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Escape the Middle-Class Mindset: Your 7-Step Guide to Financial Freedom.

Many people dream of financial freedom, but the path to achieving it often seems unclear. Finance educator Aditya Saini shares practical insights on breaking free from common money traps. He believes financial independence is not just about making more money. It is about understanding your mindset, making wise choices, and focusing on long-term goals.

In this guide, we break down Aditya Saini’s revised seven steps to help you improve your finances in 2025. These steps go beyond simple investing tips. They allow you to build a strong foundation for lasting wealth and a fulfilling life.

Understanding the Middle-Class Mindset

Aditya Saini states that the “middle-class trap” is not a trap at all. It is a mentality. Many people see themselves as middle-class. They think this limits what they can do or achieve. This belief prevents them from even attempting to figure out how to achieve their goals.

Rich people think very differently. They are not driven by wanting fancy cars or expensive clothes. Instead, they are driven by a mission, a purpose, or they enjoy the process of creating and building. For them, money is a tool, not the end goal.

On the other hand, many middle-class individuals are materialistic. They want money to buy things, not to create more wealth or build a legacy. They think about spending money even before they earn it. This makes them consumers more than creators. They chase expensive items like luxury cars or big homes because advertising tells them these things mean “rich.” However, these purchases often lead to increased stress and financial burden. This takes away joy rather than adding to it.

Breaking this mindset means understanding that true wealth is not about what you own. It is about the freedom and peace of mind you gain. Stop telling yourself you cannot do something because you are “middle class.” This limits your thinking. Instead, ask how something can be done. Your mind will then work to find solutions.

What True Wealth Means

Wealth is a very personal concept. What “rich” means can change based on where you live or what your goals are. For example, having one crore in a small town like Bijnor could mean a life of luxury. The exact amount in a big city like Mumbai might cover basic needs. Dubai makes a Mercedes driver feel poor when police drive Lamborghinis.

True wealth is often hidden. It does not show up in expensive clothes, fancy cars, or big houses. It is not something you can easily see. Instead, it is the financial security and freedom you have. Those who are truly wealthy do not feel the need to show off their money. They enjoy their lives and their freedom.

For some, wealth means the freedom to do what they want, when they want. It means eating what they like, going where they want, and choosing who they spend their time with. This definition focuses on time and location freedom more than just a large bank account. It is about waking up each day and being able to choose your activities. You decide how much you work and with whom. This freedom is what many consider the highest form of wealth.

The Journey of Building Wealth

Building wealth is not a sprint. It is a marathon. It takes time, patience, and the proper habits. Aditya Saini shares a general timeline for wealth creation:

• Your 20s: Find Habits. This is the time that one is supposed to develop wise financial habits. One must learn about savings, investments, and how to manage their funds prudently. These habits will be the foundation on which the future affluence will be based.
• Your 30s: Build Relationships. Focus on building strong and healthy relationships, both personal and business. These relations will open the doors to new opportunities and necessary support systems.
• Your 40s: Build Wealth. If you started building good habits in your 20s, your 40s are when your wealth truly starts to grow and become visible. This is because wealth is a result of compounding over many years. You will likely not see enormous wealth in your 20s or 30s, unless you are making much money very quickly. For most people, patience is key.

Remember, wealth is a byproduct of good habits. Just like health comes from healthy eating and exercise habits, wealth comes from good money habits. Set your mind to becoming wealthy in your 40s. Start building those essential habits now.

Aditya Saini’s 7 Steps to Financial Growth

Here are seven steps to guide you on your journey to financial freedom:

Step 1: Isolation

Many people say, “Your network is your net worth.” But Aditya Saini suggests something different for the first phase of wealth building: isolation.

Isolation means setting aside time to focus on yourself and your work, free from distractions. This is not about being antisocial. It is about building your value first. If you do not have much value to offer, networking events will not help you much. People will not be interested if you cannot add value to their lives.

To isolate yourself:

• Shut off distractions: Turn off social media, limit time with friends, and say “no” to non-essential outings.
• Create a clear roadmap: Know precisely what you want to achieve and how you plan to do it.
• Work hard: Dedicate at least six months to a year to intense, focused work. Think of it as a “toxic hustle” with blinders on.

By focusing on your work and improving your skills, you increase your value. This increased value will naturally attract the right network to you later. As Aditya Saini says, “Competence never runs behind the network. Network always runs behind the Competence.” The market will show your actual value, not what your family tells you out of love.

Step 2: Networking

Once you have spent time in isolation and built your value, the next step is networking. Now you have something to offer, and people will be more interested in connecting with you.

When networking:

• Network with the right people: Look for people in different industries or those who can help you grow. Avoid just connecting with people who are already in your immediate circle, unless you are just starting.
• Invest in networking: Sometimes, you need to spend money to attend valuable events or workshops. Do not be afraid to invest in building your network.
• Focus on value: Your goal is to create win-win situations. Think about how you can add value to others, and they will likely do the same for you.

