Multiply Your Money by Mastering These 3 Phases (It’s Not Just Investing)

Ever feel like your money disappears the moment it hits your account?

That was me — monthly income in, bills out, stress through the roof. I kept thinking, “If I just earned a little more…” But more money wasn’t the fix. The problem wasn’t my paycheck — it was my system.

What finally changed my life wasn’t a lucky break or a big promotion. It was understanding that personal finance, like any good game, has levels. Three, to be exact.

Let me walk you through these phases using the story of someone whose journey mirrors mine — a guy named Raphael. Then I’ll share how I took a slightly different path, and what I learned from doing it my own way.

Phase 1: Survival — Plug the Leaks

This is where it all begins. Bills are constant. Emergencies are landmines. And your bank account feels more like a revolving door than a vault.

When I was 26, I had a decent income, but I was treading water — drowning in credit card debt, dodging overdrafts, and living in a fog of financial anxiety.

Raphael’s story hit home. At 23, earning $2,400/month, he was buried in $5,000 of credit card debt and still sending money to help his family. His turning point? A spreadsheet…