Rich AF

How do you actually get rich when the system seems designed to keep you broke? In Rich AF, Vivian Tu—known online as “Your Rich BFF”—argues that the American Dream is dead because it was built to serve old, rich, white men who passed wealth down through generations while telling the rest of us to work hard and scrimp. Tu contends that modern wealth isn’t created by saving or penny-pinching—it’s built by learning the secret strategies rich people use: earning more, investing wisely, and talking openly about money. The book’s core mission is to help “regular” people, especially women, minorities, and younger generations, beat the rich at their own game.

Breaking the Silence About Money

Tu starts by demolishing the taboo that money talk is rude. The wealthy, she explains, have always shared insider knowledge on golf courses and in exclusive clubs, passing on strategies for taxes, investments, and income growth. Meanwhile, everyone else was told to hush about salaries and focus on cutting coupons. Tu’s own journey—from growing up with immigrant parents who reused ziplock bags to becoming a Wall Street trader and online money educator—illustrates that learning how rich people think about money is life-changing. She shows you that financial success comes not from deprivation, but from understanding how the system works—and how to play.

Learning the Rules Rich People Play By

Tu’s central metaphor compares money to a Monopoly game. Everyone has the same rulebook, but few actually read it—meaning most people play a limited version while the rich exploit loopholes to win. That story sets up the premise: financial strategy matters more than simple financial literacy. Rich people don’t just know the definitions of IRAs or APRs—they know which rules to bend, which opportunities to take, and how to use leverage to multiply their wealth. The book provides those strategies, breaking down how to think ahead like the rich: not “how do I earn more and spend less?” but “how can my money make more money farther and faster than I can?”

Why Generations Are Struggling

Tu explains why younger generations can’t rely on old advice like “just work hard and save.” Wages haven’t kept pace with inflation; education and housing costs have exploded; economic events from the 2008 housing crash to COVID-19 have stripped ordinary people of stability. She refuses to blame individuals for systemic problems—a key difference from older financial “gurus.” Instead, Tu validates frustrations while offering updated tools to thrive in today’s economy: leveraging technology, negotiating salaries, and investing for long-term growth. Her tone is empathetic but firm, making finance feel accessible rather than judgmental (similar to Ramit Sethi’s “I Will Teach You to Be Rich,” yet more conversational and inclusive).

Rich People’s Habits, Mindsets, and Secrets

She identifies eight habits shared by the wealthy—from laziness that treats money as a hardworking employee to the “abundance mindset” that says there’s always more wealth to create. They share, network, think long-term, and invest relentlessly rather than save passively. Crucially, they’re strategic in relationships: they advocate for friends, collaborate instead of compete, and exchange insider knowledge. This mentality is the foundation for her concept of “financial domination,” where you not only build wealth but control how opportunities flow toward you.

From Surviving to Thriving

Ultimately, Tu’s argument is that you can’t penny-pinch your way to prosperity—you must outthink the system. Her “Rich BFF” framework flips traditional financial advice on its head: make more before you worry about budgeting, automate savings to build freedom, invest to grow wealth, and talk openly to dismantle money stigma. Tu writes as your funny, loyal friend armed with Wall Street savvy, translating finance into smart, actionable steps without shame. What matters most is not perfection but progress—learning, acting, and talking about money so you can join the “club” of people who know how wealth really works. The book’s appeal lies in merging humor, social awareness, and practical guides into a unified call to financial empowerment.

Vivian Tu’s comparison between the rich and everyone else isn’t just about income—it’s about mindset. She argues that wealthy people view money as a tool, not as a limitation. They don’t see wealth as finite or fear scarcity; instead, they believe there is always more to generate, share, and multiply. For those who struggle financially, adopting this abundance mindset is the first step toward transformation.

1. Money Works Harder Than You Do

Rich people understand they can’t labor endlessly—but their money can. Tu shows that the rich prioritize making their dollars work twenty-four hours a day through investments, property, and business ventures. This “lazy genius” mindset flips the typical work-hard narrative. Rather than glorifying overwork, they focus on systems that compound income while they sleep. This perspective challenges the culturally ingrained idea that hustle equals success. In truth, automation, investing, and long-term planning are the paths to sustainable wealth.

2. Assets, Not Aesthetics

Tu debunks the myth that luxury purchases reflect wealth. Millionaires often spend on things that appreciate, not on flashy items that depreciate. Instead of pouring money into cars or designer clothes, they buy rental properties, stocks, and businesses. What separates them is purpose: every purchase must either yield income or increase long-term value. As she sums up, “They don’t care if you think they’re rich—they care if their money grows.” This mindset teaches you to check whether your spending builds your future or just your image.