When your value is high, networking becomes much more effective. It opens doors to new opportunities and insights that can help you earn more money and achieve your financial goals.

Step 3: Choose Your Investment Vehicle

To grow your wealth, you need to make your money work for you. This means choosing the right investment vehicle. Just like you pick a car based on your needs (a bus for a large group, a small car for solo travel), you choose investments based on your financial goals and current situation.

• Consider your goals: Are you saving for retirement, a house, or a short-term goal?
• Assess your responsibilities: Do you have many family members to support, or are you single? Your responsibilities will affect how much risk you can take and how aggressive you need to be.
• Match vehicle to Capital: If you only have $50 to invest each month, real estate might not be the right vehicle yet. Options like SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) in index funds or mutual funds might be a better start.

Your investment vehicle can change over time. Start with safer, smaller investments and then move to larger ones like real estate once you have more Capital. Always look at your current situation, where you want to go, and how you will get there. Research different options like stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and even investing in yourself to increase your income.

Step 4: Avoid FOMO and Materialism

Once you start building wealth and investing, a significant challenge is avoiding FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and materialism. This means not caring about what others are buying or how they are living their lives.

• Stay focused on your path: Do not let seeing someone else’s new car or big house make you doubt your own financial plan.
• Do not show off: Resist the urge to buy things to impress others. This can derail all your hard work.
• Understand true happiness: Remember that buying material things often provides only a short burst of happiness, not lasting joy. A new expensive car might feel exciting for a short time, but the feeling fades. Simple things, such as enjoying a meal, can provide consistent happiness.

When you avoid FOMO, you help stay loyal to your investment strategy, and you do not take any rash judgments that might hurt you. It should be an internal push towards wealth accumulation, not an outer demand to acquire more or an urge to look like the rest.

Step 5: Focus on Your Environment

The impact that your environment has on your success is vast. The people you communicate with, the places you visit, and the information you consume, such as through social media, are some of the factors that contribute to the formation of your mindset and habits.

• Choose your circle wisely: Surround yourself with people who support your goals and have a positive mindset. Avoid those who bring you down, complain constantly, or have habits that clash with yours.
• Know when to leave: This applies to conversations, relationships, and even rooms. If a situation or person is a “baggage” that slows you down or drains your energy, it is okay to distance yourself. Carrying emotional or financial baggage will prevent you from reaching your full potential.
• Be solution-oriented: If you are around people who only complain and never seek solutions, this can shift your mindset. Seek out those who focus on finding ways forward.

A strong, positive environment protects your mental energy and helps you stay on track. Consciously choosing who and what you allow into your daily life is crucial for sustained growth.

Step 6: Practice Patience

Building wealth is a long-term game. After taking the first few steps and seeing some success, it is easy to lose patience and make rash decisions. However, Aditya Saini says that patience is just as crucial in the later stages as it is in the beginning.

• Long-term view: If it took you 5-10 years to reach a certain level of financial stability, expect your next primary goal to take another 10-15 years. Do not expect overnight success.
• Avoid aggressive moves: When money starts coming in, people might get overconfident and take unnecessary risks. Stick to your plan and avoid emotional decisions.
• Applies to all aspects of life: Patience is vital for health, wealth, and relationships. You cannot build a strong body or a healthy relationship overnight. The same goes for wealth.

Wealthy people often play a long game. They look far ahead, sometimes decades into the future. They understand that consistent effort over time yields the most significant rewards. Do not let impatience derail the progress you have already made.

Step 7: Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

The last and perhaps most crucial step is to stop comparing yourself to others. Comparison, as Aditya Saini emphasizes, is “the biggest thief in the world.” It steals your joy and peace of mind.

• Internal vs. External: When you compare your internal struggles to someone else’s external successes, you will always feel inadequate. You do not know the whole story behind their achievements or their hidden challenges.
• Social Media vs. Reality: Social media often shows only the best parts of people’s lives. This can create a false sense of what “success” looks like and make you feel bad about your own journey.
• Focus on your progress: Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to who you were yesterday, last week, or last year. Are you improving? Are you moving forward on your own path? This is the only comparison that genuinely matters.

Comparison can damage your mental well-being, which is essential for enjoying your wealth. A good life is built on four pillars: health, wealth, love, and happiness. If one pillar is missing or weak, your life will feel incomplete. Strive for balance across these areas. Do not let comparison distract you from your own journey toward a fulfilling and financially free life.

Conclusion

The process of attaining financial freedom extends beyond wealth accumulation.  

It entails transforming one’s attitude, having clear objectives, and making conscious decisions about habits and the environment. Following the seven steps provided by Aditya Saini, one can overcome the middle-class mentality, define wealth in its truest sense, and establish a favorable foundation for a successful and satisfying life.

Begin today. Learn to maintain a good habit, choose wisely your environment, and be patient. The best time to start investing in your future and yourself was many years ago. The present is the next best moment. Implement these actions and watch your financial adventure unfold.