When it comes to money, few people in the world have achieved the level of success—and wisdom—as Warren Buffett.
He’s not just a billionaire. He’s someone who built his wealth slowly and strategically over decades, sticking to principles that anyone—yes, anyone—can follow.
Buffett once said, “The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” He wasn’t just talking about bad habits. He meant that good financial habits, practiced daily, have a compounding effect. They start small—but over time, they build wealth, security, and freedom.
So, what exactly are the habits that financially successful people—Buffett included—stick to?
Here are five daily habits that Buffett and many financially successful people live by:
1. They read—relentlessly
Buffett has said he spends about 80% of his day reading.
In fact, when asked about the key to success, he once held up a stack of papers and said: “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest.”
He’s not alone. Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Oprah Winfrey are all voracious readers.
Financially successful people treat reading not as a hobby—but as a daily discipline. They don’t read fluff. They read books, annual reports, industry news, and history. Because they know knowledge isn’t just power—it’s profit over time.
2. They avoid impulsive decisions
Buffett’s rule is simple: “The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect.”
He doesn’t jump on hype. He doesn’t panic when markets crash. He’s patient, deliberate, and rational—even when others are losing their heads.
This isn’t just about investing. It’s a mindset.
People who win financially don’t chase quick wins. They take a breath before making money decisions. They resist the urge to act emotionally—whether it’s spending, investing, or reacting to bad news.
And they trust the long game.
3. They review their finances—every day
Buffett reportedly checks his investments daily, but more importantly, he stays mentally close to his money.
You don’t have to check your bank account ten times a day. But successful people make it a habit to know exactly where their money is going. They track spending, review investments, and reflect on how they’re allocating their resources.
It’s about awareness. Money flows toward attention. When you ignore your finances, they tend to shrink. When you pay attention, they grow.
4. They protect their time like it’s money (because it is)
Buffett is famously selective with his schedule. He once said, “I can buy anything I want, basically. But I can’t buy time.”
That’s why he avoids meetings, doesn’t overbook himself, and spends most of his time thinking.
Financially successful people understand that time is their most valuable asset. Every day, they make conscious choices about how they spend it.
They avoid time-wasters. They delegate what they can. And they invest time in activities that produce long-term returns—whether it’s thinking, learning, or building relationships.
5. They stay humble and curious
Despite being one of the richest people on earth, Buffett still lives in the same house he bought in 1958. He eats McDonald’s for breakfast. He drives himself to work. And he still asks questions like a student.
Buffett once said, “The more you learn, the more you earn.”
But here’s the catch: You only keep learning if you stay humble enough to admit you don’t know everything.
The people who win financially over the long haul aren’t the flashiest. They’re the ones who show up every day, stay curious, ask smart questions, and adjust their strategy when needed.
Final thought
You don’t need a billion-dollar portfolio to start living like someone who wins with money.
Start small.
Pick one habit above. Make it a daily ritual. Then let it compound—just like Buffett’s investments.
Because in the end, it’s not one big decision that makes you rich. It’s the hundreds of tiny ones you make every single day.
As Buffett himself said: “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
Start saying yes to the right habits. And no to everything else.
