Lynda Moore reminds us that real wealth isn’t just about making more money; it’s about creating a life you love

I’m in the process of renovating Mum’s house as well as building a second dwelling on our property for me.  If there’s one way to shift your mindset from wealthy to broke, it’s building a house!  Even I find myself going down the ‘I’m going to run out of money path”.  I’m constantly working on my mindset to stay positive and manage the build budget.

Even if you aren’t doing a project right now, and are just trying to juggle your day-to-day expenses, I thought there might be something that resonates with you in my list of 10 ways to work on your mindset.

Shifting from a mindset of financial struggle to one of abundance doesn’t require winning the lottery or stumbling upon a treasure chest. It’s about how you think, feel, and behave with your money.

Here are ten simple, yet powerful ways to upgrade your thinking and, in turn, your bank balance:

1. See Challenges as Opportunities

We all have that inner voice that talks to us.  What is yours saying? Things like, Why does this always happen to me? When this happens catch yourself and flip the script! Next time, before you start to go down to a dark place, ask yourself another question.  What can I learn from this? Financial growth is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice. Mistakes are just part of the learning curve—each one is a stepping stone to getting better with money. If you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over, that’s a pretty clear sign that you might need to learn some new skills.

2. Get Specific About Your Goals

We have talked about goals quite a bit so far this year, so this is just a recap. Dreaming of being “rich” is great, but let’s get more precise. What does financial success look like for you? Maybe it’s saving $2,000 for emergencies, or paying off your mortgage early. Whatever it is, write it down, break it into bite-sized goals, and make a plan. Go back to my earlier articles where I dig deep into goal setting to get more on this one.

3. Create Wealthy Habits

Think small actions can’t lead to big results? Think again. Daily habits like setting up automatic savings, tracking your spending, or reading a money book can add up to major wins over time. It’s not about flashy moves—it’s about consistent ones. This just doesn’t apply to your money, but a lot of other aspects of life. My mentor David Krueger wrote a very interesting article about the Tyranny of small decisions and how two French fries weigh 18.5kg!  We think small decisions don’t mean much, but if we looked ahead and saw the end result of that small decision, we may well think again. If you don’t want to gain 18.5kg over the next 10 years, don’t eat two more fries every day!

4. Invest in Yourself

You are your greatest asset! We often forget that. Whether it’s learning new skills, levelling up in your career, or picking up some basic investing knowledge, the time and money you invest in yourself will pay off big. Think of it as planting seeds for your future. By the way, if you have children, remember to educate them as well.

5. Surround Yourself with Go-Getters

You know that saying about being the average of the five people you spend the most time with? It’s true! If you’re around people who inspire you, challenge you, and cheer you on, you’re way more likely to succeed. So, find your people—mentors, colleagues, or friends who are as driven as you are. I hear you; how do you find these people if you don’t know them?  Step outside of your comfort zone and join a group (either online or off), you never know who you will meet when you try something different.

6. Take Smart Risks

Building wealth often means stepping out of your comfort zone. Maybe it’s starting a side hustle, investing for the first time, or negotiating a raise. The trick is to research, start small, and take calculated risks,—not reckless ones and then research again. We all have different risk profiles, and what seems super risky to me, may not be to you.  Get good advice from someone who knows what they are talking about if you want to head off into uncharted territory.

7. Think Long-Term

Wealth doesn’t happen overnight (unless you win the lottery, or a long lost relative leaves you a fortune, but let’s not rely on that). Focus on building income streams and assets that grow over time. Patience, consistency, and compound growth are your best friends here. This one is linked to your risk profile too.

8. Adopt an Abundance Mindset

This one is top of mind for me right now, as my spreadsheet of costs seems to have taken on a life of its own. Instead of thinking, I can’t afford this, try asking, how can I make this happen? This shift in thinking opens up possibilities you might not have noticed before. Pair it with gratitude for what you already have, and watch how your perspective changes.

9. Ditch Limiting Beliefs

It’s quite easy to brush aside our beliefs without realising how significant a part they play in our life. Telling yourself things like, I’m bad with money or Rich people are just lucky isn’t helping anyone—especially you. Instead, try: I’m learning to master my finances or Success comes to those who work for it. How you talk to yourself matters more than you think! Positive affirmations can really help shift your beliefs, have a list of them (or post it notes stuck to the fridge) so you have a positive response when something negative pops up.

10. Celebrate Your Wins

I love this one.  I’m also having fun with it in my house build project.  At each stage, I have a photo taken with me holding a glass of wine to celebrate.  So far, I have ‘the piles are in the ground’ photo and the ‘piles are now braced ready for the floor' photo. Next week it will be the floor down, frames up celebration.  We can get so bogged down in the day-to-day stuff; we forget that positive things are happening as well. Don’t wait until you’ve “made it” to celebrate. Hit a savings milestone? Paid off a debt? High-five yourself for every small win. Progress is progress, and recognizing it keeps you motivated to keep going.

Changing your financial reality starts with changing your mindset. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about making consistent, positive shifts in how you think about money. Pick one of these tips, take action today, and see where it takes you.

Real wealth isn’t just about making more money; it’s about creating a life you love.

*Lynda Moore is a Money Mentalist coach and New Zealand’s only certified New Money Story® mentor. Lynda helps you understand why you do the things you do with your money, when we all know we should spend less than we earn. You can contact her here.