Written by Today we discuss 10 money mindset shifts that I’m making in 2025. If you’re interested in making 2025 your best financial year yet, as I’m working towards, then it’s important that we focus on the relationship we have with money and the beliefs we hold about it. The beliefs we have will play a significant role in how we make decisions and what we regard as good or bad decisions with money.
If we have not accomplished our financial goals in previous years, a lot of times it means that our relationship with money is self-sabotaging in some way.
It doesn’t mean it’s even a bad relationship; it just means sometimes what gets us here won’t get us there. We’ll need to make small shifts in our perspective about money if our goal is to level up or change something about our current relationship.
Your money mindset matters
All that we have done so far is exactly what we’ve been able to do. That’s why you hear me all the time talk about the fact that the numbers show that within three years of winning the lottery, the majority of winners are filing for bankruptcy.
Professional athletes—up to 80 percent of them—even though they had millions of dollars come into their hands over a very short period of time, are filing for bankruptcy after their retirement, often within the same three years. When it comes to generational wealth, somewhere between 70 to 90 percent of it is gone by the third generation.
This means that getting the money is not all it’s cracked up to be. It means that who we are, the beliefs we hold, and the decisions we make ultimately impact whether we get to keep the money. Even if it’s given to you—even if you win millions of dollars—if you have not changed who you are, then you eventually revert back to who you’ve always been.
Which is why, for me, becoming a millionaire is not as much about the money—because the money comes and goes. It’s about who I have to become to achieve that goal. And that’s where the focus is a lot of times when I’m interacting with my clients. So, I wanted to share my 10 money mindsets that I’m focusing on in 2025, and I hope you find value in them as well.
Money mindset number one: Focus on growth and not just saving.
There is a difference between getting out of debt, saving money, and actually building a predictable income stream that is not tied to us actively working. When you’re looking at the seven streams of income that the IRS recognizes, six of those streams require you to invest in three asset classes.
Those asset classes are your own business, real estate, or the stock market. The numbers show that the top 10 percent of wealth within the country owns 89 percent of the stock market. So, I spend a lot of my time focusing on investing in the stock market because all six streams of income are accessible through it.
If you’re just putting your money in a savings account, that’s not going to pay you a return large enough to keep up with inflation. As a result, you’re technically losing every single year, whatever inflation adds up to be.
Some years inflation is 10%, but on average, it’s about 2 to 3%, which means you’re losing that. Ideally, we have our money invested in something that at least keeps up with inflation. This way, when we’re halfway to retirement, half of our money is actively generated by us working, and half of our income is generated passively from investments.
Because if our focus is solely on saving and cutting our expenses, there’s only so much we can cut down to zero. But we can exponentially increase our income.
We can either get a certification and invest in ourselves to exponentially increase our income, or we can invest in real estate, which could replace our annual income. There are so many asset classes where we can leverage our money in a very successful way to increase our wealth much quicker than we can by simply cutting expenses.
Money mindset number two: View money as a tool, not as a goal.
When you’re generating money, a lot of the time, people think, “I just want to get my money right. Once I have the money, I’ll go on trips, visit family, or go on vacation.”
But from my own experience, if we don’t immediately cut off the idea of “I just don’t have enough money to do that,” and instead think, “How could I do that?” or “What could I do to accomplish that?” we open ourselves up to creative solutions.
For example, we can plan ahead for events like an annual fair. Let’s say the fair costs $500 for my family. That’s a lot to spend in one month, but if I put aside $50 from each paycheck, I’ve saved for it over time.
Realizing that money is a tool and not the goal shifts our mindset to align with creating the experiences we value most.
Money mindset number three: Embrace abundance over scarcity.
This mindset is about allowing ourselves to dream and imagine the possibilities. Often, we immediately say something isn’t possible, and that shuts down any opportunity to think creatively.
When we adopt an abundance mindset, we open ourselves to solutions. For instance, if you have a goal that seems financially out of reach, you might think about how to pool resources, partner with others, or create an investment group. The key is to focus on what’s possible instead of immediately dismissing opportunities.
