Okay, Millionaires grab your favorite mug, maybe a slightly chipped one like mine, and let’s just… chat. I’ve got some thoughts brewing, and they’re all about money. Not in a stuffy, “let’s balance our checkbooks perfectly” kind of way, but more like, “Hey, remember that time I almost bought a unicorn floatie for my bathtub?” kind of way. Yeah, budgeting. Fun, right? Well, it can be. Especially when you snag some budgeting tips from millionaires that aren’t about being perfect, but about being smart and still living your life.
Cracking the Code: My Totally Unconventional Journey to Not Being Broke (As Often)
So, listen. I’m not a millionaire. Not even close. My bank account usually looks like it’s had a fight with a toddler and lost. But I’ve been around the block a few times, written a few hundred of these blog posts (some good, some… well, let’s just say they were character-building), and I’ve picked up a thing or two. And one of the things that’s always fascinated me is how people who have a lot of money actually handle their money. You’d think it’s all private jets and caviar dreams, right? Nope. Turns out, a lot of them are… shockingly normal. And sometimes, dare I say it, a bit frugal.
It all started, I think, when I was trying to figure out why my bank balance kept doing the Limbo dance – how low can it go? I was scrolling through some random financial news (yeah, I do that, don’t judge) and stumbled upon this article about how some crazy rich CEO still drives a beat-up car or something. And it just clicked. Like, duh. It’s not about how much you make, it’s about how much you keep. You ever feel like that? Like you’re on this hamster wheel, and no matter how fast you run, you’re just… running? Yeah. Been there. Millionaires Still getting off it, sometimes.
The Millionaire Mindset (It’s Not What You Think, Trust Me)
I remember this one time, back in, oh, probably 2017? I was trying to save up for this ridiculously expensive camera lens. Like, rent money expensive. And I was failing. Miserably. Every time I’d get a little extra cash, poof! It was gone. A new pair of shoes, that fancy coffee maker I absolutely needed (spoiler: I didn’t), whatever. My brain was like, “You deserve this! Treat yo’ self!” But my bank account was screaming, “HELP ME I’M BROKE!”
That’s when I really started looking into how the big shots do it. Not the ones who inherited their millions (though good for them, I guess), but the ones who built it. And what I found was kinda wild. It wasn’t about deprivation, or, like, eating ramen for every meal (unless you like ramen, then go for it). It was about intentionality Millionaires.
1. They Pay Themselves First (Like, Seriously)
This one? This is the granddaddy of all budgeting tips from millionaires. Every single one of them, practically, shouts this from the rooftops. It’s not “pay your bills, then maybe save if there’s anything left.” Oh no, honey. It’s “save first, then pay your bills, and then, if there’s anything left, then you can think about that unicorn floatie.”
My initial reaction to this was: “Are you kidding me? I barely have enough to pay my bills now!” But then I tried it. I started with something tiny. Like, $20 every paycheck. I set up an automatic transfer to a separate savings account I barely looked at. And guess what? I didn’t even miss it. It was like magic. That twenty bucks just… vanished before I could spend it.
It’s like setting your future self up for success. You’re literally paying yourself for all the hard work you do. Think of it as a mandatory tax, but the government is your awesome future self who wants to retire on a beach somewhere. Or, you know, buy that ridiculously expensive camera lens without going bankrupt.
- Pro Tip from My Brain: Make it automatic. Seriously. Out of sight, out of mind. If you have to manually transfer it, you’ll talk yourself out of it. You’ll be like, “Oh, just this once, I’ll keep the extra…” And then it’s gone. Poof. Like that last piece of pizza when you weren’t looking Millionaires.
2. They Know Where Their Money Goes (No, Really Know)
Okay, this one is probably the least sexy of the tips, but it’s crucial. I used to be terrible at this. Absolutely terrible. My budgeting system was basically: “Money in, money out, then panic.” My bank statements were a mystery novel. What was that $7.83 charge from “Binky’s Burgers”? Did I really eat that many burgers? (The answer was probably yes, but still.)
Millionaires? They track their spending. Not always with fancy software or a team of accountants for their personal finances, but they know. They’re aware of what’s coming in and what’s going out. It’s not about being stingy; it’s about being informed. It’s like having a map when you’re going on a road trip. You wouldn’t just hop in the car and hope for the best, right? (Well, sometimes I do, but that’s a different blog post.)
I started by just jotting down every single thing I spent money on for a week. Every coffee, every snack, every impulse buy at the grocery store. It was eye-opening. And a little horrifying. Turns out, I was spending enough on takeout coffee to fund a small country’s caffeine addiction. And that’s when I realized, “Oh. That’s where the money goes.”
- My Quirky Method: I actually have a little notebook I carry around. Yeah, an actual paper one. Sometimes I’ll just snap a picture of a receipt and deal with it later. It’s messy, it’s not perfect, but it works for me. You do you. Maybe it’s an app, maybe it’s a spreadsheet, maybe it’s just yelling at your bank statement. Whatever. Just know.
3. They Don’t Try to Keep Up with the Joneses (The Joneses Are Probably Broke Anyway)
This one. Oh, this one is a classic. You know how it goes. Your neighbor gets a new car, suddenly your car feels old and sad. Your friend posts pictures of their fancy vacation, and you start looking up flights to Bali even though you’ve got two nickels to rub together. It’s human nature, I guess, but it’s also a fast track to financial ruin.
The truly wealthy people I’ve read about, the ones who built their fortunes, they often don’t care about flashy stuff. They care about value. They care about quality. They’d rather buy a solid, reliable car that lasts for years than lease a brand new luxury car every two. They’d rather invest in experiences or things that genuinely improve their lives than just buy stuff to impress other people. Because, let’s be real, the people you’re trying to impress probably aren’t even looking. They’re too busy trying to impress their Joneses. It’s a vicious cycle.
