Most people assume getting rich means striking it big — a startup payday, a lucky investment or a sudden windfall. But for most middle-class Americans, wealth is built the quieter way. It’s the result of everyday financial habits, repeated consistently over years, that slowly but reliably add up.
GOBankingRates spoke with Anna Baluch, finance expert at BestMoney, to discuss the habits that make middle-class people rich over time. After all, it’s not about how much money you make; it’s about what you do with it. Here’s what she had to say.
Also see seven key signs you’re moving from the middle class to upper class.
Why Flexible Budgets Actually Stick
“Many people abandon budgets because they feel restrictive or unrealistic,” Baluch said.
She noted that middle-class earners juggling family costs, housing and rising prices often need flexibility rather than rigid rules. Instead of tracking every dollar, flexible budgeting focuses on broad spending categories and realistic limits that can adjust month to month.
This approach allows people to respond to surprise expenses without feeling like they’ve failed. Over time, that flexibility makes it easier to stay consistent — and consistency, not perfection, is what actually drives long-term financial progress.
Read More: The No. 1 Way Americans Become Millionaires Is Pretty Boring — and Easy To Do
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Skip Daily Tracking and Review Spending in Batches
According to Baluch, wealth-builders tend to focus on periodic spending audits instead.
Reviewing bank and card statements every few months helps them identify low-value expenses that quietly add up, such as unused subscriptions or recurring fees. This kind of check-in is far less time-consuming than daily tracking and often more effective.
By zooming out, people can spot patterns they might miss week to week and make small, painless adjustments that free up extra cash. Those savings can then be redirected toward goals like investing, paying off debt or building an emergency fund — without feeling like day-to-day life is under a microscope.
Small Redirects, Big Long-Term Gains
“The impact is measurable,” Baluch said. She said redirecting even $100 to $200 per month from overlooked expenses into savings or investments can add tens of thousands over a working lifetime, without reducing quality of life.
Those modest monthly shifts benefit from compounding over time, quietly snowballing into meaningful wealth.
Because the money comes from spending that often goes unnoticed, most people don’t feel a day-to-day pinch. Instead, they build momentum — reinforcing the idea that wealth accumulation doesn’t require drastic sacrifices, just smarter allocation of what’s already there.
The Bottom Line
Building wealth as a middle-class earner isn’t about chasing big wins or extreme frugality. It’s about creating systems that are realistic, repeatable and sustainable over time.
Flexible budgets, occasional spending check-ins and small redirections of money you won’t miss can quietly compound into significant wealth.
When financial habits fit real life, they’re far more likely to stick — and that consistency is what ultimately makes the biggest difference.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Financial Expert: These Are the Habits That Make Middle-Class People Rich Over Time
