It’s great to have you back for our second update of the year. Last week, we focused on resetting the books after the festive season. This week, we’re looking at the engine room of your wealth: your daily habits.
Most financial success isn’t the result of one lucky break or a single “win” on the market. Instead, it’s built on the small, repetitive choices you make every day. As we move further into 2026, let’s analyse which behaviours are helping you grow and which might be quietly holding you back.
The Habits That Build Wealth
- Paying Yourself First
This is perhaps the most effective habit you can adopt. Instead of saving what’s left after your bills and fun, treat your savings like your most important monthly bill. Move a set amount to your savings or offset account the moment your salary arrives.
- The ’24-Hour Rule’ for Impulse Buys
In a world of one-click shopping, it’s easy to spend money before you’ve even thought about it. By making a rule to wait 24 hours before hitting ‘buy’ on anything non-essential over a certain price, you give your brain time to decide if you actually need the item or just want the temporary thrill of the purchase.
- Consistent ‘Health Checks’
Wealthy households don’t ignore their bank statements. They spend ten minutes a week reviewing their transactions. This isn’t about being restrictive; it’s about staying aware of where the money is going so there are no surprises at the end of the month.
The Habits to Leave Behind
- The ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) Cycle
While these services are convenient for large, planned purchases, using them for everyday items like clothing or takeaways can be a slippery slope. It makes it harder to track your true living expenses and can lead to a ‘debt snowball’ that’s difficult to stop.
- Falling Victim to ‘Lifestyle Creep’
As your income grows, it’s natural to want to enjoy the fruits of your labour. However, if your spending increases at the exact same rate as your pay rises, you’ll never actually get ahead. The goal is to keep your living costs stable while your savings and investments grow.
- Letting Subscriptions Run on Autopilot
It’s easy to forget about that fitness app or streaming service you signed up for months ago. These ‘micro-leaks’ can drain hundreds of dollars from your budget every year without you even noticing.
Putting it into Practice
Pick one ‘good’ habit to start this week and one ‘bad’ habit to phase out. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life at once; small, consistent changes are much easier to maintain and often lead to the best results over time.