Five Things That Will Really Make You Rich -

I’ve listened to so many influencers who say that saving $100 or $500 each month and putting it into ETFs will make you rich. Let me tell you — this is not true. Even if you look at their math, you’ll realize you cannot get rich this way.

I know this because I’ve spent over 15 years working in finance and investments. I’ve managed money for high-net-worth individuals — people with millions in their accounts. I’ve seen up close what actually builds wealth, and I’ve also built my own journey of doubling my salary, starting side hustles, and creating financial freedom.

So if you’ve been wondering how to get rich, let me share with you five things that will actually make you wealthy. They sound simple, but they’re not easy to do.

1. Focus on Increasing Your Income

If you’re earning $3,000 a month, you will not become rich. You need to raise that to $5K, $7K, $10K, even $15K a month. That’s when life starts to feel comfortable.

The very first step in learning how to build wealth is to focus on your earnings.

Increase Your Earnings To Get Rich — Photo by Allison Saeng on Unsplash

You might ask, “But how do I grow my income?” It’s not easy, but let’s start with baby steps.

Write down how you currently make money. Probably it’s your salary.
Write down your exact position and responsibilities.
List your skills. Be specific — communication, creativity, technical skills, whatever you’re good at.

Now pause and think. Most likely, you need to change your job. That’s how I doubled my salary. Eventually, you’ll probably also want to start a side hustle — something that can grow into a full-time business for you.

For me, I started by changing my job and doubling my salary. (I wrote an article about how I did it — you can read it here My-salary-doubled-in-6-months-and-will-teach-you-how) You can absolutely do the same. Maybe not in one year, but within two years you can double your salary. Don’t stop until you land a role with a comfortable income.

Later, once you’re stable in your career, add a side hustle. Start small: sell something, bake cakes, consult, write, edit videos — it doesn’t matter what it is. You’ll learn along the way. The beauty of a side hustle is that you can pivot if it doesn’t work, but stick with something long enough to see results. Over time, this can grow into a small business. And when it makes double your salary, you’ll be ready to quit your job.

That’s step one:

Increase your income. Because with low income, no matter how much you save, you won’t get rich.

2. Surround Yourself with the Right People

Increasing your income — especially when you start low — is very difficult. I know, because I’ve done it. And one thing that helped me most was surrounding myself with people who already had the lifestyle I wanted.

If your current circle doesn’t include such people, that’s okay. You don’t need to be friends with them. Just find ways to be closer — listen to their talks, attend their workshops, watch their YouTube channels. Let them be the voices you hear the most.

To Get Rich You Have To Surround Yourself With People Who Are Rich And Successful — Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

Here’s something I’ve learned from working in wealth management with high-net-worth individuals:

Rich people don’t talk about the price tags of handbags or how expensive their cars are. They talk about opportunities, values, productivity, and what really matters in life.

And in the beginning, you don’t need to surround yourself with millionaires. Start with people just two or three steps ahead of you. If you’re making $3K, spend time with people making $6K or $8K. Their mindset will rub off on you.

It’s very hard to grow if you’re constantly influenced by people who waste their time, money, and potential. So protect your energy and choose your circle wisely. This is one of the most overlooked personal finance tips for success.

3. Be Intentional With Savings and Spending

As your income grows, it’s very tempting to spend more. I’ve been there.

When I doubled my salary, six months later I realized—I was saving the exact same amount as before. Lifestyle inflation had eaten up all my gains. That was a wake-up call.

The solution? Get strict and intentional with your budget. Decide how much goes to:

investments,
your emergency fund,
necessities,
luxuries.

I’m not saying don’t enjoy life. Of course you should. But make sure your spending reflects your bigger goals, not just short-term impulses.

This is the foundation of becoming financially free: making money work for you, not against you.

Explore the free resources on the Blog and start saving more:

4. Have a Clear Financial Goal That Truly Motivates You

This one is so important: you need a goal that keeps you motivated when things get hard.

For my husband, it’s simple — he wants $1 million in savings and investments. For him, that’s motivating. He doesn’t care about buying branded clothes or expensive toys. He’ll always choose adding to his goal over buying a motorcycle or luxury jeans.

For me, it’s different. My goal is a beautiful house by the ocean, with a garden and a swimming pool. I see myself walking my dog by the beach, having a glass of wine overlooking the water. That’s what drives me to save and invest.

To Get Rich Set A Clear Financial Goal Like a House On The Beach — Joshua Kettle on Unsplash

Your dream doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else. What matters is that it’s yours — and it keeps you going when others try to pull you down.

This clarity is what separates those who wonder how to get rich from those who actually do it.

5. Take Care of Yourself

This part is often ignored, but it’s critical: take care of your mental and physical health.

When you’re ambitious and driven, burnout is a real risk. I’ve experienced it myself. And it’s painful — because sometimes the best opportunities come, but you’re too exhausted to take them.

So don’t forget to make health a priority:

Sleep enough. For me, 7–9 hours is non-negotiable.
Eat healthy food. Junk food doesn’t fuel success.
Exercise regularly — not to look good, but to be strong and full of energy.

And if something feels like too much, rest. Don’t push yourself to the point of collapse.

Protect your energy so that when opportunities come, you can pursue them fully. Because building wealth takes years of resilience, not short bursts of overwork.

The Real Path to Getting Rich

These five things — increase your income, surround yourself with the right people, be intentional with savings, have a clear goal, and take care of yourself — they are simple to explain, but not easy to do.

And they are definitely not quick. But if you commit to them, they will make you rich — not just in money, but in life. This is the real answer to how to get rich: it’s about strategy, mindset, and consistency.

✦ Hi, I’m Mariya Boychinova— founder of S martyPu rse, where I teach people how to be happy, rich, and free by applying real finance principles to everyday life. I’ve spent 15 years in investment banking, wealth management, and fintech, and now I share what truly works to build wealth and freedom.

Five Things That Will Really Make You Rich