You might assume that wealthy people got that way by earning big salaries. But JC Rodriguez, founder of The Frugal Rich, has spent years spotlighting what he calls America’s everyday millionaires. And what he found might surprise you.
They are not flashy. They are careful.
Rodriguez appeared on FOX Business’ Varney & Co. to share what he has observed. “They all have this aspect of frugality within their life that they’re always living,” he said. “They’re very intentional about how they spend their money and they don’t care to impress others.”
That last part is worth sitting with. Not trying to impress others. In a world that constantly pushes us to upgrade, update, and show off, the people who actually build wealth tend to tune that pressure out.
Start Small, But Start Now
Rodriguez also talked about how to begin building wealth, no matter where you are financially. His advice is simple: pay yourself first.
“Whenever you get your monthly check, just set up an automation to move money from your checking into your high-yield savings account or into your brokerage account if you want to start investing,” he said.
He was quick to add that the amount does not have to be large. “No matter where you are on your financial journey or your income, you can still just start off with $50, $100 towards saving and investing,” Rodriguez said.
Keep It Simple When You Invest
For anyone ready to move beyond a savings account and start investing, Rodriguez had a clear preference. He recommended low-cost, diversified index funds as the right place to begin.
He was more cautious about newer options like prediction markets and sports betting. Those might be fun, he said, but he does not consider them a sound investing approach.
The through line in all of Rodriguez’s advice is the same. Be intentional. Spend on what matters to you, not on what looks good to everyone else. Move money toward savings before you have a chance to spend it. And when you invest, keep it simple and steady.
Those habits, it turns out, are what a lot of quietly wealthy people have been doing all along.