I actually saw this play out with a friend of mine. She was always buying designer bags she couldn’t afford, eating at super expensive restaurants, just because her friends were doing it. And she was always stressed, always short on cash. Meanwhile, another friend, who actually had a decent amount of money, drove an older car, wore perfectly nice but not flashy clothes, and spent her money on travel and learning new skills. Guess who was happier? (Spoiler: The one not trying to impress anyone.)
4. They Invest (Even Small Amounts, Consistently)
This is where it gets a little less “fun coffee chat” and a little more “okay, I need to pay attention.” But it’s so, so important. I used to think investing was for, like, Wall Street types in fancy suits, yelling at screens. My eyes would glaze over. My brain would go, “Nope. Too complicated. I’ll just shove my money under the mattress.” (Don’t do that, by the way. Seriously, don’t.)
But here’s the thing: millionaires, even the ones who started with nothing, often became millionaires by investing. And not necessarily by picking the next Amazon or Apple. A lot of it is just consistent investing in broad market index funds. Sounds boring, right? It is! But boring in this case means effective.
It’s like planting a tiny seed. You don’t see it grow overnight. For a while, nothing seems to happen. But if you keep watering it, keep giving it sun, eventually, it becomes a tree. A money tree! (Okay, maybe not a literal money tree, but you get the idea.)
I started with a micro-investing app. Literally, I think it was like $5 a week. It felt like nothing. But then, after a year, I looked, and it had actually grown! Not enough to buy a private island, but enough to make me think, “Holy cow, this actually works!” It’s the power of compound interest, which sounds like a math problem, but it’s actually just magic.
5. They’re Millionaires Always Learning (Seriously, Always)
This one isn’t directly about budgeting, but it underpins everything else. The financially successful people I’ve encountered (through books, podcasts, interviews, or just observing from afar like a friendly stalker) are readers. They’re listeners. They’re curious. They’re constantly trying to understand more about money, Millionaires business, and how the world works.
I used to think I knew it all. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t. Still don’t.) But now, I try to read a few financial articles a week. Listen to a podcast while I’m doing dishes. Just pick up bits and pieces. You don’t have to become an economist overnight. Just be open to new ideas. Because the world changes, and so does money. And if you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.
Like, remember when everyone thought Blockbuster was the future? Yeah. Things change.
6. Millionaires Value Time Over Money (Eventually)
This is a big one for me, and one I’m still working on. Early on, it’s all about making money. Hustle, hustle, hustle. But once you start building some financial stability, the shift happens. Millionaires often start to prioritize their time. Because time, unlike money, is finite. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.
This might mean outsourcing tasks they don’t enjoy (like cleaning or yard work, for me it’s trying to assemble IKEA furniture, absolute nightmare). It might mean saying “no” to opportunities that pay well but drain their energy. It’s about being intentional with where you spend your most valuable asset.
I’m trying to embrace this more. Sometimes I’ll pay a little extra for convenience if it means I get an hour back to write, or spend with my dog, or just stare blankly at the wall (highly underrated activity, by the way). It’s not about being lazy; it’s about valuing your own Millionaires life.
7. They’re Not Afraid of Being “Cheap” (Sometimes)
Okay, this might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out. You’d think someone with millions would just buy whatever they want, right? But I’ve heard countless stories of really wealthy people who still do things like:
- Cut coupons: My grandma used to do this, and she was far from a millionaire, but hey, if it works for the rich, maybe she was onto something.
- Buy things on sale: Imagine! They don’t always pay full price.
- Fix things instead of replacing them: This one blows my mind. My immediate thought is usually, “Oh, it’s broken? New one!” But they’ll often try to repair it first. Sustainable and smart.
It’s not about being miserly for miserly’s sake. It’s about being thoughtful with their money. It’s about not wasting resources. It’s about realizing that a dollar saved is a dollar earned. And when you’re thinking in millions, those dollars add up fast.
I remember my first car, a total clunker. The AC didn’t work, the passenger window sometimes just… fell down. I thought I needed a new car so badly. But my dad, who’s pretty smart with money, helped me fix the window and told me to just roll the other one down for AC. He was right. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked, and it saved me a ton. Sometimes being a little “cheap” is just being practical.
The Messy Reality of Millionaires Getting There (Because Life Ain’t a Straight Line)
Look, none of this is easy. And it’s certainly not a straight line. I’ve had plenty of financial screw-ups. Like that time I accidentally signed up for three different streaming services I never used. Or when I spent way too much on artisanal pickles. (They were good pickles, but still.)
The point isn’t perfection. It’s consistency. It’s trying. It’s making mistakes and then learning from them. It’s about taking these budgeting tips from millionaires and adapting them to your life, your income, your goals. Because if I can start to get my financial life in some semblance of order, stumbling and bumbling along the way, then you absolutely can too.
So, go forth. Pay yourself first. Know where your money goes. Don’t try to impress anyone. Invest (even a little). Keep learning. Value your time. And maybe, just maybe, be a little “cheap” sometimes. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear my dog demanding a walk. Budgeting can wait for a minute.
Outbound Link Suggestions:
- A hilarious but surprisingly insightful take on the “Latte Factor” from a personal finance blogger who isn’t afraid to be real: [Link to a blog like “The Financial Diet” or “Budgets Are Sexy” but a specific humorous post, for example, on small splurges.]
- A quirky list of things rich people do that actually save them money, like maybe a lesser-known Forbes article or an interesting Reddit thread on r/personal finance.
