Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights
This week on Money and Investing, Mitch Olarenshaw and I pull back the curtain on the weird habits of self-made millionaires, sharing personal quirks, real-world stories, and insights from some of the biggest names in business and finance.
1. Live Below Your Means, Without Apology
Every self-made millionaire has one thing in common: they spend less than they earn. Andrew shares how his father’s motto, “savings is as good as a profit,” has shaped his approach to money, including why he still collects complimentary shaving kits from the Qantas lounge rather than paying inflated Australian prices at the checkout.
2. It Is Never Really About the Money
The wealthiest people are not chasing a number. They are playing a game. Andrew discusses how a 22-year-old Oculus founder worth three billion dollars kept building because sitting on a beach was never the goal, and how that mindset shift from scorecard to process is what separates genuine wealth builders from everyone else.
3. Know When to Stop Speculating
Speculation has its place early on, but staying in that lane too long is where most people come undone. Andrew and Mitch break down the critical transition from chasing high-risk returns to grinding consistent, long-term asset growth, and why mid-to-high-teens returns should excite any serious investor.
4. Protect Your Daily Rituals
Mitch shares his non-negotiable evening wind-down: shower, no lights, classical piano. Andrew’s morning ritual is equally deliberate: arrive first, read exactly three market research pieces, then start the day. These are not accidents. They are the routines that sustain peak performance over the long haul.
5. Plan Your Week Like Wealth Depends on It
Andrew’s Friday afternoon journal review, wins for the week, and priorities for next week are a habit he never skips. Mitch adds that the busier things get, the more important planning becomes, not less. Letting go of structure when pressure builds is the fastest path to floating without direction.
6. The Wealthy Play the Long Game in Every Area of Life
From Adrian Petrella’s shift from Lamborghinis and PR exposure to quiet billion-dollar asset building, to Warren Buffett’s $2-or-$4 McDonald’s breakfast system, the pattern is consistent. Long-term thinking in investing, in relationships, and in daily habits is what compounds into lasting wealth.
For more Info about Money and Investing, you can go to the podcast; The Wealth Playbook: Your Ultimate Guide to Financial Security; and The Wealth Playbook by Andrew Baxter – Audiobook, which is on Audible.
Join the discussion. See what’s trending right now on Australia’s largest stock forum and be part of the conversations that move the markets.
Disclaimer: Wealth Magnet Pty Ltd (ABN 52 618 868 830) trading as Australian Investment Education is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR no. 1255231) of Grange Financial Services Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 488609).
The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.
