How to get rich while making plenty of mistakes with money

Here’s a three-step plan I’m using to build a fortune by retirement, even though I make plenty of mistakes with money.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Deck Chairs on the beach

I’ve made plenty of mistakes with money in my time and I’m still making them now. Have you been kicking yourself because of some of your own money-mistakes? Do you want to get rich anyway, particularly so that you can enjoy retirement without worry?

If you are answering yes, these ideas could help you achieve your goal. Read on for more.

Step 1 – Relax

I’ve been really hard on myself in the past because of all the mistakes I’ve made, including some quite big ones with money. I’ve wasted money left, right and centre in my lifetime – squandered thousands, lost thousands on ill-judged endeavours, paid too much for things, been ripped off, been gullible and so on.

And I’ve beaten myself up mentally and emotionally year after year for quite a few decades of my life. Many people do that when it comes to making mistakes, and not just mistakes about money but all kinds of mistakes.

But a big realisation I’ve had in more recent years is that the human condition is all about making mistakes. As human beings, we’re seemingly programmed to make one mistake after another. Introduce me to somebody I haven’t met before, and I now realise that I will be shaking hands with another human serial-mistake-maker.

You might as well relax because you are going to go on making mistakes and so am I. What’s the point in beating yourself up about it? Embrace it, own it, love it! You are a human being, making mistakes with gay abandon – you are living. Celebrate!

Step 2 – An empowering revelation

Now, after much navel gazing and contemplation, and after many years of being alive and making mistakes over again, I now EXPECT to make mistakes.

But here’s an interesting phenomenon. Because I expect to make many mistakes in life and with money, when I do make a mistake it is a source of jubilation and edification because I have been proven correct in my assumptions and analysis!

Making mistakes actually empowers me and builds my self-confidence, and that is an experience I’m sure you can enjoy as well, as I know many others do. One of the best shots of confidence-building adrenalin I can have is to apologise to someone for one of my many mistakes. I’d even go as far as to say that apologising becomes a bit like an intoxicating drug because it’s a powerful tonic to build you up — it’s free, it’s empowering because it proves your courage, and it helps to create harmony in your life too.

Step 3 – Take action

You can make many mistakes with your money and still get rich as long as you take some action to do this one thing.

You need to save a regular amount of money each month and never make the one mistake of missing a payment to your savings. After that, find ways to make your money compound in value, and I’ve found that investing in shares or share-backed investments on the stock market is a good vehicle for compounding money.

If you are interested in that idea, you’ve come to the right place to find out more about it with The Motley Fool. Do stick around – in between all the mistakes…     

Kevin Godbold has no position in any share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT to settle the ISA v SIPP debate once and for all. It said…

Instead of working out whether an ISA or SIPP is the better tax wrapper, Harvey Jones called the robots in.…

Read more »

Middle-aged white male courier delivering boxes to young black lady
Investing Articles

Amazon shares: overpriced or a possible bargain?

Christopher Ruane thinks Amazon shares look pricier than he normally likes -- but also reckons they could be a potential…

Read more »

Female Tesco employee holding produce crate
Investing Articles

In a jittery market, could Tesco shares be a defensive choice?

Could Tesco shares be a safe haven in nervous markets, given that consumers always need to eat? Our writer is…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

How much might £10,000 in Rolls-Royce shares soon be worth? Let’s ask the experts

Do Rolls-Royce shares look like a good buy after recent price falls? City analysts still appear bullish, but global events…

Read more »

Queen Street, one of Cardiff's main shopping streets, busy with Saturday shoppers.
Investing Articles

Take a deep breath! £10,000 invested in Greggs shares a year ago is now worth…

Someone who bought Greggs shares a year ago is nursing a paper loss. Our writer digs into the reasons why…

Read more »

Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Investing Articles

Whatever happened to the stock market crash?

The stock market refuses to crash, despite the Iran war. But Harvey Jones says lots of FTSE 100 shares have…

Read more »

Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

BP’s share price will keep surging in 2026, according to this broker

BP’s share price is in a strong upward trend right now. And one City brokerage firm seems to believe that…

Read more »

Picture of an easyJet plane taking off.
Investing Articles

These 4 red flags mean I’m avoiding easyJet shares like the plague!

easyJet shares have slumped by around a quarter during the past month. Does this represent a dip-buying opportunity? Royston Wild…

Read more »