The One Tiny Habit That Leads to Wealth

In my teens and early 20s social anxiety was wrecking my life. I couldn’t go out and feel comfortable around people without drinking, so I drank. Now, alcohol can lead to a lot of cool stuff but for me it was a crutch and I needed help.

So one day I drove to Barnes and Noble (this was before Amazon was a thing) with a plan to casually stumble into the self-help section.

“Oh, what’s this section all about? Interesting…”

I scanned the shelves super fast worrying I’d bump into someone I...

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By Chris Reining / 27 Comments

Screw College

college papers

I’m just like that kid who got into all eight Ivy League schools but chose the University of Alabama because it was free (only he’s way smarter). You see, I applied to a bunch of colleges and a small private one told me they’d give me full tuition. I said, “Where do I sign?” before they could take it back.

My first semester there was a disaster. I had no idea how to study, and I...

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By Chris Reining / 9 Comments

Here Is the Ultimate Method to Reverse Lifestyle Inflation and Regain Control of Your Money

Working at my first job out of college I didn’t have any money, and I didn’t know how to cook. So every day for lunch I’d bring cheap microwavable dinners – linguini with clams – and eat in the break room.

But as my career progressed and I made more money I started going out for lunch. Every day I’d drive 15 miles round trip to eat from a table covered with white paper. And pay $12 to do it.

That’s what I’d call lifestyle inflation. It’s when your spending goes up as your income goes...

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By Chris Reining / 28 Comments

Why the Rich Use Capsule Wardrobes, and How to Create Your Own

For over a decade, Steve Jobs, the billionaire co-founder of Apple, wore the same thing every day: a black turtleneck, Levi’s jeans, and New Balance sneakers.

Picking up the mantle, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wears a gray T-shirt every day and President Obama picks between a solid navy or charcoal suit. During an interview with Vanity Fair he said, “I’m trying to pare down decisions […] because I have too many other decisions to make.”

Google...

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By Chris Reining / 26 Comments

3 Tools to Track Your Spending Now

In the Everyday Dollar Diaries series, real people wrote down what they spent over the course of a week, and then I published the results anonymously. It’s been really popular, because all of us want to take a peek at how others spend.

But the purpose of the series isn’t to be a passive voyeur, it’s to challenge yourself to keep your own diary for one week, because knowing what’s happening with your money is the first step to get control over your finances.

Many of you will immediately see the benefits, and will want to continue...

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By Chris Reining / 17 Comments