"The supreme commandment of the rich is 'Invest! The supreme commandment of the rest of us is 'Buy!"

The essence of this quote is about understanding the different approaches to money between the wealthy and everyone else. Basically, it's saying that rich people focus on growing their wealth through investments, while the rest of us often concentrate on spending our money on things we want or need.

Historically, this idea has been around for a long time. The wealthy have always had the means to invest in assets like property, stocks, or businesses, which can increase in value over time and provide a return. On the other hand, those with less money tend to spend it on immediate needs and wants—food, rent, gadgets, and so on. This was likely said to highlight the gap between these two groups and maybe even offer a bit of advice on how to bridge that gap.

Let's look at a real-life example. Imagine John, who earns a decent salary but spends most of it on the latest tech gadgets, dining out, and vacations. He’s always chasing the next purchase. Meanwhile, his friend Sarah also earns a similar salary but chooses to invest a portion of her income in stocks, a rental property, and her retirement fund. Ten years down the road, John finds himself with a house full of depreciated gadgets and memories of great dinners, but not much else. Sarah, however, has a diversified portfolio that’s grown substantially, providing her with financial security and the ability to make even more investments.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your life? Start by shifting your mindset from just buying things to making your money work for you. It doesn’t mean you should never buy anything fun or enjoyable. Life’s too short for that kind of strictness. But it’s about balance. Maybe you can allocate a portion of your income to investments. Even small amounts can grow over time thanks to the magic of compound interest. Educate yourself on different types of investments—stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate—and start exploring which ones might work for you.

Think about this: imagine you're at a coffee shop with a friend. You're discussing your future goals. You both want financial freedom, the ability to travel, and maybe retire a bit early. Your friend talks about investing in a low-cost index fund, explaining how it tracks the market and grows slowly but steadily. Inspired, you decide to start small. You cut back on a few non-essentials—maybe limit eating out to once a week instead of three times—and put that extra cash into an investment account. Over time, you watch that money grow. It feels good, right? It might not be as immediately satisfying as a new phone, but the long-term benefits are huge.

So, next time you get paid, think about what you could do differently. Could you invest a bit instead of buying something new? It’s not about depriving yourself, it’s about planning for a future where you have more choices, more freedom. It’s about understanding that you have the power to change your financial trajectory, even if it’s just a small step at a time.