building.
Why This Matters (Especially If You Want More Time)
Most people don’t want to only earn more. They want to get comfortable and closer to financial freedom. So if your goal is:
- more time with your child
- a slower, more intentional life
- flexibility in your day
Then income alone is not enough. You need: a gap between what you earn and what you spend
Because that gap is what allows you to:
- save
- invest
- build assets
- create options
And options are what create freedom.
👉 This is the foundation of all wealth-building habits.
So let me share with you my 12 money habits of the rich I learned.
12 Money Habits That Helped Me Build Wealth While Working a Corporate Job
1. I Focused on Saving Before Increasing My Lifestyle
One of the biggest mistakes people make is increasing their lifestyle every time their income grows. During my university, I got an internship that allowed me to save 3,000 on my bank account (I still remember it clearly!).
I could have spent it on nice clothes or make-up.
But instead, I made a conscious decision to save first and upgrade later (and yes, I eventually did).
This allowed me to build financial security instead of just increasing my spending and taught me the importance of saving money as one of the core money habits of the rich.
2. I Took Consistent Action to Increase My Income
Earning more isn’t just about working harder — it’s about being smarter. You can exchange your time for money, but you can also increase your hourly rate. How?
I focused on:
- doing my job well
- taking initiative
- and positioning myself for growth
If you don’t see potential for growth in your current company, let me share a secret: changing companies is often the fastest way to increase your income.
Your current market value is probably higher than what your employer is currently paying you. They assume that since you’ve been with them for a certain amount of time, you will stay.
That’s why one of the most practical money habits is to regularly test your market value. Try applying to different companies. You don’t even need to accept an offer — but it will give you a clear idea of your salary potential.
3. I Optimized My Location for Income Potential
Where you live matters. Living in a high-income environment naturally:
- increases salary levels
- exposes you to higher standards
- and creates better opportunities
But it also requires discipline to avoid lifestyle inflation.
When I finished university, I decided to move countries. I saw higher income potential elsewhere and followed through.
It wasn’t always easy, but this decision had a direct impact on my ability to earn more and build wealth faster.
So take action when opportunities appear — your environment plays a bigger role in your financial growth than you might think.
4. I Invested in High-Return Education
Most people think having a higher education will get them a good job. And yes, that is often true. However, not all work is valued equally on the market.
One hour of work of a doctor is not valued the same as one hour of work of a shop assistant.
So not all education is equal.
I chose a path that allowed me to:
- earn a strong income
- and build financial stability
I clearly remember the process. I was finishing high school and needed to choose a university.
I asked myself: I like math — which high-paying jobs require math? And I literally googled it.
That decision shaped my entire financial trajectory.
Education is one of the most powerful long-term investments — but only if you choose it strategically.
5. I Started Thinking Long-Term — Even When It Was Uncomfortable
Looking back, I wish I had invested more in 2020 and 2021.
Once you have a few months of expenses saved, one of the easiest ways to invest is consistently investing in ETFs — for example, the same amount every month.
I knew about it… but I was too intimidated and hesitant to invest more at the beginning. I only invested a fraction of what I could until I gained confidence and gradually increased my investments.
Now I have double-digit returns, but they could have been even higher if I had invested more during the market crash in 2020 and 2021.
But the lesson is clear:
Wealth is built through long-term thinking and consistent action — not emotional reactions to short-term market movements.
This is one of the most important wealth-building habits you can develop.
6. I Took Calculated Risks (Not Blind Ones)
Building wealth requires stepping out of pure security — but not recklessly. I focused on:
- making informed decisions,
- understanding risks,
- and not being afraid to act when something made sense.
I am a very risk-averse person — meaning that I don’t like to take many risks. Because of that, my investments are rather conservative:
- lower risk
- lower return
- but focused on long-term growth
Adapt your financial strategy to your own risk tolerance, but always make sure you fully understand what you’re putting your money into.
7. I Track Where My Money Actually Goes
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Tracking spending gives you:
- awareness
- controland clarity
Without this, it’s very easy to lose control — even with a high income.
So literally every month, I track where all of my money goes. I have several categories, like food, restaurants, fun, transport, rent, and even things like a cleaning lady.
Some of these categories are essential, like food, rent, and public transport. Others are more of a luxury, like a cleaning lady or restaurants.
The goal is not to restrict myself, but to stay aware. I want to make sure that I don’t overspend on things like clothing or eating out. And if I see something I don’t like, I adjust.
I also know exactly how much money I have and where it is, which enables me to track my progress toward my financial goals — a key part of strong money habits.
8. I Spend Intentionally on What Matters
Not all spending is equal. I prioritize:
- quality over quantity
- long-term value over short-term pleasure
For example:
- a well-made coat over fast fashion
- quality food over constant takeout
But I also avoid unnecessary spending on things that don’t add real value. Sometimes it’s as simple as small everyday decisions.
When I see something like a Coca-Cola or chewing gum, I literally think: this doesn’t bring me any real value, and it’s relatively expensive for what it is. So I skip it.
9. I Use Investing as a Tool to Build Wealth
Saving alone is not enough. Investing is what allows your money to grow over time.
Even small, consistent investments can create significant results in the long term. I know it can feel scary or intimidating at the beginning — but it doesn’t have to be.
I started with relatively safe options:
- ETFs
- company-sponsored investment options
- and savings accounts with interest
Yes, you can take more risk and potentially achieve higher returns — but you don’t have to. What matters most is getting started, because any form of investing moves you forward in your wealth-building journey.
10. I Focus on Adding Value to My Career
Your income is directly tied to the value you bring. The more value you give to your company, the higher return you get.
I focused on:
- being reliable
- delivering results
- and positioning myself for promotions and growth
Corporate success still plays a key role in building a strong financial foundation. So every day I start my corporate job, I ask myself: what is the most important thing I can do today that will bring value to my company?
11. I Take Full Advantage of Corporate Benefits
Many people overlook what’s already available to them. I made sure to:
- understand my benefits
- optimize them
- and use them strategically
This is an often overlooked way to increase your overall compensation.
For example, my company offers discounts in many retail stores. They also offer discounts for public transport. Make sure you don’t miss out on these easy financial gains — they are part of your overall wealth-building habits.
12. I Let My Money Work for Me
Ultimately, the goal is simple: Stop relying only on your time to earn money.
By saving, investing, and making smart decisions, your money can start working for you — instead of the other way around.
I don’t let almost any of my money simply sit idle. My savings that I don’t want to touch, just in case, are still in savings accounts that yield a small percentage of interest per year.
Conclusion
I really hope that these 12 money habits of the rich, based on my own experience, inspire you to take action in your own financial journey.
Building wealth is actually simple — but it is not easy.
It requires:
- discipline,
- consistency,
- control over your spending,
- and the courage to make calculated financial decisions over time.
For me, these habits were the difference between just earning money and actually building financial comfort step by step.
If this resonated with you, feel free to share these money habits with a friend who could use a little push in their financial journey — and leave a comment.
I’d love to hear which habit you’re focusing on first.
