Premium Updated Oct 15, 2025, 02:57 PM IST
In a conversation with ET Now, Pranjal breaks down the mindset, systems, and discipline needed for lasting wealth creation — and why emotional control matters more than market knowledge.
Pranjal Kamra has shared several savings and investment tips that could help to make wealth over long term.
Highlights
- Wealth is measured not by what comes in, but by what stays in
- If your savings are kept in a regular account or a fixed deposit that can be easily accessed
- A simple way to do this: set up a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) for the day right after your salary credit
In an era of instant gratification, viral financial advice, and rising consumption, personal finance expert Pranjal Kamra reminds us of something timeless: wealth is not built by how much you earn, but rather by how much you save and invest consistently.
In a conversation with ET Now, Pranjal breaks down the mindset, systems, and discipline needed for lasting wealth creation — and why emotional control matters more than market knowledge.
Here are the key habits he suggests that can help accumulate wealth and make you rich:
Most people, Pranjal noted that, judge their financial success by their monthly income — Rs 2 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, or even more. But the truth, he says, is that wealth is measured not by what comes in, but by what stays in.
“Someone earning Rs 1 lakh a month but saving Rs 50,000 is wealthier than someone earning Rs 4 lakh and spending it all. The person with a smaller income is actually becoming Rs 50,000 richer every month,” he explains.
The real marker of financial progress, he says, is how much you save and reinvest — every month, every year.
Systems matter more than motivation
Discipline, Kamra believes, is not about willpower — it’s about systems. Drawing an analogy from childhood, he recalls the old clay piggy banks that had to be broken to withdraw money.
“Because it was difficult to take the money out, we ended up saving more,” he says.
That principle, he argues, applies even in adulthood. If your savings are kept in a regular account or a fixed deposit that can be easily accessed, you will likely dip into it for short-term needs, he said.
“The key is to make saving automatic and spending difficult. Set up systems where your money flows into investments by default and is not easily available for impulse expenses.”
From savings to investing: the mindset shift
Indians have long been known as natural savers — but not necessarily investors. Kamra warns that even that saving instinct is fading, especially among younger generations.
“I am particularly worried about Gen Z. They are not even savers now,” he admits. For those looking to build long-term wealth, he suggests inverting the traditional formula: invest first, spend later.
“Most of us invest what is left at the end of the month. But if you reverse it — invest first, spend whatever remains — your wealth will grow automatically.”
A simple way to do this: set up a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) for the day right after your salary credit.
“If your salary comes on the 2nd, set your SIP for the 3rd or 4th. Make sure your investments are deducted before you start spending. Even 10 per cent of your income is a good start,” he adds.
Delayed gratification in the age of instant everything
In the smartphone era — where one can order food, trade stocks, or buy gadgets in seconds — Kamra says the ability to delay gratification has become the rarest financial skill.
“Social media, notifications, and convenience have made it really hard to stay disciplined. Every app is designed to make you spend or consume more,” he says.
To combat this, Kamra focuses on building friction.
“I uninstall food delivery apps or anything impulsive. If I have to reinstall, log in, and set it up again, that pause helps me overcome short-term impulses.”
Interestingly, despite being a content creator himself, he keeps no social media apps on his phone.
“I create content, but I don’t want to consume endlessly. I don’t want to be pushed into watching more ads or buying things I don’t need. Systems like these protect me from my own impulses,” he explains.
The takeaway: automate wealth, restrict access to spending
Kamra’s philosophy can be summed up in three key principles:
- Income doesn’t define wealth — savings do
- Systems beat self-control. Make saving automatic, and make spending inconvenient
- Invest before you spend. Your future self will thank you
As he puts it, “The world is built to make you spend more — you need to build systems that make you save more.”
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)