One tiny money habit today can change your financial future.
The five habits below are quick to start. Each one brings you closer to the financial life you want. They’re small changes, not sacrifices. Simple steps with big upside.
As a CFP® with a site that reaches millions each year, I’ve seen how small wins like these can spark real momentum. Pick one or two. Start today. Watch what happens.
1. Make Automatic Real Estate Investing Part of Your Wealth Routine
Most people think real estate investing takes a lot of money and a lot of work. But there’s a much easier way.
Arrived, backed by investors including Jeff Bezos, lets you buy a small share of a rental home starting with just $100. You don’t deal with repairs, tenants, or paperwork — but you still earn your share of the rent every month.
And you’re not investing in just any home. Arrived rejects 99.8% of the properties they review, so you only see the best opportunities in growing markets across the U.S.
Arrived has helped people invest over $230 million — and paid out more than $725,000 in dividends.
Want to explore the homes you can invest in?
Enter your email to browse available properties.
2. Take Three Quick Surveys A Day
By completing a few short surveys each day on your phone, you could earn up to $150 a month — enough to cover life’s little wants without swiping your credit card.
That’s exactly what Branded Surveys was built for.
You can download the app today and start earning whenever you have a free moment — during your lunch break, waiting in line, or scrolling before bed. Each quick survey pays up to $5, and those earnings can add up to real money over time.
Branded Surveys is free to join, and no phone number or address is required. They’ve already paid out over $64 million, with a 4.2-star Trustpilot rating and thousands of daily payouts.
It’s one of the easiest ways to turn idle moments into extra income.
For a limited time, new users who register via The Ways To Wealth get an exclusive 100-point welcome bonus.
Try Branded Surveys + Claim Bonus.
3. Turn Everyday Spending Into a Lifelong Investing Habit
The hardest part about investing is starting.
I’ve watched thousands say “I’ll start investing next year when I have more money” — only to say the exact same thing years later.
Meanwhile, apps like Acorns have helped over 14 million people stop waiting and quietly build $25 billion in wealth by starting with spare change.
Nobody feels truly ready to invest. Ever. But the people who dive in anyway and commit to starting with even the simplest strategy? They’re the ones who actually build wealth.
It’s for reasons like this that I love Acorns. It rounds up your purchases (coffee for $2.40 becomes 60¢ invested) and lets you add automatic deposits as small as $5 from your checking account.
Here’s what I know after 10+ years as a financial planner: people who start investing $5 today are far more likely to invest $500 someday. The people who never start with small amounts? They never move on to invest the big amounts either.
So, here’s my challenge. Start with $5 monthly, then increase it by $5 each month. In one year, you’ll be investing $60 monthly. In five years? $300 monthly. That’s how wealth habits grow — one small increase at a time.
Not sure what to invest in? Acorns has hands-off, expertly curated portfolios that match your risk tolerance. Saving for an emergency fund? You’ll get a conservative portfolio. Planning for retirement? You’ll get an expert-built portfolio designed to hit your long-term goals.
Set up your first $5 deposit right now and Acorns will add a limited-time $20 bonus — that’s $20 for investing just $5 — to prove wealth-building can start today.
Start Building Wealth Now – Claim My $20 Bonus
4. Schedule a Retirement Portfolio Checkup Each Year
Let’s do some quick math.
Save $1,000 a month for 30 years at 8% returns, and you’d have $1.49 million.
Drop that return to 5%, and you’d have $832,000 instead.
That 3% difference? It costs you $650,000 over time.
Where does that 3% come from? Fees, poor allocation, missed opportunities.
A Vanguard study found that working with a fiduciary financial advisor can add up to 3% per year to your returns. Yet most investors never get a second opinion—potentially leaving hundreds of thousands on the table.
Just like you’d check in with a doctor for your health, your retirement portfolio deserves an annual checkup.
That’s where WiserAdvisor comes in.
Take a short quiz to get matched with 2-3 pre-vetted advisors based on your needs. You decide if you want to move forward.
A few smart minutes now can make a big difference later.
5. Earn Up to 20% Cash Back on Select Online Purchases
Every time you shop online, retailers pay huge commissions to marketing companies. With Swagbucks, that money goes to you instead.
Swagbucks is the original cashback platform that’s already paid out over $647 million to more than 25 million members since 2008. They partner with thousands of stores—including Amazon, Target, and Walmart—to give you up to 20% back on purchases you’re already making.
Here’s how it works:
- Download the free app or browser extension (takes 30 seconds)
- Shop at your favorite online stores through Swagbucks
- Earn SB points automatically on every purchase
- Cash out via PayPal or gift cards whenever you want
For new members only: Get a $10 bonus when you spend just $25 at any participating store within 30 days of signing up.
One of my biggest Swagbucks hauls of all time was $195.60 from a single mattress purchase—enough to cover my Netflix bill for an entire year. And I didn’t do anything different than I would have anyway.
There’s no minimum balance to cash out. No complicated rules. No catches. Just free money that would otherwise stay in the retailers’ pockets.
Every purchase you make without Swagbucks is literally throwing away free money.
Ready to start earning cash back on every online purchase? Join the millions already getting paid to shop.
Claim $10 + Start Earning 20% Back Now
Want more smart money strategies like this? Every Friday, I share a simple yet powerful financial tip—plus the week’s best deals—to help you save more and spend smarter. Sign up below (it’s free!).
Important Investment Disclosure: In my retirement portfolio example, I used 8% as the expected annual return because it roughly reflects what historically diversified portfolios weighted heavily toward equities (around 80% stocks) have delivered over long periods, though this doesn’t account for inflation and past performance never guarantees future results. All investing involves significant risk of loss, including your principal, and actual returns may be substantially higher or lower than 8% depending on market conditions, economic factors, and timing. My point in using this number wasn’t to promise specific returns—it was to illustrate the potential value a qualified financial advisor brings through avoiding emotional decision-making and optimizing portfolio efficiency during market turbulence. This is not personalized investment advice, and you should consult with a qualified financial professional about your specific situation before making any investment decisions, investing only what you can afford to lose.
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