I Will Teach You to Be Rich Summary | Ramit Sethi

No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program That Works

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DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is for general purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions. Any actions taken based on this information are at your own risk.

Introduction

Are you tired of scraping by and ready to flourish your bank account? Do you want to break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and live your life your way? Look no further. Get ready to unlock the secrets of financial success with I Will Teach You to Be Rich. You will learn the best money management strategies and wealth-building techniques so you can build a financial success mindset. This guide is your ticket to a world where money is no longer a source of stress, but a tool for achieving your dreams. 

I Will Teach You to Be Rich is a practical approach delivered with a nonjudgmental style based on the four pillars of personal finance. These four pillars are banking, saving, budgeting and investing. From personal finance tips, to smart money habits, to debt reduction strategies, to investing for beginners, Ramit Sethi has you covered. 

Sethi also shares the wealth-building ideas of personal entrepreneurship. Specifically, he teaches how to automate your finances and adopt a plan that allows you to earn while sleeping. The book reached new heights of success as it transitioned into a major Netflix series.

Get ready for a revolution in wealth-building. It’s time to rewrite your financial story and embrace the life you deserve with our I Will Teach You to Be Rich summary.

I Will Teach You to Be Rich Audiobook Summary

About Ramit Sethi

A leading voice in personal finance and entrepreneurship, Ramit Sethi wrote the transformative book “I Will Teach You to Be Rich.” Sethi is passionate about empowering people to take charge of their financial futures. 

Sethi is a Stanford University graduate with a strong audience. He currently writes for over 1 million readers on his websites, including a website that this book is based on. Sethi is the founder of GrowthLab.com and IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com. He helps entrepreneurs start and grow online businesses. His no-nonsense style and witty delivery resonate with audiences around the world. He’s been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and The New York Times.

Sethi challenges conventional wisdom with his own experiences and extensive research. He’s helped countless people get out of debt, become financially independent, and live fulfilling lives. 

StoryShot #1: Start by Defining What Being Rich Means to You

You must decide what being rich means to you and become a conscious spender who prioritizes. It’s 100% okay to spend unapologetically on the things you love as long as you cut down on other stuff. Conscious spending is all about avoiding creating budgets. Track your spending using tools to see where your money is going and how it’s being allocated. Tracking tools raise questions you don’t usually think about. For example, ask yourself if you’d rather buy a coffee or put that money into a savings account. The reality might be that you would enjoy eating food out more than having a house.  Do what makes you happy in the long run If this is buying a sandwich twice a week, keep doing this. If you are tracking your spending, at least you are making an informed decision. Making these informed decisions is what Sethi calls being frugal. Frugality is choosing the things you love enough to spend extravagantly on. This is key to creating a financial success mindset.

There’s power in saying no to things we dislike or need. There’s even more power in saying yes to the things we love.

StoryShot #2: Start Right Now

Starting early is vital for getting rich. It’s a key factor in achieving financial success and building wealth. You can leverage the power of compound interest by starting earlier. Over time, compound interest can increase the value of your investments. With plenty of time, compounding can offer significant benefits.

Never blame yourself for not starting earlier. Starting ten years ago would have been better, but today is the next best time. Waiting for the perfect moment is pointless because it will never come. Take charge of your finances now.

Building wealth early helps you establish smart money habits. It encourages long-term thinking and creates a solid foundation for wealth creation. By starting early, we can better handle setbacks and market fluctuations. The earlier you start building wealth, the longer you have to recover and adjust. Time is an asset in wealth building. Early action can increase your chances of being financially independent, stable, and wealthy.

StoryShot #3: Excuses Hinder Growth

As barriers that stop us from progressing and growing, excuses have a big impact on our lives. They quietly invade our thoughts and behaviors without us even noticing. Excuses cleverly pretend to be valid reasons, making our lack of action or minimal effort seem justified.

Excuses are detrimental to our growth and success. We use them to avoid responsibility and accountability. Excuses prevent us from making meaningful progress towards our goals. 

Not Making the Perfect Choice

The first thing that you can do today is to set up an online savings account. You should be able to withdraw money without fees and earn a lot of interest on this account. All you have to do is search for high-interest rate savings accounts on Google. One of the most common excuses is worrying the results may not have the highest interest rate. Even worse is believing there’ll be a higher-interest savings account coming out soon. Neither of these excuses will get you started on your financial journey. Indecision will cause you more loss than mediocre decisions. To highlight Sethi’s preference for mediocrity over delaying, he speaks about the 85% solution. He says that he would much rather get it 85 percent correct than do nothing at all. 

