Here’s the truth most financial “gurus” don’t tell you:
Wealth is not built by future-you magically becoming a more disciplined, perfect person.
It’s built by present-you, making tiny decisions that make you rich enough that future-you will want to hug you.
Not the painful, deprivation-based decisions (“no fun ever again!”).
The sneaky ones that quietly make you rich without feeling like you’re a monk taking a vow of poverty.
These are the 7 future-you decisions that make you rich and build wealth while letting you enjoy your life right now.
1. Automatically Investing Before You Can Spend a Dime
Look: willpower is a cute idea, but it has the stamina of a toddler in a Target checkout line.
That’s why automation works so well.
When you automate your:
- 401(k)
- Roth IRA
- Brokerage account
- Index fund contributions
…you bypass the hardest part of wealth building: remembering to do it.
Economist Richard Thaler (the father of behavioral economics) proved that “Save More Tomorrow” programs, where people automatically increase their contributions over time, cause savings rates to triple without participants feeling deprived.
When I finally automated investing, I stopped feeling guilty and started feeling capable.
Future You: quietly clapping from her beach chair.
Present You: still gets Starbucks. Everyone wins.
2. Choosing the Upgrade That Saves Time, Not the One That Costs More Later
Tiny luxuries are not the enemy of wealth. Maintenance is.
Buying the cheaper vacuum that dies in eight months? That’s a tax on present-you and future-you.
Buying the kitchen gadget that takes 49 minutes to clean? Congratulations, you just spent $80 and added a weekly chore.
Wealthy people don’t deprive themselves; they buy things that make life easier long-term.
That means:
- A reliable car over a flashy one
- A quality appliance instead of a trendy one
- A programmable thermostat
- A dishwasher that doesn’t sound like it’s summoning demons
These are the decisions that protect your time, sanity, and bank account.
Future You: less stressed, more solvent.
Present You: enjoys the upgrade today.
3. Keeping Lifestyle Creeps Out (But Letting Small Joys In)
When your income rises, it’s extremely tempting to “treat yourself” in the way Americans define treat yourself:
- Bigger house.
- New car.
- Brand-new furniture.
- Suddenly, your dog is eating organic bison patties.
But here’s what millionaire data actually shows:
People who grow wealth keep 80% of their lifestyle stable, even when their income doubles.
Not forever.
Just long enough to let money pile up faster than spending does.
You don’t have to ban joy.
Joy is fuel.
Just keep the joy small:
- A nicer shampoo
- A better lunch
- Friday takeout guilt-free
Save the big upgrades for when your wealth can actually carry them without strain.
Future You: financially free sooner.
Present You: not miserable in the meantime.
4. Setting a “Fun Fund” So You Stop Yo-Yo Spending
This one honestly saved me.
My old pattern looked like this:
- Be strict with money.
- Feel deprived.
- Rebel-spend like a raccoon let loose in HomeGoods.
If budgeting feels like punishment, your brain will find ways to escape.
The hack?
Give present-you a guilt-free allowance.
A little pot of money you plan to blow:
- Target
- Pedicures
- Lattes
- Amazon regret purchases
This stops the cycle of deprivation and creates reliable boundaries.
It’s financial psychology 101: You behave better when you don’t feel restricted.
Future You: thanks you for staying on track.
Present You: still gets the dopamine hit.
5. Buying Back One Hour a Week
If I could tattoo this on America, I would:
You do not get wealthy by doing everything yourself.
You get wealthy by having the mental space to make better decisions.
And you earn that space by buying back time now, so future-you stops drowning.
Examples:
- Grocery pickup instead of roaming aisles like a zombie
- A monthly house cleaner (even just bathrooms!)
- Car washes instead of DIY Saturdays
- Meal kits during busy seasons
- Paying your kids $5 to pick up the living room
One hour a week reclaimed becomes:
- A side hustle
- A walk
- A money conversation
- A nap
- A moment to plan instead of react
Wealth favors the clear-minded, not the overburdened.
6. Creating One System That Makes You Money On Autopilot
Most people try 19 side hustles and master none of them.
Here’s the easier route:
Build one simple, semi-passive income stream that pays you quietly in the background.
This could include:
- Digital templates
- Printables
- An evergreen course
- Affiliate content
- A niche blog post that keeps ranking
- A rental
You create once, refine sometimes, and earn forever.
I wasted years “trying things” instead of building a system.
Future-me would’ve smacked me with a planner.
Present-me is making up for it now.
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7. Saying “Not Now” to the Wrong Opportunities
This is the most grown-up wealth decision you can make:
You don’t have to do everything just because you can.
Every new project, social event, volunteer role, gig, or commitment has a hidden cost: your future capacity.
Wealthy people aren’t just selective with money.
They’re selective with energy.
If it’s:
- Not in alignment
- Not scalable
- Not truly meaningful
- Not a clear yes
- Not something future-you will brag about
…it’s a no.
Or at least a not now.
This one feels like deprivation the moment you say it, but like liberation six months later.
The Secret: Decisions That Make You Rich Start Small
She isn’t magically more disciplined.
She isn’t suddenly a budgeting queen.
It’s not about living a monk-like existence free from drive-thru fries.
Your future self is simply living the results of the tiny, simple, nearly invisible choices present-you made today.
Present-you doesn’t have to suffer.
Future-you doesn’t have to struggle.
You just have to start making decisions that honor both versions of you.
And the minute you do?
That’s when wealth stops feeling like a punishment and starts feeling like a partnership.
Still here? Check out this Beginner Investor’s Cheat Sheet
There are a ton of ways to start investing, but if you want a simple plan that actually works, check out The Beginner Investor’s Cheat Sheet. This free, step-by-step guide shows you how to build a strong financial foundation, exactly where to put your money first, and the common mistakes that cost beginners thousands. It’s the quick-start blueprint that will help you invest with confidence—even if you’ve never done it before!
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