Why Mindset Wins
What If It’s Not the Math?
Let’s be honest—most people think budgeting is about tracking numbers. Spreadsheets, apps, guilt… round and round. I used to do that, by the way. Chasing every penny, wondering why the magic never happened. The problem? We’re trying to fix budget leaks without ever patching up the roof. Turns out, The Rules of money start in your head, not in your apps or your calculator. Weird, right?
Think about it: have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’m just not good with money”? If so, welcome to the club. I carried that belief for years, like a badge and a burden. But Richard Templar (yep, the guy behind the 3 Rules of money book and so many more) says the first, most game-changing rule is believing that wealth isn’t reserved for the chosen few. It doesn’t care if you’re “bad at math” or don’t follow the stock market. It’s for those who show up and shift how they think.insights from a summary.
Wealth: Not Just for “Those People”
Pause for a second. What does “wealth” even mean to you? An emergency fund? No debt? Freedom to road trip on a whim, or help family without sweating? Templar talks about this all the time—define it for yourself. There’s no committee handing out membership cards.
Most frugal folks I know (myself included) have a moment where they realize: “Whoa, my beliefs about money… that’s what’s been tripping me up.” It’s wild how fast things change once you see that.
| Old Habit | Money Mindset Shift |
|---|---|
| “Money’s for spending now” | “Money is freedom tomorrow” |
| Impulse buys (retail therapy) | Intentional spending that lines up with your real goals |
The first “real” rule? Check those stories you’ve been telling yourself. That’s where frugal magic starts, not at the grocery store.
Change Your Money Story
Anyone Can Get There (Yes, Anyone)
Okay, here’s where most rule books throw math at you. But The Rules of money—especially if you snagged wisdom from the 3 Rules of money book—say something radical: anyone can do this. For real. Forget lottery wins or billionaire parents. If you can build a little momentum, you’re halfway home. Templar’s advice? Start by defining success on your terms. Maybe your version of “rich” is zero overdraft fees and groceries without anxiety.
Set a Real-Life Vision, Not a Fantasy
So how do you get started? Set an actual, human-size goal—not “retire by 40” unless you mean it. Try “Save $600 for the holidays without a credit card hangover,” or “Cut utility bills by $40 a month and stash the difference.” The key is, you want wins right now. Not just someday.
- Pinpoint your “why.” Is it security? Travel? Having a buffer so you sleep better?
- Break it into bits: This month, just grab an extra $50 from groceries, or cancel one subscription you forgot about.
- Don’t obsess—just check in weekly for five minutes. Is it working? If not, tweak it. No drama.
There are even sneaky rules about vision-building woven into the Rules of money management guide. Little goals that pile up quietly… and before you know it, those big, intimidating goals feel less like Everest, more like a string of hills.
Sneaky Savings That Stick
Why Is Saving So… Hard?
Most folks think saving is about being tough on yourself. That’s a recipe for failure. Think “leverage,” not “deprivation.” Templar’s advice (and I promise, it’s echoed in the 9 money rules): automate, automate, automate. Treat saving like it’s just another bill you pay. Set up an auto-transfer (even $10/week) before your brain convinces you to “save what’s left.” There never is anything left, right?
Super-Easy Frugal Swaps
| Swap This | For This | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Café drinks daily | Home-brewed coffee | $40–$120 |
| Streaming bundle | One favorite channel | $25–$60 |
| Name-brand groceries | Store brands | $30–$50 |
The real hack? Each month, transfer the amount you save straight into your savings. It feels silly at first—those little wins add up to something you can use, not just talk about.
Debt: The Ultimate Wallet Trap
This rule—maybe the most obvious but most ignored. Interest is a ninja, quietly undoing all your hard work. Before you “treat yourself,” check your debt. Got a credit card? Try to pay it off monthly, or at least pay more than the minimum (like, double if you can).
| Debt Type | Interest Rate (Typical) | Frugal Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 18–25% | Pay in full, or use cash envelopes to avoid temptation |
| Student loans | 4–7% | Refinance if possible, pay a little extra when you can |
The 10 rules of money break this down: pay expensive debt first, always. A frugal budget with debt is just a bucket with holes… patch the leaks and watch your savings race ahead.