Small Results

Insufficient funds is another excuse not to open a savings account today. Many people don’t see the point of setting up a savings account when the interest they get isn’t worth it. But, it is important to notice that no amount is too small when forming great money habits. Having less money gives you an even better reason to start as the stakes are low. It is the ideal time to try out your money management strategies. Just because a band dreams of playing Madison Square Garden doesn’t mean they should turn down an invitation to a smaller festival. The band should view it as an opportunity to practice and get better. You can’t expect to handle millions well if you are struggling with hundreds of pounds.

Excuses are self-imposed limitations that impede your financial and personal growth. We can break free from the cycle of inaction by acknowledging and overcoming excuses.

Don’t get caught up in minutiae! You don’t have to get it perfectly right the first time. You just have to start at some point, and today is a great day for that.

StoryShot #4: Swap Your Attention from Micro to Macro

Save on three dollar lattes, get a temporary 0.1% increase on your interest rate by switching your bank and use clip coupons. These three examples represent micro-decisions. Engaging in such activities may make you feel like you’re part of the Lean FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement. This is not where the battle is won. We should focus our energy on five to ten things that really matter. These pursuits should yield exceptional results and a good return on invested energy.

Here are a few of those key personal finance tips:

1. Automate your money system. 
2. Keep a great credit score.
3. Use credit cards to get free cashback and rewards.
4. Contribute money towards a 401(k) to get at least the full employer match.
5. Pay off your credit card debt.
6. Cancel your subscriptions and instead buy monthly. On Netflix, you can pay for a 30-day subscription and then cancel it immediately if you don’t like the show. You’ll have time to watch the series that you created the account for. You also won’t end up paying for a product that you’re not using, say, three months down the line.
7. Focus on cutting your costs in a few problem areas. The areas you often tell people that you have probably spent too much on.
8. Negotiate a raise.
9. Do freelance work.
10. Buy a house that you can afford.
11. Buy a car that you can afford and focus on the total cost of ownership rather than the price tag.
12. Allocate your capital correctly.

Use this as a checklist. If you can get five of these right, you can buy as many $3 lattes as you want.

StoryShot #5: Learn How to Set Up an Automatic Money System

Setting up an automatic money system is one of the most important money management strategies for financial success. It simplifies money management, allocates it effectively, and reduces manual labor. Automation saves time and mental energy, so people can focus on other things. Financial goals should be aligned with personal values using this system. By customizing the system, people ensure their money is directed towards specific objectives.

For your system, you’ll need:

1. A checking account: This is where the money goes first. Think of it kind of like a distribution center. By using automatic transfers, it feeds your other accounts and pays off all your bills.
2. A savings account: This is a parking spot for short-term to mid-term savings goals, like vacations or a wedding. Pick one with no fees, no restrictions on withdrawals and a high-interest rate.
3. A credit card: Used correctly, this is a free short-term loan with rewards and perks. Get at least one that gives cashback.
4. A retirement savings account: Like 401k or Roth IRA. This will be country-specific.
5. An investment account: Get one from an online broker.

Set up an automatic money system to manage finances, establish good habits, and allocate money efficiently.

StoryShot #6: An Automatic Money System Offers Many Benefits

Humans are weak at times. We get distracted, bored and unmotivated. These characteristics endanger our prior investing efforts and saving habits. You think you care, but this personal interest might only last for a short period. In two weeks, you could easily get back into your old bad habits. So, we must set up an automatic money system that can save us from our worst selves. This system will make sure that we stick to our long-term money plan by allocating our income each month. Automating your money system is a great way to reap the benefits for years and years to come.

Implementing an automatic money system brings several advantages. It simplifies money management, ensures efficient allocation, promotes consistent financial habits, saves time and energy, and aligns with personal values. Automated finances make it easy to reach your financial goals.

StoryShot #7: Make a Money Bucket and See How It Works

If you want to manage your money better and reach your goals, try making a “Money Bucket.” It’s a simple but powerful wealth-building technique. Put your income in different categories or accounts to meet your financial goals. By creating money buckets, you’ll have a clear picture of your finances and be in control. Now you don’t have to mix up your money or spend impulsively. Additionally, buckets help you focus on your financial responsibilities and avoid overspending. With this approach, you’ll stay on track and make steady progress towards your goals.

Your automated money system must be based on a conscious spending plan which contains four buckets:

1. Fixed costs
2. Investments
3. Savings
4. Guilt-free spending

Here’s a brilliant suggestion for what percentage of your take-home pay they should be:

• Fixed costs: 50-60%
• Investments: 10%
• Savings: 5-10%
• Guilt-free spending: 20-35%

Don’t go lower than 5% to your savings account and 10% towards investments. These two buckets will be the backbone of your new rich life. If you put in place a few of the big wins, you’ll be able to raise these percentages in no time. Automation is crucial because you can then learn to live without money. If you never see it, you will never get the urge to spend it.

Money buckets reduce stress by providing a safety net for unexpected expenses. With it, you can deal with tough situations without getting into high-interest debt. To ensure funds are allocated effectively, review and adjust money buckets regularly. 

