I’ve been studying finance for 14 years. I’ll tell you in 60...
Tim Denning@Tim_Denning
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Oct 13, 2025
~2 min read
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I’ve been studying finance for 14 years.
I’ll tell you in 60 seconds:
Here are 13 ways people don't realize they're getting poorer:
I’ll tell you in 60 seconds:
Here are 13 ways people don't realize they're getting poorer:
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1. Focusing on the downside of every opportunity
This is what pessimists do. Wealthy people focus on the upside and limit the downside. Even if the worst happens 99% of the time you'll be fine.
This is what pessimists do. Wealthy people focus on the upside and limit the downside. Even if the worst happens 99% of the time you'll be fine.
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2. Thinking inflation is normal
Government tells you it's 2%. But inflation rate is different for everyone. Real inflation is above 10% which means most investments lose money.
Government tells you it's 2%. But inflation rate is different for everyone. Real inflation is above 10% which means most investments lose money.
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3. Looking for risk-free help
Guarantees are a scam. Money-back offers are a scam. You've gotta take some calculated risks.
Guarantees are a scam. Money-back offers are a scam. You've gotta take some calculated risks.
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4. Seeing investments as expenses
A power bill is an expense. Paying to have your sales funnel set up is an investment. Every ROI starts with an investment of time/money
Either way, you've gotta pay the cost of entry.
A power bill is an expense. Paying to have your sales funnel set up is an investment. Every ROI starts with an investment of time/money
Either way, you've gotta pay the cost of entry.
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5. Not knowing money is created out of thin air
Every government / central bank prints money. They don't rely on income from taxes.
They debase the currency. It's a hidden tax on anyone using or holding currency (all of us).
Every government / central bank prints money. They don't rely on income from taxes.
They debase the currency. It's a hidden tax on anyone using or holding currency (all of us).
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6. Ignoring Bitcoin & Gold
These assets help you store your time and maintain your purchasing power.
Thinking they're useless or shady is keeping you poor. Allocate some money to them.
These assets help you store your time and maintain your purchasing power.
Thinking they're useless or shady is keeping you poor. Allocate some money to them.
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7. Trying to haggle prices
Fine at a food market. Stupid if you're trying to get someone's help. Even stupider if you're making a luxury purchase.
You'll get ghosted or even ridiculed for this behavior
Fine at a food market. Stupid if you're trying to get someone's help. Even stupider if you're making a luxury purchase.
You'll get ghosted or even ridiculed for this behavior
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8. Saving money
The banks use your money to invest. You get peanuts in bank interest.
The banks use your money to invest. You get peanuts in bank interest.
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7. No self-education
Your skills determine your value. If you're not upgrading them daily you're falling behind. AI will replace you.
Your skills determine your value. If you're not upgrading them daily you're falling behind. AI will replace you.
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8. Taking rejection personally
Use critics and hate as fuel to go harder and make more money so you can prove them wrong.
Use critics and hate as fuel to go harder and make more money so you can prove them wrong.
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9. Not starting a business
We're all a one-person business even if we're employees. Act like a business. Get more than one client. Replace cheap clients over time.
We're all a one-person business even if we're employees. Act like a business. Get more than one client. Replace cheap clients over time.
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10. Thinking you know everything
You don't know sh*t. Have more humility. Question everything. Consider that your 6-figure income view of the world might be wrong.
You don't know sh*t. Have more humility. Question everything. Consider that your 6-figure income view of the world might be wrong.
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11. Thinking real estate is the fastest path to wealth
Wrong. It takes decades and you'll be old by the time you make real money (if ever). Governments can increase property taxes too.
Property may go up in value in currency terms. But in real terms it often stays flat or can go down.
Wrong. It takes decades and you'll be old by the time you make real money (if ever). Governments can increase property taxes too.
Property may go up in value in currency terms. But in real terms it often stays flat or can go down.
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12. Believing passive income is real
It takes hard work to create opportunities that later become passive income – and they still require work once set up.
It takes hard work to create opportunities that later become passive income – and they still require work once set up.
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13. Avoiding sales and marketing like a p*ssy
"That's salesy." "I don't want to be cringe." You either sell or you get sold and someone else profits. Either way a sale is always made.
"That's salesy." "I don't want to be cringe." You either sell or you get sold and someone else profits. Either way a sale is always made.
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What’s the difference between making $10K per month and $100K per month? It’s this: timdenning.com/simple-scaling/