MILITARY MILLIONAIRE EXPLAINS: 9 Really Silly Habits Keeping You Poor

Life is haaard as a mother f’er.

So why do most folks make it harder on themselves?

What am I talking about?

Crappy finances.

Being poor.

A lot of the time, especially for folks living in the U.S., people live check-to-check or in poverty because of the decisions they make, and not just the cards they are dealt.

My father, for example (best person in the whole world, love you, Dad), as I write this, is barely getting by financially month to month.

His situation, around 1990, he retired after serving 20 years in the military; 3 months later, his wife (RIP Mom) died of cancer, but they did not have insurance because of a lapse in coverage and a technical clause for foreign citizens.

He was left with three energy and money-sucking badass kids and over $300,000 in medical bills.

Yes, he could have probably made better financial choices, but he was dealt a shitty hand and did not have the resources folks do today.

Nowadays, 92% of the population has internet access.

Those people with access to Google, Yahoo, and Bing, dealt a bad hand or not, choose to spend their spare time talking crap about others on Reddit and wasting their brains away on Tik Tok.

Every time they pick up their smartphone, they have the option to Doom Scroll or level up in life.

And they choose Doom Scroll 99% of the time.

This post is for you if you fall in or around the second category or know someone who does.

Here, we will go over nine silly habits that keep you poor, such as not knowing how to control your emotions, getting out of your comfort zone, and more.

In fact, I was guilty of many things we were about to go over. But after some self-reflection, self-accountability, and financial situation correction, I could save, make, and invest my way to becoming the first-ever millionaire in my family.

Now let’s read, diagnose, and then improve so you can build wealth for your family.

9 Habits That Are Keeping You Dead Broke

Bad Habit #1: Your Money Mindset is Twisted

You’re view on money is twisted.

Payday comes, and it’s time to spend it because you want to be happy.

You worked so damn hard now you deserve to go eat out and maybe have a few drinks after.

But wait!

You need new shoes!

You also need a new outfit!

And a $300 uber.

And this, and that.

And now your paycheck is gone because you equate spending money to being happy.

“Damn Charles, you hit me in the feels. What can I do to change the way I look at money?”

Invest in Yourself

Instead of looking at your money as a way to short-term happiness, turn gaining knowledge into that dopamine fix.

There’s this guy I follow, Dan Koe.

He made a cool point at equating life to video games.

In a video game, you get new powers, abilities, and weapons after you beat a boss.

In life, you need to do that.

When you beat the boss in life (the work week, for example), get excited to learn skills such as coding.

That would be you defeating the mighty dragon and getting the golden armor.

When you beat the boss (work week) and spend your money on happiness consumer stuff, it’s like defeating that giant man-eating lizard and getting a wooden dagger.

WTF you gonna do with a wooden dagger !?!

So, stop leveling down in life and start leveling up.

“But Charles, how do I do that?”

Master gratitude.

Here are a few ways to do it:

• Walk 10,000 Steps a Day: The more you do this, the better the blood flow, the reward zone in the brain is checked daily, and soon you’ll just be grateful to the creator for simply giving you legs to use.
• Practice the Old Man Exercise: Pretend the night before you were 80 years old. You then do a body scan from here to realize how mobile and ain-free you are. Then go find your spouse, and thank the heavens above saying, “My beautiful wife is young again like me!”.
• Read the Mood Cure: Buy this book, read it, master your emotions, and watch the spending suddenly halt. Watch your joy come from places like the sunrise or gas in the tank.
• Eat Whole Foods: Mind, Body, Spending. It’s all connected. You start eating what falls from the trees, grows from the earth, grass-fed beef, and free-range eggs. You will just get excited to have the ability to run around with your kids again (or just have greater stamina to make some babies😁).

If you follow those simple tips, you will be more grateful.

Now, real quick, let’s wrap this part up because this section is a little long, plus my UpBase timer just went off.

Some ways to start freely investing in yourself:

• YouTube/Google “How to make money with real estate.” I did this, and fast forward a few years, I became a millionaire.
• Youtube/Google “How to make money online”. Get the free knowledge. Find something. Commit and watch the opportunities unfold.

Clear as mud?

Now, on to the next habit that’s keeping you poor.

Bad Habit #2: You Lack Discipline

You get excited.

You saw ways to make money online.

You committed for three days.

The excitement wore off, and you never tried again.

Wax on, wax off.

Discipline my son.

Without discipline, you will get nowhere in life.

“Motivation only takes you so far, but discipline will build your desired kingdom.”

– Charles Joseph

So, how does one build discipline?

