Why do people earning $350K stay broke while someone on $80K owns a home? The boring wealth-building habits no one talks about.

In this episode of Wildly Appropriate, I'm sharing the exact steps I used to build wealth starting from age 13 — no financial advisor, no family money, no shortcuts.

After running my own real estate agency for 15 years and being director of an international property company, I've seen firsthand why high earners go broke and modest earners build empires. It comes down to one thing: cash flow awareness.

I'll walk you through:

→ The 10% savings rule that changed my life (credit: Zig Ziglar)

→ Why someone on $350K can be broker than someone on $80K

→ The cash flow framework: income, expenses, assets, liabilities

→ Three mindset shifts: long game over fast flex, ownership over appearances, cash flow over ego

→ My exact steps to start building wealth at any age

→ How I supplemented my income selling clothes at markets under the Harbour Bridge

This isn't get-rich-quick advice. This is the boring, unsexy, proven path that actually works — from someone who cried over credit card debt and still built wealth.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 – Why I hate the word "rich"

1:17 – Started working at 13: the 10% rule

2:52 – Time and compound interest

5:28 – $350K broke vs $80K homeowner

6:51 – Understanding your cash flow

9:00 – The spending audit that changes everything

11:17 – Mindset: long game over fast flex

13:18 – Cash flow vs ego

16:11 – The exact steps to start today

18:24 – How I made $500 at Sunday markets

20:23 – The moment I cried over debt

22:38 – Why no one loves your money more than you

Subscribe to Wildly Appropriate for weekly episodes on living well, building wealth, and doing things your own way.

#personalfinance #wealthbuilding #cashflow #financialfreedom #moneymindset #stealthwealth #wildlyappropriate

Broke But Building Wealth