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7 money habits of people who become wealthy (11 16 25)

7 money habits of people who become wealthy (11 16 25)

Sally McDonald
November 16, 2025

Building lasting wealth is based on discipline and behavior, not high income or luck. Today’s newsletter unveils seven simple habits of wealthy people. You’ll discover the subtle but powerful difference between merely "living below your means" and creating an accelerating "wealth gap.”

Here’s what we’re covering in today’s Clark Smart Investing newsletter:

7 money habits of people who become wealthy
Can you really “buy the dip” in the market?
Are you on track to retire early?
Q&A: Is the $1 million retirement savings goal post for couples or singles?
Smart money move of the week

💵 7 Money Habits of People Who Become Wealthy

Building wealth isn’t about winning the lottery or landing a six-figure salary right out of college. According to research on millionaires and financially successful individuals, becoming wealthy is more about consistent behaviors than lucky breaks.

As money expert Clark Howard explains:

“What living on less than what I make gives me is CHOICE. It gives me the ability to say what I feel about a company that I’m not happy with and you wonder: ‘How does he say that? He could lose his job!’ So what? You have to be willing to stand up for what you believe and financial independence makes that more possible.”

Building wealth isn't about luck or a huge salary — it's about surprisingly simple habits the wealthy use every day.

In the full article, we reveal the seven essential money habits that consistently separate those who build generational wealth from those who struggle, regardless of income level. Learn the key to creating a 'wealth gap' that essentially guarantees you'll get ahead.

📚️ Recommended Reading

Buy the Dip? It’s Trickier Than You Think

It sounds like a guaranteed win: grab stocks at a discount and watch them recover. But experts warn that this common investing mantra is much trickier — and riskier — than it seems. Read more.

Is Your Retirement Timeline Shorter Than You Think?

Thinking about retiring early? This calculator shows you exactly what it takes. Enter your current financial situation and retirement goals to discover how much you need to save to meet your early retirement goal. Read more.

✅ Poll: What’s Your Take?

Every week, we'll ask a new question to get your take on the latest financial trends and topics.

Do you move more money into stocks when the stock market goes down?

Last Week’s Poll Results

We asked: “When do you plan to start -- or did you start -- seriously investing for retirement?” Here’s how you answered:

In my 20s: 32%
In my 30s: 28%
In my 40s: 22%
In my 50s or later: 15%
I haven't started yet, but I'm planning to!: 3%

💬 Ask an Advisor

In this recurring Q&A, we share questions that have been answered by Clark Howard or Wes Moss on the podcast. Submit your question today!

Joyce in Virginia: I keep hearing about saving $1 million before retirement, but is the $1 million per couple or per person? I understand everyone's circumstances are different, but I like having the goal.

Wes Moss says: I agree with you, Joyce, about the importance of having a goalpost for your financial planning; it gives you a roadmap to follow. The $1 million figure is what I call the "financial green zone", and I believe that if you have household investible assets of $1 million, you're in a very good position to have a happy retirement. Now, I understand it makes it tougher for you as a single person, but the $1 million number is a household number. When it comes to running a household, there is typically just one mortgage, one utility bill, one electric bill, and one insurance bill. It is certainly easier to reach these saving goals when you have two people "dividing and conquering." As my mom always said, "many hands make light work," and the same principle applies to saving money. While you may have slightly higher costs for two people, like two cars or two dinners, the number really should still be $1 million, even if it's just you, because that's the figure associated with running a full retirement household. Of course, it all depends on factors like where you live and your chosen lifestyle. I've talked to people who have everything paid off and their spending is as low as $2,500 a month, which is rare. If your spending is extremely low, you might not need a full million dollars, and your Social Security might cover it, but that's not typically where we want to be in retirement.

💸 Money Tip of the Week

Negotiate one bill: This week, challenge the status quo and pick just one bill — cable, internet, phone plan, or insurance — and call to negotiate a lower rate. A single 15-minute conversation could save you hundreds this year, turning hesitation into immediate financial gain.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee offered that investment return, yield, or performance will be achieved. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Any company names shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The views and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment advisor before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.