Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life

by Vivian Tu

If this information is so important to succeeding in life and eventually getting Rich AF, and the information is very much out there and not some big gold-plated secret, then why doesn’t our education system make it a priority? Because a lack of basic financial literacy keeps our working class working.

For now, the point is just that our current system depends on blue-collar workers not having that upward mobility, not having the luxury to leave sucky jobs, to keep a consistent labor force hungry for whatever work they can get.

While we have been told that discussing money is tacky, taboo, and rude, rich people have been discussing their salaries, their tax strategies, and what they’re paying for stuff for generations. It’s been their little secret, the “rule for thee but not for me” that they’re happy to break.

Often rich people are themselves just . . . lazy. But lazy in a brilliant way. Because it’s not just that they don’t want to labor. They simply know that they can’t work around the clock. But you know what can work 24/7? Their money.

The way rich people make and have money is fundamentally different. And one way that it’s fundamentally different is that their wealth is basically invisible.

The mindset rich people have isn’t How do I scrimp and save and keep every last penny locked up in my account? It’s How can I get this money flowing and growing—and waste no time doing it?

Jobs aren’t just about paychecks. They’re cultural, they’re local, and they shape our identity. So suggesting that a “better job” or a “new career” is all it takes to end brokeness forever is hardcore out of touch with reality.

You can only save as much as you earn.

If my manager wasn’t going to push for me, then my career at that company was at a dead end.

I left because I wasn’t going to waste my time, talent, and energy in an environment where the inner circle was very clearly not going to open for me, no matter what. I left because I wasn’t valued the way I should have been, and I wanted to—deserved to—be somewhere my hard work and talent rewarded me too.

Other times, it means getting a whole-ass new job. Because if an environment is toxic or stagnant or otherwise just not going to honor your skills and your talent, you will never earn what you’re worth there. Leaving sucks, but you know what? Their loss.

The easiest way to start is just to get to know people you already work with. Make the rounds in other departments, introduce yourself, understand who’s who around the office beyond who you interact with as part of your role.

The final aspect of networking is pure mindset: always have one foot out the door at your job. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be giving 100 percent, or that you can’t love your boss, love your team, love everything about your work, but—as rich people know—loyalty doesn’t pay these days.

As I learned from my time at both J.P. Morgan and BuzzFeed, there are basically two kinds of workplaces: ones where you can break in, work laterally, and fraternize your way into the inner circle, and ones where, no matter how hard you pat yourself on the back, no matter how good you are, you’re not going to be able to politick your way into the boys’ club.

Having a manager who actually values you and understands how hard and smart you’re working is literally a cheat code for your career, but this person can be your advocate only if (1) they truly see how much you deserve it and (2) they know what you need.

It’s hard to build up a surplus by cutting out everything that brings you joy in your life, but it’s relatively easy to ask for more money at work.

RICH PERSON: Companies are selfish. The only way I’m getting paid fairly is if I’m selfish too.

So I don’t believe that deep down, we should all just be grateful for having a job at all. Because it simply is not sustainable to take less than you’re worth over the long haul. And unless you are truly hand-to-mouth, if your job is shitty and taking advantage of you, then they are not doing you any kind of favor. You are worth more.

A Brag Book is just a collection of cold, hard proof of what you’ve accomplished,

“I understand, and I appreciate you being candid with me. I’d love to make this an ongoing discussion since I’m always looking to grow. What skills or accomplishments would you like to see from me before increasing my pay?”

I do not think we need to spend every waking hour working.

Passion projects can make you a little money, and that’s totally fine, but I do not think every passion project, hobby, or casual pursuit needs to be monetized—and I say this as someone who literally turned a hobby into a job.

So keep a close eye on how much time and money your side hustle is asking of you, and make sure you’re netting back enough to make it worthwhile.

For the work, look for a task that’s straightforward and not too taxing, but different enough from your day-to-day so that it doesn’t drain you or bore you to tears.

