15 Things Poor People Do That The Rich Don't (2025)

Key Concepts

Poverty as a choice, consumption vs. creation, delayed gratification, personal responsibility, financial literacy, the power of compounding (time and money), the importance of education and self-investment, the influence of your social circle, credit as debt, the value of saving, and the mindset differences between the poor and the rich.

1. Consumption Habits and Time Management

• TV Consumption: Poor people watch significantly more TV than rich people. A study by the General Social Surveys of Nordak at the University of Chicago found that people earning less than $50,000 per year watch at least 12 times more TV per day than those earning over $150,000 per year. This time is seen as wasted attention given to others instead of focusing on personal growth and wealth creation.
• Fast Food Consumption: Poor people tend to consume more fast food, high in sugar, corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners, which negatively impacts brain development and overall health.
• Consumption vs. Creation: Poor people are primarily consumers of entertainment, while rich people are creators and consumers of information, particularly big-ticket news that affects the market.
• Time as an Investment: Rich people understand the value of time and invest it wisely, while poor people often waste time on unproductive activities.

2. Financial Literacy and Spending Habits

• Buying Things on Sale: Poor people often buy things just because they are on sale, leading to unnecessary purchases and clutter. This is contrasted with the idea of buying assets that appreciate in value.
• Lack of Savings: Poor people often have no money saved, making them vulnerable to financial emergencies and missing out on opportunities.
• Credit Mismanagement: Poor people use credit to buy depreciating assets, while rich people use it to acquire assets that generate income. Debt is described as "modern-day slavery."
• Spending Before Earning: Poor people often spend money before they receive it, leading to a cycle of debt and financial instability. A survey from March 2025 indicated that American workers earning $75,000 or less had mentally allocated 59% of their upcoming paycheck before receiving it.
• Postponing Problems: Poor people tend to postpone addressing health and technical problems, leading to more significant and costly issues in the long run.

3. Education and Self-Investment

• Undervalued Education: Poor people often view financial education as a scam and are unwilling to invest in themselves.
• Return on Investment (ROI) of Knowledge: Personal growth and acquiring valuable skills have the highest ROI. Knowledge can always be converted into money if it is valuable.
• Rich People Buy Expertise: Rich people pay for expert advice and coaching to accelerate their success. Executive coaches can cost between $50,000 and $500,000 per year.
• Alux App: The Alux app is presented as a solution to access high-level advice and coaching at a fraction of the cost. It provides access to insights from experts who have been paid millions of dollars for their knowledge. A special discount of 25% off the yearly plan is offered to YouTube subscribers, and a 50% discount is offered to those who scan a specific QR code.

4. Mindset and Personal Responsibility

• Blaming Others: Poor people often blame others for their misfortunes and lack personal responsibility.
• Victim Mentality: Poor people often see themselves as victims and believe the system is rigged against them.
• Lack of Persistence: Poor people often lack persistence in pursuing their goals due to their inability to see past their own pain.
• Influence of Social Circle: Poor people tend to associate with other poor people, reinforcing limiting beliefs and behaviors. "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
• Delayed Gratification: Poor people struggle with delayed gratification, prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term goals.
• Hating the Rich: Poor people often hate the rich, justifying it by labeling them as evil, while rich people admire and learn from other successful individuals.

5. Lifestyle Choices

• Early Parenthood: Poor people often have more children earlier in life, which can restrict their ability to take risks and deploy time productively. Married people earn on average 26.2% more than their single counterparts.
• Waiting for Rescue: Poor people often expect others to pull them out of poverty, rather than taking responsibility for their own lives.

6. Religious Beliefs (Bonus)

• Reliance on External Forces: Poor people are often more religious and expect a mythical force to magically improve their lives, while rich people believe they are responsible for creating their own success.

7. Synthesis/Conclusion

The video argues that poverty is often a result of choices and mindset rather than solely external circumstances. It highlights the importance of financial literacy, delayed gratification, personal responsibility, and investing in oneself through education and skill development. The key takeaway is that by adopting the habits and mindset of the wealthy, individuals can break free from the cycle of poverty and create a better future for themselves. The Alux app is presented as a tool to facilitate this transformation by providing access to expert advice and guidance.