StoryShot #8: Schedule Your Automatic Money System

If you want to automate your finances, you need to pick specific days of the month. Suppose you are paid on the 1st of the month. Here, ensure that your rent or mortgage comes out on this day. By automating, you’ll pay off your essentials before you spend anywhere else. Then, set up a direct debit on the 5th of the month. Automatically transfer money from your checking account to your savings account. On this same day, also have an automatic transfer that sends money to your Roth IRA. Finally, have an auto-pay set up that pays for any remaining monthly bills on the 7th of the month. This includes paying off your credit card in full from your checking account (not your savings account).

Schedule your automatic money system as a crucial strategy for financial success. Setting specific dates for transfers, bills, and contributions keeps your finances organized. This helps you stay on track with your goals and reduces the risk of missed payments or late fees. You can also optimize your cash flow by scheduling your finances. Your system adapts to your changing needs while fostering discipline and financial responsibility. Scheduled automatic money systems add structure, efficiency, and goal-oriented focus to your finances.

StoryShot #9: Follow the Pyramid of Investing Options

Savings and investment accounts will create the backbone of your new rich life. So, let’s look at how to invest your money. There are three different ways to invest your money:

1. Pick your own stocks and bonds.
2. Pick your own index funds and mutual funds.
3. Invest in target-date funds.

This is the pyramid of investing options. The higher in the pyramid, the simpler the investing process. For 99% of people, the second or third levels in the pyramid are the best options. Certain people should only do the peak, picking your own stocks and bonds because beating the market is hard. Time spent trying to beat the market could be spent elsewhere. 

Even index funds and mutual funds are too much of a hassle for most people. With target-date funds, diversification and asset allocation are solved for you. The only thing that you must do is have your automated money system in place. For example, suppose you expect to retire in 2055. If that’s the case, you can set up your account so you can buy Vanguard’s Target Retirement 2055 every month. Then, that’s that. No more hassle, and your money will experience the wonders of compound interest. This is a perfect example of passive income that can also be used for specific savings goals. For example, you can buy target retirement 2025 if you’re getting married in five years. 

StoryShot #10: Optimize Your Credit Cards

To start this section, Sethi offers a few simple foundational tips that everybody should follow.

• Pay off your credit card automatically.
• Get all fees waived.
• Negotiate a lower APR.
• Keep your cards for a long time and keep them active.
• Get more credit (if you have no debt).
• Use your rewards.

After this, he delves into a bit more detail about exactly how you can optimize your credit cards after building this foundation.

Improve Your Credit Utilization Rate

The two approaches you can adopt to improve your credit utilization rate are:

1. Stop carrying debt on your credit cards (even if you pay this off).
2. Increase your total available credit.

Choose the latter, as there are several benefits of consistently using your credit card. For example, most credit cards will extend the warranty associated with your purchases. 

Credit cards cover Apple products after their warranties expire for up to a year. All credit cards and purchases automatically enable this, so you don’t have to worry about it. Credit cards also protect you in a way that means you sometimes don’t have to be insured. For example, car insurance is probably never worth it. Your credit insurance will already provide some cover. Your credit card will probably cover you for up to $50,000 worth of damages. Credit card providers will also usually cover you for up to $1,000 a year for travel cancellations.

StoryShot #11: Follow the Six-Step Process to Become Rich

The book ends with a six-step process to becoming rich that readers can follow over the course of six weeks. To achieve long-term wealth and financial well-being, readers will gain knowledge and tools. 

Use this approach over the course of six weeks:

1. Optimize your credit cards.

2. Open high-interest, low-maintenance bank accounts.

3. Open investing accounts.

4. Start your conscious spending plan.

5. Automate everything.

6. Start investing.

With this comprehensive approach, you can live a richer, more fulfilling life. 

Final Summary and Review

You can manage your money in a proactive and intentional way to achieve long-term wealth. To improve your financial situation, you need specific money goals, make smart money choices, and use practical plans. The book shows readers how to overcome common myths and excuses, focus on the big picture, and use money-saving systems.

You’ll succeed if you learn, take action, and focus on long-term financial well-being. 

Here are the top insights from I Will Teach You to Be Rich:

• Start by defining what being rich means to you
• Starting early is the key to getting rich
• Growth is slowed by excuses
• Pay attention to the big picture
• Set up an automatic money system
• There are lots of benefits to an automatic money system
• How money buckets work
• Make your money work for you by following the Pyramid of Investing
• How to optimize your credit cards

Take proactive steps, make conscious financial decisions, and set up systems to make your life happier and more fulfilling.

Rating

We rate I Will Teach You to Be Rich 4.4/5.

How would your rate Ramit Sethi’s book?

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Editor’s Note

This article was first published in April 2021. It was revised and updated substantially on 15/06/23.

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