You can make $300,000 a year and still need payday to hurry the hell up (40% of $300k + earners report living paycheck-to-paycheck). A big paycheck helps. But what you do with it matters. Let’s talk about five rich habits vs. broke habits.

🚗 The Car

The broke move: Walk into a dealership with one question: “What’s the monthly payment?”

The rich move: Research and show up with data. Negotiate the sticker price. Then calculate the actual cost: interest, insurance, maintenance, fuel, and depreciation over 5 years. This is called total cost of ownership.

👕 The Clothes

The broke move: Buy the expensive shirt because everyone will recognize the logo.

The rich move: Buy clothes that are comfortable and worth the money, regardless of the brand.

Spending more on something you love? Great. Spending more so strangers think you have money? Expensive hobby.

✈️ The Vacation

The broke move: Put the trip on a credit card. “I’ll figure it out when I get back.”

The rich move: Save for the trip before booking it. Use the card for points if you want, with the money ready to pay the bill in full.

Nothing ruins the vacation afterglow quite like making minimum payments on cauliflower florets resembling chicken wings you ate in Portland.

💸 The Paycheck

The broke move: Spend first. Save whatever’s left. No automation whatsoever.

We know how that movie ends. We also need to acknowledge the cost of living and the economic opportunities (do the best you can).

The rich move: Build an automated payday routine. Direct deposit into checking account (manual deposits). Auto transfer to your high yield savings and investment accounts. Spend the rest guilt free on whatever you want (lot's of new video games coming out, omg. Let us know what y'all are hyped for).

🏡 The House

The broke move: Buy based on the monthly payment your real estate agent says you can afford (similar to the car salesperson conversation). Become house broke and get stressed tf out every time you want to buy coffee (we see it often).

The rich move: Calculate the full cost before making the largest purchase of your life. Mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, closing costs, and any HOA fees.

Before your next big purchase, ask: “What will this actually cost me?”

Thanks,

— Imran