Do you keep hearing voices? You know, the ones that say you're behind financially, everyone else is winning, and you're never going to get ahead. Well, guess what? Even millionaires feel that way. Seriously, only 33% of millionaires actually consider themselves wealthy, which I know sounds ridiculous. So today we're covering seven reasons why everyone seems to have more money than you and why you might feel behind. Let's get to it. Reason number one, you might feel like you're behind because you don't own a home.

Home ownership is a hallmark of the American dream of financial success. And it's easy to feel like renting means you're not making progress. But the reality is a whole lot more complicated, just like my haircare routine. We don't have time for it.

Not today. Hair is everything. You see, owning a home is like adopting a $10,000 Tibetan mastiff. It's cute and warm and fun until it vomits up a $5,000 repair bill and your half-eaten UGG slippers, which, to be honest, it was time to go. Plus, when you factor in property taxes, maintenance, repairs, and unexpected expenses, the costs of home ownership add up very quickly. Even a minor HVAC repair could cost thousands of dollars. But when you're renting, you don't have to worry about those things. The landlord does.

And if you're not prepared to cover those extra costs, you could end up living in a van down by the river and not like the local vagabonds who did it on purpose. This one, accidental. Renting gives you predictable expenses and financial flexibility to focus on building your financial foundation. Because when you pay rent, get this, that's the most you'll pay. But when you pay your mortgage, that's the least you'll pay because of all of those extra expenses. So if you're renting because you're working to get out of debt or get that emergency fund in place, or you're saving up for a down payment, you're not behind.

In fact, I'm proud of you for being mature and knowing that there's a right way to go about home ownership. Just like there's a right way to eat a hot dog. Top down, middle first. Just kidding. Everyone knows the good Christian ways with a fork and knife. Drop a comment below and let me know your preferred denomination for hot dog consumption. - I can do it quick. - Yeah, I want to. - Okay. - What?

I'm just saying. So here's the deal. Don't buy a house just because you feel like you're supposed to or worse, that you feel behind. Do it when you're financially ready, not broke. Reason number two, FOMO. That's the fear of missing out. You might feel like you're behind because it seems like everyone else is living their best life. I mean, on Instagram, everybody's showing off their trips to the Dolomites and their Kia Telluride, which...

in a weird turn of events has become the beacon of luxury. And with that kind of scoreboard, it's easy to feel like you're the only one who doesn't have it all figured out. But here's the thing. You're just seeing a highlight reel, not the full picture. And if all you saw from the Titanic was a budding love story on a luxury cruise, you'd only be looking at the tip of the iceberg. Stop it.

Get some help. And if you had the full picture, you're probably not going to book that trip. So when you let FOMO in the driver's seat, you're going to spend money to chase a life that is not real, and you're going to end up living in a van down by the river. I'm sick and tired of living in a van!

And if social media is making you feel behind, opt out, log out, stop scrolling. Maybe it's time to focus on what really matters for a little while. Plus, social media does not show you that a lot of people are actually financing their lifestyle. Which brings us to the third reason people feel behind, debt management.

is invisible. Your neighbors or friends might look like they're doing great financially, but what you can't see are the monthly payments that are eating up their income and adding stress to their life. It's easy to assume that someone's new blacked out cyber truck or annual trip to Santa Claus, Indiana represents wealth, when in reality it represents debt and poor taste. For example, more than 17% of new car buyers have payments exceeding $1,000 a month. Which brings us to our next segment: How we doin', America?

How are we doing with these $1,000 car? Who hurt you that you decided to go finance what I assume is a $60,000 car or truck with pretty much nothing down? Who are you trying to impress? Whose love are you trying to earn? Dad? Mom? If it hasn't happened now, I don't think the car is going to do it. Okay?

OK, so whether it's a big burly truck or it's the fancy luxury car to pick up your kids from school, stop trying to finesse this life through a car payment. It's ridiculous. And if you're spending any amount of money on a car payment, it's bad news. But a thousand dollars or more, zero empathy. Sorry about that. Back to the episode at hand. Oof, that was a lot.

These car payments add up, which leaves less money for savings and investing, which, by the way, is what actually makes people wealthy. So remember, when you're making financial comparisons, you're only seeing the results of someone spending, not the true cost behind it. And yes, some people do have true wealth, and they're not propping up their image with debt, and they have nice things that they paid cash for. But it's still easy to look at someone else's life and think,

Why am I not there yet? And what you're often seeing is the result of years or even decades of effort, not an overnight transformation, not luck. And sure, maybe they do have a trust fund and good for them. And if you're so jealous, work hard to do the same for your kids. Which brings us to the fourth reason you feel behind. You're comparing your beginning to someone else's end.