Small Investing, Big Wins
Can Anyone Really Invest?
Ever feel like investing is for “other people”? People with suits, or people with thousands of extra dollars? Here’s the silly truth: plenty of regular folks build mini-fortunes by investing just pocket change, regularly, over years. That’s a core tenet of The Rules of money—don’t chase wild quick wins. Slow, consistent action wins the race. Summaries from The Rules of Wealth agree—compound growth loves patience.
- Start small. Seriously, $20 a month is fine.
- Pick something (maybe an index fund—super low fees, covers hundreds of big companies at once.)
- Automate your contribution. Don’t let your brain get in the way.
- Ignore the fads—the market will swing, but over years you’ll win.
One of my friends started investing just $25 a month. After five years, his “rainy day account” made more than holiday side hustles. It’s not magic, it’s math—compound interest is real, and it doesn’t care where you start.
Multiple Streams, Minimal Effort
Another gem from the Rules of money management: don’t count on one source. Frugal doesn’t mean cheap; it means smart. Sell a few things on eBay, pick up a gig ride on weekends, join a focus group online. (I once made $75 for taste-testing new potato chips, no joke.)
It doesn’t have to be a “business.” Just… another way money finds you. If one stream dries up, you have back-up, and you’re less likely to panic-spend or dig deeper into debt.
Keep More, Stress Less
Don’t Lose Your Progress
Ever worry that, just when you start to get ahead, something will go wrong? That’s why one of Richard Templar’s biggest tips is to protect and keep what you’ve built. Buy better, not just cheaper. Cheap socks cost more in the long run than those pricier ones that last for years (my “fancy sock” experiment proved it—socks are a “stealth expense”).
Plan for surprise bills. The boring “emergency fund” (three months is dreamy, but start with one) is the frugal person’s best hack. It turns panic into, “Okay, let’s solve this.” And it’s right there in the 9 money rules.
Sharing, Even on a Budget
This one surprised me. Templar (and a few other smart cookies) say real wealth includes sharing—giving something, even a little, to those around you or to causes you care about. Doesn’t have to be huge, just… consistent. I started rounding up my debit transactions for charity. After a year, it was nearly $100, and I didn’t even feel it gone.
Funny enough, sharing made me feel richer. Go figure. That’s a kind of wealth you can’t buy (and keeping that perspective helps you avoid burnout on your frugal journey).
Your Game Plan: One Rule at a Time
Ready for a Real Change?
If you’re still with me, you’re already ahead. Knowing what’s tripping you up makes it easier to change. These are The Rules of money that actually last: start with your beliefs, set a vision that fits you, save in sneaky ways, pay off expensive debt, invest steadily (even if it’s pennies at first), and keep your wins. Above all: stick with it. Little actions, repeated, become everything.
The best part? No need for perfection. You will slip up. (I bought a ridiculous new mug last week; I regret nothing. Except maybe the price.) Just get back on the path. Don’t let a stumble become a slide.
Which Rule Will You Try?
Let’s make this real. This week, pick just one thing: automate a tiny savings, audit your spending for the “sneaky leak,” or call your bank and lower a fee. Tell a friend (me, if you want—I get weirdly excited about these wins). Then next week, try the next rule. The point isn’t perfection; it’s momentum.
Want more? There’s a rabbit hole of frugal inspiration in the 3 Rules of money book, some deeper dives in 10 rules of money, and loads of everyday hacks in the Rules of money management. Each one is packed with stuff that actually works for real people, living real lives—messy, unpredictable, but always fixable.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, you already know: Wealth isn’t “for them.” It’s not hidden behind some gate. The Rules of money are sneaky-simple; they work if you let them. Challenge your beliefs, break down big goals, save so small it feels silly, and invest in yourself. Celebrate wins—every handful of dollars, every time you dodge a late fee or skip a totally unnecessary buy.
I’m cheering you on from the sidelines. Really. Try one rule this week—you’ll be amazed where it leads. And when you get that tiny first win? Say it out loud, text a friend, or—heck—even leave a comment and tell me. It’s way more fun not going this alone. So, what’s your first rule going to be?
