Turn Spending Into Earning
If you’re buying anything, always aim to get return value.
Cash-back and rewards are the easiest versions of this.
Use one good cash-back credit card for all planned purchases
Auto-redeem rewards into a savings or investment account
Pick rewards you’ll actually use (cash over points you forget about)
If you spend $2,000/month and get 2% cash back, that’s nearly $500/year for doing nothing but paying attention.
Pro tip: Treat rewards as micro-investment cash, not fun money.
Invest Where You Live
Housing is often the biggest financial line item. Make it work harder.
Ideas to double-return your home:
Install energy-efficient upgrades that lower bills and boost resale value
Rent out a parking spot, room, storage space, or basement
Downsize, then invest the equity you free up instead of letting it sit idle
Even a small home equity reallocation can significantly boost retirement security.
Buy Assets, Not Stuff
If a purchase doesn’t hold value or generate value, think twice.
Asset-style purchases:
A reliable used car you can resell
High-quality tools/equipment you can rent out
Durable clothing, appliances, or furniture that outlasts cheap versions
Education or skills that increase income
Every asset won’t make you rich, but it will save you from paying twice for the same item.
Outsmart Subscriptions
Subscriptions are sneaky. They leak money monthly.
Cancel two for every new one you add
Share or split subscriptions with trusted family/friends
Yearly billing over monthly (often 20–40% less)
Then take your saved money and redirect it to a purpose: emergency fund, debt payoff, or short-term investments.
Make savings visible, not theoretical.
“Productive Debt” > “Passive Debt”
Not all debt is terrible. Some debt is a tool.
Passive debt drains you:
high-interest credit cards
car loans that depreciate faster than they’re paid off
Productive debt pays you:
0% financing + savings interest spread
low-interest mortgage with property value growth
business/education loans with return potential
Don’t fear debt—manage it like an asset.
Automate Growth so You Can't Mess It Up
Human nature sabotages financial progress. Automation saves you from… you.
Auto-transfer from checking to investment/savings monthly
Auto-round-up savings apps (small but sneaky powerful)
Recurring IRA or brokerage contributions
Auto-increase contributions annually by 1%
Small, boring money systems are million-dollar behaviors in disguise.
Play Offense AND Defense
Money that grows is great. Money that disappears is the enemy.
Make every dollar defend you by reducing risk:
Maintenance over repairs
Healthy habits over medical bills
Preventive insurance instead of panic insurance
Emergency fund instead of credit card reliance
The cheapest dollar is the one you never have to spend.
With care,
Mike Bridges
Founder, The O55 Report