See below:

• Read The Mood Cure: This book was stated before. It helps master your emotions. Once you master your emotions, you can see clearly and stay the course of your goal.
• Get an Accountability Buddy: Telling someone can help you stay on track. May it be a Facebook group or cousin, TELL THEM!
• Trackers: Go to Etsy, search “Accountability trackers,” spend $5, and get your life together.
• Vision Board: Get a free Canva account, build a vision board, and succeed. If it worked for Oprah, it can work for you.
• Focus Exercise: Every morning and night for 15 minutes meditate and “Say it, See it, Feel it”. For example, Say, “I make a million dollars online as a proofreader.” See yourself talking to your friends about how you became a successful proofreader, then Feel the happiness you get from them telling you they’re proud of you.
• Project Management App: Get a free UpBase account and start keeping track of your schedule/tasks.
• Follow the 2-Day Rule: If you go two days without doing the thing you’re doing, hop back on it. That two-day grace allows you to hop back in blindly without throwing in the towel.

I was poor and broke.

I lacked discipline.

I started doing those things we discussed, and now I’m on my way to retiring by 40.

Bad Habit #3: Your Emotions Drive Your Spending

“70% of Americans say their feelings have influenced their spending habits. ”

-LendingTree

What…the…crap.

That is a lot of money down the drain just because an emotion came into your body and drove a purchase, especially for an item you will use for one week and never see again!

“Charles, so how do I stop or minimize emotional spending?”

Easy, check out these tips:

1. Buy and read the Mood Cure: I’ ‘m not gonna beat a dead horse. I repeated this book because it is POWERFUL.
2. Get a free impulse-buying checklist here. This will help you stop those pesky emotion-driven purchases.

Start with those two, and 90% of your emotional spending will stop.

Bad Habit #4: Too Scared to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

“Only 2% of the population is leaving their comfort zone.”

-Harvard.edu

That statistic is truly alarming and quite sad, actually.

But I can see that.

I am about 19 years into my Air Force career as I write this.

I was forced to get out of my comfort zone throughout my time in the service.

I was forced to lead teams of 30-plus people while in my early twenties.

I was forced to speak in front of hundreds of people on a subject I was not an expert in.

I was forced to deploy and live in a location where bombs were flying over my head as I slept.

Being thrust into a situation I did not want to do gave me the confidence to conquer the unknown.

The more I did, the more I realized how much was possible.

If I did not join the service, I would probably be overweight, doing drugs, drinking, and living for the weekend.

I say that confidently because when I visit my childhood home, I see it in my friends and family.

Many have not changed in the 19 years I have been away.

Don’t get it twisted, they are loving people, and I would die for them, and if you say some shit about them, I will kick your ass.

But…

From a comfort zone aspect, a lot of them stay in that bubble and will never break the poverty, super low middle class, check-to-check cycle because they are too frightened to do the hard thing.

When I built up a cookie jar (shout out to David Goggins) with accomplishments, I knew I could be a real estate investor even though I had no skills.

I knew that I could become the first-ever millionaire in my family.

I knew that anything was possible.

And I know, without a doubt, if folks got out of their comfort zone, they would not be poor anymore.

“Charles, good stuff. What tips do you have to get out of my comfort zone?”

Here are a few examples that evolve around doing the non-norm:

• Ask the cash register clerk what was the highlight of their day.
• Ask the mailman his/her name and what they do for fun.
• Call your parents once a week.
• Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
• Go to the park and play a pickup game of basketball.
• Volunteer to lead an event at work.

Every day for a week/month, do something you normally wouldn’t do.

You flex that “comfort zone” muscle.’ You start to realize things are not as difficult as you think.

You then start to break the habit of being poor.

Bad Habit #5: You Lack the Knowledge

You don’t know what you don’t know.

Sometimes, you just need to push in the right direction.

If you only had the proper resources to get the ball rolling on making and saving money.

Well, here are a few resources that can help you be on your merry way:

Books

• Mood Cure: I won’t stop referencing this book until you get it.
• Rich Dad Poor Dad:  A really good book about assets vs liabilities at the most basic levels.
• Boglehead’s Guide to Investing: This book about simple investing is great.
• Retire Inspired: Overall, it is a good book on managing money and investing.

Forums

• Mr. Money Mustache
• Bigger Pockets
• Bogleheads

Youtube Channels

• Dave Ramsey
• Tom Bileyau
• Bigger Pockets
• Alex Hormozi

Use these resources daily, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a debt-free millionaire.

Bad Habit #6: You’re Not Saving 50% of Your Paycheck

I get it.

That’s a super high number.

But I’m telling you.

Once you hit and maintain that 50% savings rate, your bank account will grow exponentially.

Here are a few tips to help you save 50% of your income:

1. Budget: Get the Every Dollar app right now. It’s free, with the option to upgrade. This will help you track every penny; accountability is key when saving money.
2. Master No: “No, thank you, I’m not going out tonight.” or “No thanks, I’ll just have water I ate before coming out.” or better yet, “No thanks, let’s just hang out at my place and play some board games.”
3. Use Cash Only: Do this and leave your credit cards at home if you have an itchy consumer spending finger.
4. Master Impulse Shopping: Get a free Impulse Buyers Checklist when you sign up for my newsletter.

Follow those tips, and you’ll be well on your way to the 50% savings rate.

Bad Habit #7: You Don’t Fully Understand Debt

This is an ignorance issue, not a capability issue.

