You don't need to be a millionnaire to live like one. You have a lot more in common with people who are millionaires than you think.
It’s true that sometimes the rich have expensive homes, cars and go on luxury vacations. But when it comes down to things that matter - health, family, happiness, and sense of well-being, wealth becomes secondary.
There is a reason why many millionaires chose to live like paupers. They are full of wealth yet fail to build a life that makes them happy and fulfilled.
So if you want to live a millionaire, make sure you focus on those things that will bring you the biggest return on your investment. Focus on health and happiness. Focus on spending more time with loved ones.
Here are some suggestions on how to achieve this:
Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash
1. Time
Time is your greatest asset. Way more so than money. You and Bill Gates both have the same 24 hours in a day. Bill is able to leverage his time because he has assistants, chefs, and assistants. You may not have the entourage that Bill does, but you can still stretch your time by not wasting it.
You can do this by prioritising what matters to you to ensure you find time for it in your schedule. You don’t have to be a millionaire to have a millionaire’s calendar. Tim Ferris talks about how anyone at any economic status can outsource boring tasks in his "The Four Hour Work Week" book. There are plenty of ways to create time to focus on the things you need to focus on.
You can do this by switching off your Netlix, exercising at home instead of heading off to the gym. You can hire an assistant to manage your administrative tasks. You can also leverage the help of family members. There are infinite ways to save time and get creative.
2. Spend time with people that matter
Rich people, if they are intelligent, decide how they want to spend their time. More important, they choose who they want to spend their time with. You can do that, too. Research has shown that people who seem happy and fulfilled are those who surround themselves with people they love. Yes, the answer is quite often family.
How many of us get so caught up in our day to day task and think we don't have time to see the people we actually care about? We always say we will call our grandparents and then, it's already 10pm and we're lying in bed exhausted that we don't. You may think you don’t have the time to spend you’d like to with people you love, but I suggest that you question that. Is it really true?
This is something I have to do all the time. Because I am a workaholic, most my time is spent working. Working on new project ideas, existing tasks, and the list goes on. While there is nothing more rewarding then spending time with my family, I often end up worried about my to do list. But the to do list should be to spend more time with people that matter to me. We never know how long they'll be around for. And this has nothing to do with how much money we make or how many investments we have. Family will always be family and they will always have my heart.
Instead of falling back into the same pattern, I have committed to try to find a way to make the family time happen. I usually succeed, and when I follow through, I never regret it. You will not regret doing the same thing, I promise.
When you have the opportunity to spend quality time with someone you love, just say "yes" and make it happen. It will make you feel richer than any other thing in this world!
Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash
3. Vacations
My very favorite vacation of all time was the family trip we took to Disneyworld in 2013. We did all the parks the 4 of us and spent time travelling around Orlando. It was not cheap, I admit it, but it was the best quality time spent.
Looking back, I know that we could have had an amazing time without spending all that money. We could have still been the 4 of us exploring Orlando without paying a fortune to enter the parks. The moments etched in my mind weren’t a function of the places we saw. The most precious memories were us driving around in the car chatting and listening to music. Some of those tunes still take me back to that exact moment and make me smile.
I don’t believe that vacations have to be luxury to be memorable. They do have to be meaningful. You can have great vacations as long as you are with the people you want to be with and you enjoy yourselves.
4. Debt
Never be in debt to anyone or any institution. Smart millionaires are those who have almost no debt. That creates a wonderful sense of security and well-being, which is priceless. If you are in debt, do whatever possible to get out of it. Your first target can be to pay off your credit card.
Then you can think about your mortgage and how to pay that off in the smartest and quickest way. If you achieve this, you will do have the feeling that many millionaires only dream about.
5. Career
My old boss once told me: "I work to live, not live to work". I never forgot this quote from him and have tried to live by this ever since. The smart ones work in a way that they can ensure they enjoy their day. That means they are very conscious of the work they take on. If it’s not adding value and consumes too much time, they make a change.
You have more power than you think to change jobs. Even change careers and rebuild yourself up completely. If your current situation leaves you less than satisfied, don't settle for it.
You can be as happy (or happier) than people who are millionaires. As you can see, the things that matter don’t have a price tag associated with them. Start thinking about these and make smart choices. Smart choices can be made by anyone and has nothing to do with wealth. Being happy, healthy, and loved is the biggest wealth in this world. Don't settle, and go after it. You deserve it!
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