Someone cross-stitch that on a pillow, will ya? It's a good line. Most millionaires did not reach that number quickly. In fact, the average millionaire worked, saved, and invested consistently for 28 years before they hit that milestone. So wealth building is a long-term process, and comparing your early steps to someone else's finish line will only lead to frustration. So instead of focusing on where others are, celebrate your own wins. Celebrate where you are today compared to a year ago. Whether it's paying off a credit card, saving your first $1,000, or sticking to your budget, those steps matter.

Remember this, wealth building isn't a race, it's a journey.

Another cross-stitch worthy line. I'm on a roll today. Someone get me an Etsy store stat. But it's going to be hard to make it past that first leg of the journey if you're always having to make a pit stop to pay for emergencies. Which brings us to the fifth reason you might feel behind financially. You don't have an emergency fund. Without an emergency fund, every unexpected expense, like a flat tire or a chipped tooth, can make it feel like you're one step away from living, say it with me, in a van down by the river. Great job.

So without this emergency fund, what should have been a minor inconvenience becomes a full-blown crisis. That's why having an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses saved is so powerful. It's a safety net that catches you when life doesn't go as planned. Let me tell you, at some point, life will not go as planned.

And one of the best things you can do with an emergency fund is to park it in a high-yield savings account like the one offered by Laurel Road. They're not only a sponsor of today's episode, but they're also a great tool to keep your savings safe and sound. And they offer top-tier rates that make your money make more money. And there's no minimum deposit, there's no sneaky fees, and your money is FDIC-insured, which means you'll sleep easy. And if you ever need help, their premium care team is made up of real-life humans that you can actually talk to.

So if you want to check them out and get started today, go to laurelroad.com slash george or click the link in the description below. And before we get to more reasons you feel behind, you know what's worse than feeling behind? Feeling insecure because your data and privacy is being bought and sold to all of the worst people. And that's why you've got to check out Delete.

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but Delete.me apparently does. And you can get 20% off any of their plans by going to joindeleteme.com/george or just use the link in the description below. All right, another reason you might feel like you're behind is because the wealth you're working toward doesn't look like what other people are showing off. Which brings us to reason number six, true wealth is also invisible.

So much invisibility. There's a cloak joke in there somewhere, but we gotta move on. Cars, vacations, and fancy dinners, that stuff is easy to see. But real wealth, the kind that builds lasting security, that's usually tucked away in a 12-year-old Camry, a stack of coupons, and a paid-off ranch home. Mmm. Ranch. Give me that ranch! Dipping in pizza! Don't dip your pizza in ranch. That's...

faux pas. Get a bunch of ranch, dip it in pizza. There's a Hidden Valley Ranch party in my mouth. The truth is, most millionaires are not driving flashy cars or posting pics from a private jet on their way to Gayle King's surprise 70th birthday party. They're quietly investing in their 401ks, paying off their homes, and living below their means. And guess what? Those things don't go viral, but they're the foundation of true financial success. So if you're feeling behind because your progress is invisible, remember, the best kind of wealth isn't always obvious. It's just like what Gandalf always said.

Keep it secret. Keep it safe. Stay wealthy.

Which brings us to the seventh reason you might feel behind. You're not following a plan, so you don't know where you stand. Which is so obvious it hurts to say out loud. But without a plan, it's easy to feel like you're just treading water. And it's harder to move forward confidently when you're not sure what direction to take. But a plan gives you clarity and control. Budgeting, saving, paying off debt, they're not just financial habits, they are the roadmap to financial peace. When you have a focused plan to do those things, you're no longer comparing yourself to others

because you have your own benchmarks for success. So it's not about what someone else is doing, it's about making progress and taking the right next step for you. And that's the kind of clarity that makes all the difference. So if you're stuck in a cycle of comparison or feeling lost, here's your way out. Start with a proven plan. If you're not doing a budget, start one. It's the best way to know where your money is going.

I'll drop a link in the description if you want to check out my favorite budgeting app. Next, you've got to do one thing at a time with focused intensity. So if you're trying to pay off debt, be very aggressive about paying off debt. If you're trying to save up that emergency fund, be very aggressive about saving up that emergency fund. Do one thing at a time instead of 17 things at once, and you'll make way more progress. Most importantly, find contentment. Whether you're making 60K or 100K, learn to live on less than you make. Learn to live a life that's below your means instead of above it,

and your life will be way better. If you want a clear picture of where you're at and a clear plan, I'm gonna drop a link in the description to take a free three-minute quiz. You'll answer a few questions about your life, your money goals, and I'll get you set up with a plan that meets you where you are right now. If you wanna learn how to build a simple budget that actually works, that you can actually stick to, keep watching this next video or click the link in the description below. And if you enjoyed this video, be sure to hit that like and subscribe button and share this with a friend. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.