Privately, take some time to reflect on your current workplace, office politics, and manager. What does it take to get to the top here? How far could you see yourself going, realistically? Think about whether you want to keep pushing up this ladder or if it might be time to look elsewhere.

Fact is, when it comes to money, if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.

Rich people who used to be broke budget, because that’s how they got to where they are and that’s what’s going to keep them there.

Seriously, if you have any desire to lie down for an extended period of time at any point in your life, you need to invest.

Lifestyle creep is just a fancy way of saying “spending more money as you earn more money.” As people get more and more money coming in from their job or their investments, they can also—if they’re not planning ahead—have just as much money going out the door.

a purchase has value for us when we have more positive feelings about having it than we have negative feelings about not having the money anymore.

I didn’t want to buy more bags. I realized I was overspending—not because I was spending money I didn’t have, but because I wasn’t getting the value I wanted in exchange for that money anymore.

When we start to lose touch with how much work—how much of our blood, sweat, and tears—went into getting those dollars into our bank account, it gets a lot easier to just fritter them away and somehow still end up unsatisfied with what our money got us. Value-based spending changes the question from “Do I have the money for it?” to “Is it worth the work I put in to get that money?”

When expensive, once-in-a-lifetime stuff like this is on the table, it sucks to be in the sticky situation of having to say no, but delaying your own personal financial goals for other people’s life events is not sustainable or fair: you shouldn’t go broke just to see your friends get hitched, and no reasonable person wants their pals to empty out their savings for a girls’ trip.

“Hey, Maddy, I know you’re busy, but transparently, when I agreed to front the payment for the bill, it was my expectation to get paid back. Can you do that as soon as possible? I’m happy to work something out with you over time if you need to.”

And that is why, my friends, I always advise people to have savings and an emergency fund before they begin investing.

Saving will save your ass when you fuck up (or life fucks you over), and it will make your dreams come true when the time is right. Saving will give you the abundance mindset and overall chill of a rich person, and it will give you the lifestyle of a rich person with all the bells, whistles, and all-inclusive cruises your heart desires. Basically, saving is the foundation of financial security.

No, you’re not going to be able to save your way to rich. But you can save yourself out of a paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

By having a good amount in savings, you don’t have to make decisions from a place of desperation. You get to make decisions from a place of abundance.

You know that you have enough money to cover your basic expenses, handle any surprise bills, and gradually build up the cash to buy the stuff that you want. You feel secure, stable, and generally chill.

It all comes back to the fundamental truth of rich people: when you’re rich, your money works for you. When you’re broke, you work for your money.

Saving for stability will make you less desperate for short-term fixes. You won’t be in panic mode. You won’t have to stress over your basic needs being covered.

Because when you’re saving, and your needs are met, and you aren’t stressing constantly about your bills, then you get to graduate and do other cool financial shit, like invest, fund your retirement, buy property, and all the other things that get your money making you money—aka living like a rich person.

I typically like to recommend an emergency fund that’s big enough to cover at least three months, but ideally six months, of living expenses (or even nine months, if the environment is looking recession-y).

Because that’s the thing about emergency funds: they grow with you.

Generally, though, I suggest you pick expenses that are coming up in the next six months to a year. Longer than that and (1) it starts to feel so far off that you lose the sense of purpose you’re getting by giving your dollars a job and (2) you might be better off investing to make that money earn more money (and we’ll get to that).

This “stop buying coffee” advice comes from a very traditional school of savings thought: that even though a few dollars here and there is not a lot of money per se, it can and does add up over time.

small habitual choices add up over time,

It’s just that making enough of those small purchases may prevent you from making major purchases down the line—ones that are much, much more valuable to you, and more important to your life.

the opportunity cost of spending that money five bucks at a time is actually quite high: you’re missing the chance to spend a larger chunk all at once, and you’re losing out on having your money make you money.

True, not every negotiation will get you everything you want, but the only way to get nothing of what you want is not to negotiate at all.