A few lucky people have won a lot of money and become wealthy overnight but in short time many of them have returned to their prior financial condition too soon. There is no trace of all riches they have once won. Very few of them can stay wealthy long enough to actually improve their quality of life.

Why? Because it is not money and luxurious lifestyle that make people wealthy. It is their mindset.

Real wealthy people act differently upon big cash they can get their hands on and upon everything else pertaining money and possession. And this is because they think differently from most average people in first place.

Let’s think this through and discuss way average people think…

As soon as they can get their hands on a big fat check, average people would almost immediately go shopping. Buy latest model car, luxurious home, or spend it on renovation, once-in-a-lifetime luxurious vacation… blah blah blah.

They think that in order to really become wealthy, they have to possess all stuff that wealthy people would have, travel to places wealthy people would go to, drive cars wealthy people would drive or live in big mansions where wealthy people would live.

Real wealthy people can afford all above simply because they have higher purchasing power. Most of us, on other hand, would think that by having all those above we just might be considered as ‘wealthy’. We tend to think that to become wealthy we have to ‘act’ or ‘live’ like those who in reality are.

Ironically, fact is to become wealthy we have to ‘think’ like real wealthy people.

Once again I must say that it’s mindset that makes people wealthy. It’s neither their possessions nor what they spend their money on.

Most of us go shopping while holding on to this principle: Buy now, struggle later.

When wealthy people go shopping they think: Delay it now, invest money, and have all you want later on! They embrace delayed gratification.

Generally, too soon, average people would end up in debt due to their principles of immediate gratification. And in most cases their debt worsens. Car loans, furniture loans, education loans, home loans, credit cards… and who knows what else.

As story continuous, I believe, it becomes more and more familiar to vast majority: In order to pay off all debts, they become slaves of their own jobs after they realised that they had been “slaves of their own debt” for some time.

To them, a job becomes a necessity as opposed to a choice. It is chosen based on how big salary is to pay off their debt, instead of on satisfaction job provides.

Can these people retire early? No. In fact, they wouldn’t even dare to think about it! They are too deep in debt to quit and to just come and go almost at will.

On other hand, not only do wealthy know negatives of being in a debt, they also know precisely advantages of being debt-free. By being debt-free, they have more money to save.

Your asking price is likely most difficult - and crucial - decision you'll make when you put your house on market. Ask too little and you risk leaving money on table unnecessarily. Ask too much and you may scare off potential buyers. Most Sellers set their initial asking price at an amount somewhat higher than they are actually willing to accept, fully expecting a buyer to open bidding with a lesser amount.

While price is most frequently negotiated item in any home sale, you may be able to creatively provide financial value to your buyer - without lowering price alone.

1. major appliances such as your stove, fridge, dishwasher and microwave offer good negotiating power - while you'll likely be including some of them in your asking price, consider excluding some from listing (the washer and dryer perhaps) to use as a future bargaining chip;
2. window treatments, air conditioners, central vac, and ceiling fans are other extras that might entice your buyer and can be easily included later on in a counter-offer;
3. study your buyers' personal situation and think of ingenious ways to sweeten offer that makes sense for both of you - if they're first time buyers and you are moving to a condo, include lawn mower and gardening tools (or other items you may be planning to dispose of) in your next counter-offer;
4. if your existing mortgage rate is lower than current market rates and your mortgage is assumable, consider offering it to your buyers for savings they can count on after closing - they'll enjoy monthly savings over remainder of mortgage term;