I’ve always been an optimist, believing there’s a way to accomplish goals. Whether it’s envisioning a business, a home, or even something small like getting a local Dairy Queen in my childhood town, an abundance mindset allows us to consider all the ways we can make dreams a reality.
Money mindset number four: Think long term, not short term.
One common issue with short-term thinking is that we underestimate what we can accomplish in a longer timeframe. For example, something that may not be achievable in three months could be entirely realistic in three years.
As Tony Robbins has said, “We overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in five.” This idea is especially relevant in financial planning, where goals like saving for retirement, paying off debt, or building wealth often take years to accomplish.
The second issue with short-term thinking is that it makes us more vulnerable to scams. When we’re desperate for quick results, we may fall for promises of easy money or too-good-to-be-true investments.
By thinking long term, we avoid unrealistic expectations, protect ourselves from poor decisions, and give ourselves the time needed to build real, lasting financial success.
Money mindset number five: Celebrate small wins.
It’s easy to focus solely on the big goals and overlook the progress we’re making along the way. When we do this, we tell ourselves that anything short of perfection is failure, which can discourage us from continuing to work toward our goals.
Instead, we should gamify the process. Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Did you save $1,000? That’s a win. Did you contribute to your retirement account for 12 months in a row? Celebrate it.
When we celebrate these small victories, we build momentum and stay motivated. This approach turns financial planning into something exciting and rewarding rather than a chore.
Money mindset number six: Invest in yourself.
Investing in yourself is one of the most important and rewarding things you can do. Whether it’s gaining new skills, earning certifications, or pursuing hobbies that bring fulfillment, these investments increase your value and enrich your life.
For example, when I decided to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), I initially tried to study on my own. I read the books, studied for hours, and fell just short of passing the exam. Then I invested in a review program. That investment provided targeted guidance, helped me focus on the most important material, and ultimately enabled me to pass the exam.
Investing in yourself doesn’t always have to result in financial returns. It can be about learning a new skill, improving your health, or simply pursuing something you’re passionate about.
Money mindset number seven: Separate emotion from money.
Money is a tool—it’s neither inherently good nor bad. While it can be used for good, like helping others or creating opportunities, it can also lead to negative outcomes when we let emotions like fear or greed drive our decisions.
By separating emotion from money, we make better, more rational choices. For example, when investing, it’s important not to panic during market downturns or become overconfident during upswings. Money should serve your goals, not control your emotions.
Money mindset number eight: Adopt a wealth steward mentality.
As stewards of wealth, we recognize that the money we have is temporary. We can’t take it with us, but we can choose how to use it during our lifetime.
This mindset focuses on building a legacy—creating something that benefits future generations while also meeting our needs today. Whether it’s through investments, charitable giving, or planning for generational wealth, being a steward means thinking beyond immediate gratification.
Money mindset number nine: Be proactive, not reactive.
Planning for the future is key to financial success. Emergencies, taxes, and unforeseen events are inevitable, but proactive planning helps us prepare for them.
For example, investing in life insurance, disability insurance, or tax-advantaged accounts allows us to mitigate risks and achieve long-term goals. Instead of reacting to challenges as they arise, we can create a plan to address them before they happen.
Money mindset number ten: Share your money goals.
When you share your financial goals with others—whether it’s a mentor, a financial planner, or a trusted friend—you gain accountability, encouragement, and valuable insights.
Keeping your goals private makes it easier to move the goalposts or lose focus. But when you share them, you create a support system that helps you stay on track and achieve your objectives.
Final Thoughts
These 10 money mindset shifts for 2025 focus on growth, abundance, and long-term success. Start with one mindset, work on it, and gradually incorporate others. By the end of the year, you’ll have transformed your relationship with money and set yourself up for lasting financial success.
If you’d like personalized guidance to achieve your financial goals, schedule a consultation today. Together, we can create a plan tailored to your needs and aspirations.
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