5. They bank their raises

The ‘hiding money from yourself’ approach has helped tens of self-made millionaires. Basically, instead of immediately splurging on things as soon as you get a raise, it’s wise to invest or save your extra money. It’s a strategy that a lot of people who want to retire early use.

Try to spend money on expenses first. Then you can start investing, all but forcing your hand to focus on finances instead of the next shiny thing you’d like to buy. Remember, as mentioned earlier, living frugally will help you out in the long run.