Just because your income rises, doesn’t mean your spending should too. This is where most people go wrong—when your salary increases, your lifestyle often upgrades automatically. This is called lifestyle inflation.
In today’s world, social media influencers flaunting wealth make it tempting to chase the same lifestyle. And with modern borrowing options—credit cards, buy now pay later—you might end up spending way more than you earn.
So, if you’ve been struggling with money management, here are 4 simple tips to get started:
1️⃣ Make Spending Harder
If you’re not good with money, don’t carry credit cards around. Many credit cards offer limits double your salary—so if you earn RM3,000, you could be tempted to spend RM6,000!
Instead:
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Use cash or debit cards only.
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Uninstall shopping apps like Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, or any other app that encourages impulsive spending.
Personally, I don’t have shopping apps on my phone. Buying things becomes a hassle—I ask my family to help me instead. This creates automatic financial discipline, making it harder to spend on things you don’t really need.
2️⃣ Save Extra Income 100%
Saving consistently from your monthly salary can be tough. But extra income like bonuses, side gigs, or profits from investments? Save all of it.
For example, I have multiple income streams:
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My business
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Speaking gigs and collaborations
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Investment returns from stocks and cryptocurrency
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Rental income from properties
I never spend these extra funds. Instead, I reinvest them to grow my wealth. Use your extra income to build your future, while your regular salary covers day-to-day expenses.
3️⃣ Create a Financial Vision Board
Visualize your financial goals—dream car, dream house, or any aspiration—and put them on a board in your room or workspace.
Seeing your goals daily keeps them in your subconscious mind. It motivates you to manage your money wisely and stay disciplined so that one day, your dreams become reality.
4️⃣ Simulate a Worst-Case Scenario
Imagine losing your job tomorrow. What happens to your life? Can you cover expenses for your family, loan payments, or lifestyle?
Robert Kiyosaki’s wife, Kim Kiyosaki, says: “Wealth is measured by how long you can survive without income.”
For example:
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Monthly expenses: RM5,000
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Savings: RM10,000 → You survive 2 months
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Savings: RM100,000 → You survive 20 months
If you could only survive 1–2 months, it’s time to save more and grow your wealth now.
💡 Summary of Action Steps:
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Make spending harder—limit access to credit and shopping apps.
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Save all extra income like bonuses and side income.
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Display your financial goals on a vision board.
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Plan for worst-case scenarios to stay financially prepared.
Start today—don’t wait until it’s too late! For more tips on growing your savings and managing money, subscribe to my YouTube channel: Dr. Adam Zubir.
💰 Bonus Tip: Grow Your Money With Versa
Hey! I’ve been using this wealth management app, Versa, to grow my money. It’s easy to use, and all products are managed by experts at AHAM Asset Management Berhad.
You can start too—and get RM10 when you sign up and complete the steps below:
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Download: Versa App
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Sign up with my referral code: UAVR6K5X
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Complete the onboarding steps.
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Make your first cash-in of minimum RM100 into any Versa product.
Start building your financial future today! 🚀
