5 wealth-building money lessons CA says people learn too late in their lives

Many people spend years chasing higher salaries, switching jobs, or upgrading their lifestyles, only to realise later that their money habits mattered more than their pay slips. Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik recently highlighted a set of financial lessons that, he says, most individuals understand only after years of struggle and trial and error. Shared through a post on X, his insights focus on long-term thinking, discipline, and the role of time in building wealth, rather than short-term income jumps.

Below are five key money lessons drawn from his views that often come into focus much later than they should.

1. Time matters more than the ‘perfect’ salaryOne of the biggest realisations comes around the value of starting early. According to CA Nitin Kaushik, waiting for an ideal salary or a big career break can cost people valuable years. Even modest earnings in one’s early twenties, when invested regularly, can outperform much larger incomes that start much later in life. The advantage comes from having time on your side, allowing investments to grow steadily over decades.
He stresses that time, combined with regular investing, creates the foundation for long-term financial growth. Those who delay often find themselves trying to make up for lost years later on.2. Compounding works only with consistencyAnother lesson people tend to learn late is that compounding is not automatic. It needs steady and disciplined contributions. Kaushik points out that small monthly investments, even in the range of a few thousand rupees, can grow significantly when done without breaks. In contrast, irregular or one-time investments rarely create the same impact.
He compares this process to planting early and nurturing consistently, explaining that missing the early years of investing often leads to decades of playing catch-up.
3. Lifestyle creep quietly erodes wealthAs income increases, spending often rises along with it. This gradual increase in expenses, known as lifestyle creep, is one of the most common reasons people struggle to save despite earning more. Kaushik notes that many individuals upgrade gadgets, cars, or holidays with every pay raise, leaving little room for long-term savings.
He explains that the real financial advantage comes from keeping core living expenses stable while income grows. Consistently saving a fixed portion of one’s salary over time, he says, is far more effective than occasional indulgent spending.— Finance_Bareek (@Finance_Bareek)
4. Wealth follows value, not just hard workWorking long hours does not automatically translate into financial security. According to Kaushik, money tends to flow towards value creation rather than effort alone. He encourages people to focus on building skills, systems, or scalable sources of income that are not limited to the number of hours worked.