10 Money Principles I have as a 90s kid

Over the past few years as a working adult, I have been reflecting on my approach to money—what worked, what did not, and what I hope to do differently moving forward.

I decided to turn these reflections into guiding principles to help me make better decisions in my 30s.

1. The most consistent and reliable way to grow wealth in our early years is through developing valuable skills—whether that means progressing in a meaningful career or building something of our own. That is where I intend to invest most of my time, energy, and attention.

2. When it comes to investing, I have accepted that I cannot predict or time the market. What I can control is consistency. I now invest at the start of every quarter, regardless of market conditions.

3. I avoid investing money I may need in the next three years, as liquidity matters.

4. To stay disciplined, I write down a simple thesis for each investment I make. This helps me stay focused on long-term fundamentals and avoid impulsive decisions. If the underlying reasons for the investment no longer hold, I reassess.

5. Personally, I also choose to avoid borrowing to invest. Using my own capital gives me peace of mind and helps me stay level-headed through market ups and downs.

6. That said, managing money is not just about saving or growing wealth. I believe in spending intentionally—on things that contribute meaningfully to my life. This includes my mental and physical health, time with loved ones, learning and personal development, and occasionally giving back to causes I care about.

7. I track my finances monthly and take time to reflect. This habit helps me stay accountable and make more thoughtful choices over time.

8. In recent years, I have also started exploring private market opportunities in a small and gradual way. While these require more research and come with different risks, they offer a chance to diversify and learn.

9. I remind myself to be thoughtful about where I seek guidance. I try to learn from those who have meaningful experience, sound judgment, and values that I align with.

10. I also try to surround myself with people who inspire me. I like people who are not overly materialistic, thoughtful, kind, and intentional about how they live and work. Being in their company motivates me to grow, stay grounded, and make better choices with my time and resources.

These principles are a work in progress, but they help me stay focused on what matters.

I hope they might be helpful to others who are thinking about their own financial journey too.

Recommendation: Defining goals in health, wealth, and relationships

I recently chanced upon a great video “I spent $50,000 on a business coach so you don’t have to” by Ali Abdaal. This was a good recap of the goal-setting frameworks which I have picked up over time.

☀️ Set Identity-based goals.

We need to define our identity and how exactly we want to show up in our health, work, and relationships

• Health: Who are we aspiring to be and do with our bodies?

• Work/Wealth: What impact are we looking to have with our work?

• Relationships: What kind of romantic partner; daughter; mother or friend do we want to be?

☀️ Set Quarterly Goals

One of the biggest reasons we should focus on 90-day goals is that they are short enough that you can accomplish something meaningful within that time frame.

When it comes to achieving your goals, you want to make progress and see results quickly. That way, you’ll be motivated to follow through.

☀️ Pencil weekly time in your calendar

To ensure you’re consistent, it is good to schedule time for specific activities. For example, I decided to get fit and therefore I will put exercises in my calendar

• Sunday: Gym

• Mon: Swim

• Tuesday: Cardio and HIIT

I made a free template for setting goals. I use a similar one myself. Click on the button below to download it:

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