We all want to make more money – that’s why you’re reading this article. Yet while many of us went to college or started successful businesses, we still struggle with figuring out how to move past living paycheck to paycheck or generating enough income to move into being “wealthy.” After all, if you need to “work” to meet your financial needs, you’re not wealthy.
Defining wealth versus income
Official definitions of wealth include having an abundance of money, valuable possessions or material things. But this doesn’t quite cut the mustard. Taking it a step further, wealth for our purposes is defined as having enough of said money and valuable possessions to preserve your current lifestyle without having to work to do so.
Income, on the other hand, can simply be defined as earned compensation for performing a service, selling goods or property. Passive income is also included, which would include income earned from financial investments.
The New Wealth Doctors, by Forbes staff writer Halah Touryalai, showcases an in-demand career that desperately needs young talent. Finance degree not required.
Check out these two examples:
Sally makes $100,000 a year (aka a six-figure income) but is by no means wealthy. She makes just enough to cover the rent on her expensive New York City apartment, pay student loans, cover the minimums on her credit card payments, pay groceries and has a little saved for a rainy day.
Rebecca on the other hand makes the same $100,000 a year but has managed to save prudently while maintaining a modest lifestyle. Though she makes a handsome salary, she’s chosen to live a debt-free life with $2 million saved from various investments. She can easily choose to retire now and live on roughly $57,000 for the next 35 years without needing to work again.
The lesson? While Sally makes a six-figure income, she is just about broke. Rebecca is wealthy. We want wealthy.
Steps to generating wealth
Investopedia gives a simple breakdown on how to generate wealth: make it, save it and then invest it.
1. Making it. When thinking about generating wealth, this is the first step. How will you make enough to not only cover your living expenses but save the rest to invest in other areas to build long-term wealth? The goal is to be in a position where you don’t have to work or earn money to maintain your lifestyle. Making it includes earned and/or passive income. This can include the traditional route of going to school and securing a high-paying job while living on a modest income or earning passive income by accumulating a massive rental portfolio in which you are earning income and building assets. There are many ways and combinations that can help you achieve your goal of making enough money to become wealthy.
If this is a struggle for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- How much money do I make now?
- Is this enough to cover my expenses while saving and investing to accomplish the goal of being wealthy?
- If not, what can I do to change course?
- What path will ultimately get me on the path toward making enough to become wealthy?
2. Saving it. Now that we’ve covered making the money, let’s discuss saving it. Many people delude themselves into thinking they don’t have enough to save, but this is rarely the case. They usually have a spending problem that includes too much fat in the budget. If this pertains to you, stop that. Get a realistic budget and stick to it. Get rid of the extra stuff you don’t need, and get serious about your long-term goals. Your budget is a living document, and it can and will change. This is OK. Maintain your goal and be purposed in your daily spending. It’s easier said than done, but if wealth is your ultimate goal then the financial whims of today need to take a back seat.
3. Investing it. Investing your money requires a gut check. In other words, what’s your risk tolerance? If you’re like me, then you think the stock market is a fool’s errand that should be avoided. If you’re like others, then the stock market is your playground. What can you tolerate? Other options for investing your cash include real estate investments such as flipping or buying and holding properties to build equity while making a profit on the rents collected. How you choose to invest your money depends on your values and risk tolerance. I tend to lean toward real estate because this is an area I’ve studied carefully while taking into account all of the risks and potential benefits. That works for me. What investing strategy works for you?
Income and wealth, while related, are very different. Many of us can earn an income but few are truly wealthy. When considering your path to creating wealth, review the above-mentioned strategies and chart your path. Not having to get up and go to work is a great feeling because you now own your day. On the other hand, working for a paycheck maintains your position in having to work for a living. What works for you? Start there.