I was ignorant growing up as a child/young man in my household until I zoned in and figured out what was happening.

Then, I realized that debt was a form of slavery.

You are a slave to someone else when you are in debt.

I witnessed as my parents were slaves to the creditors.

I witnessed people get physically assaulted because they owed people money.

I witnessed family members, who I saw daily, who were the nicest people, relationships be ruined and never spoken to again because of some sort of debt.

If you are in the poor/poverty stage, you need to have the mindset that all debt is evil.

All debt is bad. (Leverage debt is for another time when you become consumer debt-free.)

You need to take the tips from the previous conversation to help you adopt this mindset.

Being poor and robbing Peter to pay Paul is an endless cycle.

And it doesn’t stop until you adjust your mindset.

Bad Habit #8: Pure Pressure to Keep Up with the Jones

“83% of Americans spend more than they make.”

-Nerdwallet

Cheese and rice…that hurts.

Self-inflicted wounds.

Again, this stems from what we spoke about earlier.

The stat we referenced earlier stating that 70% of people spend with emotions means that this overspending problem is more than likely a deeper issue.

Think about that.

If people are spending with their feelings, they try to hide something.

Something happened in the past that they want to avoid.

When time stands still, and they are by themselves, some evil creeps into their minds that they don’t know how to battle.

“Damn Charles that’s deep, but you’re right. Can you help?”

Of course:

• Read the Mood Cure: This book got me out of a dark place. And most of the time, emotional spenders are in some anxiety-riddled mindset. This book will help tremendously.
• Emotionally: As stated earlier, you need to spend 15 minutes writing yourself, Saying it, Seeing It, and Feeling it. For example, Say, “I have willpower and don’t emotionally spend.” See yourself logging into Amazon, window shopping, then logging out.” Feel yourself overcome with joy because you did not emotionally spend!
• Walk 10,000 Steps a Day: Walking takes time and increases dopamine and serotonin. Increased serotonin and dopamine reduce impulse purchases because you are content with what you have.
• Eat Whole Foods

A lot of these steps are similar to Bad Habit #1.

The mind, body, and money are all connected.

You treat the body right, you develop a strong mind.

You fortify that mind; you see clearly.

When you see clearly, you see what’s important in life.

You start to see that your health is your wealth.

Your family and friends are important, not the fancy cars and clothes.

So focus on mastering that tool on top of your shoulders to tame those emotions and stop being broke!!

Bad Habit #9: Your Friends Suck

This one hurts.

If you want to get out of debt or even a slump in life, you have to change your environment.

If you owe a lot of money or are not where you want to be in life, pause and look at your closest five friends.

Think about your time with them last month, even the last year.

What did you do?

What did you talk about?

Were you mostly playing video games, drinking, and smoking?

Did you spend all your time talking about other people and things that happened in the world?

If so, you need to separate from them.

They can still be folks you love, but you must separate from them because they drag you down.

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

-Elanor Roosevelt

That is a quote I live by.

I follow the 80/20 rule when it comes to that.

Meaning I’m human; I’m gonna gossip and talk about events.

But 80% of the time, I will talk about my goals and dreams; the other 20%, sure, I’ll engage in mind-numbing stuff for a minute.

And I get it; many of you can’t just get up and move away from your friends. 

If not, I would suggest following five people on social media who talk about plans and ideas that you are interested in.

So, for example, if you are interested in real estate, you should follow Bigger Pockets on YouTube.

If you’re interested in marketing, you should follow Alex Hormozi.

Build your Power Five, watch them/hang with them every day and night, and I promise you, you will change for the better.

Recap

Alright, my future winners, here’s what we went over:

• Change your mindset on money, and you will become the King or Queen of your financial life.
• Get disciplined. Read books, get a friend who keeps you on track, and build that vision board.
• Learn to control your emotions so they don’t hijack your wallet and buy a bunch of stuff.
• You have to get out of your comfort zone if you want to become a winner, especially when it comes to building your bank.
• You must find the knowledge via Google, YouTube, or books. The more info you have, the more weapons you have to fight poordom…if that’s a word…
• Reach that 50% savings rate and watch the money pile up.
• Look at debt as a form of slavery. If you have that point of view, your chances of owing money will diminish.
• Do not keep up with the Joneses. Buy a Toyota Tacoma and drive it until the wheels fall off.
• Ditch your poisonous friends. Build your Power Five. Start kicking ass.

With the resources you have at your fingertips nowadays, there’s very little reason you should be poor.

You can get a Bachelor’s degree equivalent to whatever you want, all while sitting on the toilet going number two.

I challenge you to use what you learned today and substitute your doom scrolling with “How to make money online” searches for one year.

If you do so, you will be pleasantly surprised and proud of the person you look at in the mirror every morning.

I overcame the poor/poverty trap by doing the things we discussed.

It’s not hard.

It just takes one step at a time.

Thanks for reading.

Good luck on your financial journey.

You and your family have a blessed day.

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