5 Underrated Financial Habits That Could Make a Difference

I’ve noticed something funny about money. Most people focus on the big, flashy stuff. Buying shares, timing the market, or landing that “perfect” job. But in my experience, it’s the quiet, consistent habits that really help you to build wealth. These are the little things most people don’t even think about. But trust me, it works.

A few years ago, when I had no money, I decided to start changing a few small behaviours in how I handled it. Within a couple of weeks, I could sense everything else starting to fall into place.

The five underrated financial habits I’m about to highlight might not sound exciting. However, together, they can give a significant boost to your long-term financial health.

What Are Some Overlooked Money Habits That Actually Work?

I used to think managing money was all about huge sacrifices. Or at least that is what I was told by the older generation.

But I have discovered that making small adjustments can have a big impact. For instance, things like tracking spending, reviewing subscriptions, and automating savings can all build financial discipline over time.

Outlined below are five more underrated habits I adopted that can help you improve your finances without changing your lifestyle completely.

1. Track Every Dollar You Spend for a Month

Back in the day, I used to spend money quite freely in the first week after getting paid. Then I would realise I didn’t have much left and wonder where it had all gone.

However, everything changed when, in one month, I simply decided to track every single expense I incurred. It took discipline, but I wrote down where every dollar went on a spreadsheet. Every coffee, takeaway, and even the TV subscriptions for Stan and Prime.

That one habit completely changed my perspective on money because when I analysed my spending pattern, I saw where the money was going. This enabled me to cut out on unnecessary and impulsive expenses.

2. Automate Your Savings Early in the Month

One of the smartest money habits I picked up was paying myself first. Thanks to my side hustles, I have more disposable income now than ever.

However, rather than pay bills immediately, I have an automatic transfer that moves a portion of the income straight into savings.

It’s easy to underestimate how powerful this is. But when money moves out of your main account before you can touch it, you won’t miss it. The great thing about this automated approach is that it helps you to build savings quietly in the background, with pretty much no effort.

Even starting with a small amount, say $50 a week, can make a huge difference over time. Although, of course, the more you can spare, the better.

3. Review Subscriptions and Hidden Expenses Quarterly

This one surprised me. I didn’t realise how much I spent on subscriptions until I checked. Hundreds of dollars every month were being outlayed on streaming platforms, software trials, gym memberships, and plenty of other publications and services. And the worst part about it all was that I wasn’t even using some of them!

Now, I schedule a regular “money check-up” to keep on top of this. I log into my accounts and review every automatic payment. If I haven’t used something in a while, I cancel it on the spot.

This habit keeps my spending lean and helps me redirect that extra money toward savings or investing. It’s a smart budgeting and saving strategy that goes a long way towards strengthening your financial health.

4. Protect Your Assets

Building wealth isn’t only about growing what you earn, it’s also about protecting what you already have. Too often, people overlook how vulnerable their finances can be to unexpected events like theft, natural disasters, or accidents. Safeguarding your assets means thinking beyond your bank account and considering the physical and emotional value tied to your home and possessions.

Start by understanding what you own and what it’s worth. Make a simple inventory of valuable items, from electronics and furniture to jewellery and sentimental pieces. Then, consider what would happen if they were lost or damaged. Having a solid safety net in place can save you years of financial recovery.

That’s where comprehensive home protection comes in. Choosing a trusted provider like NRMA Insurance can help ensure that your property and belongings are covered against life’s unexpected turns. It’s not about expecting the worst, it’s about being prepared for it!

Taking steps to protect your assets gives you peace of mind, knowing that if the unexpected happens, you’ll be able to focus on rebuilding rather than starting from scratch. It’s one of the smartest, most underrated financial habits you can adopt.

5. Learn to Invest Small Amounts Consistently

When I first started investing, I thought I needed a lot of money to make it worthwhile. But then I discovered micro-investing apps, and that changed my whole mindset.

Every week, I invest small amounts in broad, low-cost index funds and ETFs. My goal for doing so is not to get rich quick. Instead, it’s about building long-term wealth slowly and steadily.

However, if you would prefer, just put the money in the bank and earn more through compound interest.

How Can I Build Better Financial Habits Without Changing My Lifestyle?

When people hear the word “budget,” they automatically tend to think of cutting back or restrictions. But I reckon it’s more about building awareness than giving things up.

If you want to create better financial habits without flipping your life upside down, my advice is to start with baby steps. For instance, automate one payment first. Track one category of spending. Or set aside one day each week to review your finances.

Once these habits become second nature, you can then add another one. If you do this, over time, your financial confidence will naturally grow. Therefore, you won’t need to overhaul your lifestyle. Instead, you’ll just need to find a consistent rhythm.

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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.

More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.