The First Actions for the Middle Class to Become Wealthy

 [The First Actions for the Middle Class to Become Wealthy]

The step from "middle class to wealthy" actually has aspects that are **more difficult than "escaping poverty."**

This is because people in the middle class already have a "stable life," so they tend to have less sense of urgency and are slower to act.

However, if you steer in the right direction, you can definitely increase your assets.

Below, we will explain five actions you should take as your "first step."

💡 Five First Actions for the Middle Class to Become Wealthy

🧾 ① Create a "Cash Flow Statement" for your household

Purpose: To visualize the flow of money.

Many in the middle class, even if they have a "monthly surplus," don't understand "where their money is going."

So first, let's organize the following three items:

Item Content

Assets Cash, savings, investments, real estate, etc.

Liabilities Mortgage, car loan, credit card balance, etc.

Flow Monthly income and expenses (fixed costs/variable costs)

👉 The purpose is not saving money, but understanding the "nature of money."

For example, by categorizing things as "consumption," "investment," and "waste,"

you can "design" the flow of money.

💰 ② Switch to a "Buying Assets" Mindset

Purpose: To shift from earned income to asset income.

According to Robert Kiyosaki's famous definition:

❌ Poor people → Consume all their income

⚪ Middle class → Buy liabilities (house, car) with their salary

🟢 Wealthy → Buy assets (investments, businesses) with their income

The first thing you should do is understand the "difference between assets and liabilities."

Assets: Things that put money into your pocket

Liabilities: Things that take money away

Examples:

My home (a liability if the mortgage is heavy)

Stocks, investment trusts, side hustle skills (assets if they generate income)

👉 First action:

Create a system to automatically buy assets through things like Tsumitate NISA or iDeCo.

Even just 10,000 yen a month to "own assets" is the first step to changing your mindset. 🧠 ③ Invest Time in Learning About Money

Objective: To improve financial literacy and bridge the information gap.

Almost all wealthy people are "lifelong learners."

Recommended learning areas:

Money literacy (taxes, investments, interest rates, insurance)

How to read economic news

Basic bookkeeping and finance

Creating systems to increase money

Free learning resources:

YouTube (Ryogakucho, Mitsubishi Salaryman, Nikkei Channel)

Books: "The Richest Man in Babylon," "Jason's Way to Increase Money," etc.

Courses: Udemy, Coursera, Google Skill Up Courses

🧩 ④ Create a "Second Engine" for Income

Objective: To increase income sources from "one" to "two or more."

As long as you depend on only one company/job, the risk is high.

→ Aim for "diversification" through side hustles, small businesses, and selling skills.

Examples:

Selling skills (writing, design, programming)

Content creation (SNS, blog, YouTube)

Asset management (dividends, real estate, index investing)

Small side jobs on platforms like Crowdsourcing

💡Key Point:

Instead of "selling your time," explore ways to earn money using "systems, knowledge, and credibility."

🧭 ⑤ Make Your "Money Management" Strategic

Objective: To buy "time and freedom" with money.

A common pitfall for the middle class is "increased income = increased standard of living."

That won't increase your assets.

Instead:

Even if your income increases, don't raise your standard of living; increase your investment amount.

Prioritize spending money on "experiences," "learning," and "relationships."

Spend money in the order of Consumption → Investment → Automation.

✅ Summary: The "First Step" is "Creating a System"

Step Content Objective

① Visualize household finances Understand the current situation

② Buy assets Capital formation

③ Invest in learning Bridge the information gap

④ Create multiple income streams Income stability

⑤ Use money strategically Balance growth and freedom