Ramit Sethi thinks “you should be spending less than one hour a month on your money.”
That might feel impossible with bills to pay, expenses to track and savings, debt and retirement to worry about. Nope. Sethi says it’s all about setting up a process and automating what you can.
“Delete your financial apps,” Sethi told me. “You don’t need them if you set your system up right.”
Sethi is full of advice that cuts against the grain on his Netflix show “How to Get Rich,” his “Money for Couples” podcast and his social media channels. He has more than a million followers on YouTube alone, where his most-watched videos challenge conventional wisdom about building what he calls “A Rich Life.”
“You can spend extravagantly on the things you love as long as you cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t,” Sethi told me.
For example, he said he splurges on travel, clothes and fitness and doesn’t care about fancy cars or high-end dinners out.
His approach fuses psychology with practical money strategies, all aimed at helping people build a life that’s rich in meaning, experiences, and connection.
His online presence stands out to me for another reason: he’s one of the few financial influencers I’ve seen who speaks openly about the political forces that shape our financial lives.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Stop asking ‘Can I afford this?’
Q When you think about a financial glow up what does that mean to you beyond just earning more or saving more?
A: A glow up goes beyond saving an extra $3,000. A true glow up means radically reconceptualizing your relationship with money. That means seeing money as a source of adventure, generosity, and possibility rather than one of scarcity and restriction.
Q: What is something people can do right now, at the end of the year, to make 2026 better financially?
A: Set up a system once, then let it run on autopilot. Stop logging in every week. Delete your financial apps. You don’t need them if you set your system up right.
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Q: A lot of personal finance advice focuses on cutting back, while yours emphasizes designing a “rich life.” How do you define that for this moment, especially when costs are up?
A: A rich life can be traveling for two months every year, or buying a beautiful cashmere coat, or picking your kids up from school.
One of the first rich life moments many people experience is not having to look at the prices at the grocery store. Imagine that feeling of joy and freedom!
In my work, I show you how to identify the things you truly love — your “money dials” — and actually spend more on those things.
Stop agonizing over $3 decisions while ignoring $30,000 ones
Q: What inspired your new MasterClass, and what do you hope viewers will take away from it?
A: I got tired of watching people agonize over $3 decisions while ignoring the $30,000 ones. My class teaches people how to master their money psychology, automate their system, and actually enjoy their money. Most financial advice is condescending and filled with shame. Mine is built on freedom, clarity, and action.
Q: For readers unfamiliar with your “Conscious Spending Plan,” how would you explain it in one sentence?
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A: I have not seen a single good reason to use BNPL services. If you can’t afford it now, don’t buy it.
I’ve found that many people in debt will do everything except pay off their debt.
They may opt for 0% balance transfer offers, BNPL services, or simply choose to ignore their debt altogether.
However, the crucial step is to acknowledge the debt, create a plan to pay it off, and automate the process. This may require cutting back on holiday spending to prioritize debt repayment. By having a clear plan in place, individuals can track their progress towards becoming debt-free.
For couples with varying spending habits and high incomes, it’s important to focus on a shared vision of a “rich life” rather than getting bogged down by specific numbers. By discussing their financial goals, both short-term and long-term, couples can create a budget that feels fair to both partners.
Before moving in together or getting married, couples should have an open conversation about their attitudes towards money. Understanding each other’s views on money, based on their upbringing and values, can help prevent conflicts in the future.
It’s essential to recognize that “money is political.” Many financial issues, such as housing costs, healthcare expenses, and access to education, are influenced by political decisions. By connecting money with political issues, individuals can advocate for systemic changes while also practicing personal financial responsibility. original sentence: The cat sat lazily in the sunbeam.
Rewritten sentence: Basking in the sunlight, the cat lounged lazily in the sunbeam.