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Life of a millionaire without millions: 10 accessible habits
02.07.2024 20:15
Do you dream of living the life of a millionaire? Accumulating wealth can take many years.
But you don't necessarily need a large fortune to start living like a millionaire.
Here are ten lifestyle habits of the rich that don't require any money at all.
Be in shape
There is a strong negative correlation between wealth and obesity in developed countries. Why? Contrary to popular belief, the rich are not thinner because healthy eating is more expensive or they can afford personal trainers. They are thinner because they think more about what they eat.
They are willing to give up the short-term pleasure of a sugar rush for the long-term reward of really tasty food, good health and a beautiful appearance.
In developed countries (where calories are cheap), food choices are determined by three factors: stress, culture, and availability. Stress is the primary determinant of time-based food preferences.
Chronic stress makes you unable to make wise dietary decisions, and dietary sugar is the primary pharmacological compound you use to combat stress. Sugar and other processed carbohydrates are the leading cause of obesity.
If you learn to cope with stress, you will be able to cope with your addictions.
Wear well-fitting clothes
Fashionable rich people don't look stylish because they can afford luxury brands. They are stylish because they know about shape and style. You don't have to go to a haute couture tailor to dress well: you can find something that suits you in a budget store.
You just need to do some free online research and make a conscious effort to build your wardrobe. Avoid wearing baggy clothes - they make you look like a teenager and create a sloppy look.
Buy fitted clothes that show off your curves. Having your trousers tailored is inexpensive.
Don't be late
The rich are not always punctual, and the poor are not always late. But more often than not, wealthy people know where they can be late and where they can’t, and they are usually involved in the process at an event.
In a 2019 experiment involving 2,250 adults, Harvard psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert found that the human brain is hardwired for constant distraction, concluding that the average person spends 47 percent of every waking hour “mind wandering.” You rarely notice it.
As with diet, the root cause of mental disengagement is often stress: It’s easier to be present when you have the self-discipline and can spend money to eliminate distractions. But if you’re poor, that’s not going to happen.
All relationships and possessions require time and money. Some relationships and possessions provide benefits and positive income, while others are a burden.
When you're poor, it's much easier for the little things to weigh you down, so you have to keep your burdens to a minimum. Parties are expensive. Owning a car is expensive.
Owning the latest iPhone is expensive. Letting go of attachments that aren’t vital to your long-term success can be liberating and a path to prosperity.
Take care of your appearance
No amount of wealth will make your body look younger. However, there are free or inexpensive ways to significantly slow down aging and look younger.
Here are some tips for both women and men:
- Use sun protection. Sun exposure is the leading cause of photoaging, which dermatologists call irreversible damage to the skin caused by the sun. Wearing protective clothing and using sunscreen is much cheaper than very expensive facial and body rejuvenation treatments;
- Follow a grooming regime: well-groomed hair is of great importance in the appearance of both men and women;
- Take care of your hygiene: Things like brushing your teeth, washing your face and using moisturizer daily really do make you look much younger and prevent premature aging.
Create a big family
There is a link between poverty and having more children. The high cost of raising children is one of the main reasons why parents are reluctant to have children.
Children are expensive at any income level because parents' expectations increase proportionally with income. Raising children should not consume your entire salary.
The mistake many people make is thinking that being a good parent means spending money on the outward signs of being a good parent, rather than spending time on being a parent. For example, you can work with your child yourself, rather than hiring expensive tutors.
Work on a successful marriage
There is a strong link between divorce, single parenthood and poverty. Why are poor people more likely to divorce? It may be due to an inability and unwillingness to negotiate conflict: any relationship takes work and is stressful.
Successful couples can take the time to talk because they are managing their stress. Couples who divorce have a build-up of stress and resentment.
Research shows that the number one reason relationships fail is "lack of commitment." But why are some couples not in the mood for a relationship?
Because it doesn't create value for them. Once the sensual aspect fades, the inherent frictions of human relationships can outweigh the positive aspects of partnership. Many poor people get divorced for the same reason they gain weight.
Complain less
Rich people are happier, while poor people are much more likely to be depressed. Part of the reason is that the rich can solve the problem with money.
The more fundamental reason is that the poor have a scarcity mindset and the rich have an abundance mindset.
The abundance mindset sees the universe as full of possibilities—for friendship, love, and financial success.
In contrast, scarcity thinking views everything as a fixed pie and leads to hoarding, envy, and stagnation in virtually every aspect of life.
Poor people with a scarcity mindset think that if their neighbor has something good, whether it's a possession or a relationship, it's unavailable to them. So they complain about a cruel, unfair universe.
Wealthy people with an abundance mindset view the success of others as a source of inspiration: if their neighbor has a successful marriage, a beautiful home, or a successful business, then there is something to learn from.
The universe is full of possibilities, so there is no reason to complain about failure. Changing your mindset from blaming others to seeing new possibilities is the key to success and happiness.
Learn to enjoy great art
While the rich can afford an original Banksy painting on their wall, the world's greatest paintings are on display in public museums, and great music and films are almost free to you - if only you develop a taste for it.
Developing a taste for great art takes patience and time, you have to put in the time and effort.
Keep your house clean
Yes, the rich can hire housekeepers to clean up after them. But if you are poor, you have an advantage that they do not have - you have less stuff and less space to store it. Although weekly cleaning is necessary in every home, organization is more important.
By putting things away after you use them (and teaching your children to do the same), you can keep your home from getting cluttered in the first place.
The unkempt appearance of poor households has another reason: a scarcity mentality. People hoard things they don't need because they're afraid they won't be able to buy them again. But possessions you don't need now only drain you.
Things take up physical and mental space in your life. Get rid of things you don't need.
You can exchange unnecessary things for what you really need at the moment. In this way, you free yourself from physical and mental baggage.
Don't worry about money
A high income is no guarantee of financial security. If your expenses exceed your income, you will never have financial security.
True wealth is not measured by income, but by financial security - the confidence that if your income decreases, it will not affect your lifestyle.
The solution to money stress is simple - live within your means and build an emergency fund. It's easier not to worry about money when you're young and broke.
When you're just starting out, all you need to worry about is living within your means and building your emergency fund with cash.
When you are rich, very little of your net worth is cash. You must balance your net worth between businesses, real estate, securities, and other assets.
Managing your portfolio becomes a part-time job unless you hire expensive money managers, which is another problem.
Earlier it was reported that Russia sharply increased its income from the export of a key resource.
