
As a girl, I put off homework until it felt overwhelming. I’d hide in my room, read, snack, or talk on the phone, then stay up late or throw something together at 5:00 a.m. It didn’t work—I was stressed and unhappy. Avoiding unpleasant tasks never helped.
Debt and unpaid credit card bills are the financial version of that avoidance. Ignoring them only makes you feel worse. Over time I learned to break big tasks into small steps and focus on one piece at a time. That simple habit eased my anxiety and made me productive. I finished college and earned two master’s degrees because I learned to chip away consistently.
Bad money habits work the same way: the more you practice them, the worse your finances—and your mood—get. Changing didn’t happen instantly, but small, steady shifts did the trick. This guide walks you through bite-sized money steps so you can build healthier habits and remove financial stress.
How to Get Rich lays out practical strategies to:
– Eliminate debt quickly and systematically.
– Build cash for emergencies, vacations, a home down payment, and retirement.
– Spend wisely on things that matter and get more value from every dollar.
– Buy the right amount of insurance at the lowest cost to stay protected.
– Grow the money you invest.
– Max out contributions to your 401(k).
You don’t need to master credit card fine print or watch the stock market daily. The key is this: if you don’t pay your credit card balance in full each month, you’re wasting a lot of money—sometimes thousands. That difference can be the gap between building wealth and falling behind.
Read the book quickly if you like—skip sections that don’t apply. To achieve financial success you must learn the basics of personal finance. This book strips out jargon and focuses on essential, practical steps to set up systems that build lasting wealth.
The single best long-term money habit is simple: arrange to transfer a small amount from each paycheck into a retirement or investment account. Ask your employer to set it up, start with as much as you can, and after a few weeks you won’t miss it. Every few months add $30 or a little more. You’ll barely notice the increases, and over time those contributions grow significantly.
Start today. Put these quick, simple strategies into practice so you can stop worrying about bills, save for what matters, and live without constant money stress.
What is your wealth-building strategy? Which money topic interests you most?