3. Collaboration Over Competition

Tu tells stories from her Wall Street days of colleagues sharing stock tips even when they couldn’t act on them personally. Instead of guarding secrets, they traded insights freely because they knew networking built collective wealth. Rich people think in terms of reciprocity: “scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.” They place friends and peers in powerful positions, understanding that helping others helps themselves. For those outside elite circles, learning to network, advocate for peers, and share useful financial information can break the isolation that keeps people stuck. (Similar themes appear in Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, which also frames wealth as social collaboration.)

4. Long-Term and Generational Thinking

Patience is a superpower among the wealthy. Tu’s chapter on time reveals how rich individuals trade short-term pleasure for long-term prosperity. Instead of splurging on quick returns, they invest for decades—understanding that compounding over time beats any short-term win. She urges readers to adopt long-term patience in personal finance: invest for retirement, let markets cycle, and plan for future generations. The surprising takeaway? Rich people aren’t smarter—they simply pause before they spend.

5. Talking About Money Is Power

Money talk isn’t taboo among the rich—it’s a shared language of opportunity. Tu exposes the cultural double standard: elites openly compare salaries and taxes while average workers avoid those topics out of shame. The result? Knowledge stays locked among insiders. By encouraging open financial conversations, Tu builds inclusion and transparency. Talking about money democratizes financial strategy—it grants the same access that country clubs have offered for generations. As she says, “If they won’t give us a seat at the table, we’ll build our own damn table.”

You can’t budget your way out of poverty, Vivian Tu insists. The first step to getting wealthy is to earn more. While most finance books start by cutting expenses, Tu begins with self-worth and income. Her mantra—“You can only save as much as you earn, but you can always earn more”—defines her approach to breaking free from the paycheck-to-paycheck trap.

From Underpaid to Valued

Tu’s own career on Wall Street underscores this principle. She learned that talent alone doesn’t guarantee fair pay—advocating for yourself does. When sexist managers overlooked her contributions, she realized she needed to work where she was valued, not tolerated. Leaving a toxic job became an act of financial self-respect. Her story echoes advice from career experts like Adam Grant (Think Again) who emphasize knowing when to pivot rather than endure exploitation.

The Art of Negotiation

Tu reframes negotiation as a skill that earns thousands of dollars in minutes. Asking for a raise isn’t selfish—it’s smart business. She debunks myths like “they’ll fire me if I ask” or “it’s greedy to want more.” In reality, companies budget for raises and expect employees to request them. Her scripted process—prepare data, set a meeting, present your wins—makes the awkward conversation methodical, not emotional. To master negotiation is to reclaim your value.

Selling Your Skills and Building Networks

Rich people advance by leveraging transferable skills and relationships, not by staying loyal to one company. Tu encourages treating your résumé like a “charcuterie board”—offering unique combinations of skills instead of one flavor. She illustrates how cross-industry moves—from trading equities to digital ad sales—open income channels. Networking becomes vital: mentors and peers become advocates in rooms you can’t access.

Side Hustles with Sanity

While she rejects toxic hustle culture, Tu promotes strategic side hustles as leverage, not burnout. A side gig like Jerry the Sneakerhead’s flipping business builds income confidence—but only if it’s low-risk and profitable. She warns against MLM scams and illusions of easy money. Instead, she urges you to use digital platforms for flexible, skill-based side work—proof that earning more is possible even without quitting your day job.

Core Takeaway

Tu’s career chapters energize you to transform self-esteem into financial momentum. The most powerful wealth-building move isn’t cutting coffees—it’s commanding a salary that reflects your value. As she puts it, “We don’t do this work for free.”

Few people like the word “budget.” It conjures visions of restriction and guilt. Vivian Tu reclaims budgeting as liberation: not a diet, but a recipe for a richer life. It’s how you plan ahead to afford joy without debt. Her approach replaces shame with empowerment.

Budgets as Freedom, Not Restriction

Budgeting isn’t about cutting; it’s about controlling. Tu teaches that wealthy people use budgets to plan indulgence, not forbiddance. Her Prada purse story captures this: she bought it guilt-free because she planned for it. Budgets remove anxiety when spending, making pleasure sustainable. This mindset echoes Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass at Making Money, which frames wealth as self-care rather than sacrifice.

Audit and Awareness

Step one is a “spending audit”—review every dollar via statements or apps like Mint. Tu’s red-yellow-green method simplifies the process: red for non-negotiable essentials, yellow for flexible needs, and green for discretionary wants. Awareness itself is power; seeing where money goes dissolves shame and opens possibility.

Value-Based Spending

Tu’s secret sauce is value-based spending. Instead of asking “Can I afford this?” she asks, “Is this worth the work I did to earn it?” By calculating an item’s cost in hours worked, she discovered many purchases weren’t worth it. This technique redefines value—aligning spending with emotional satisfaction, not peer pressure. It’s a budgeting method rooted in self-awareness and respect for effort.

The Budgeting Styles

Tu outlines four budgeting models—50/30/20, zero-based, reverse, and half-payment. Each fits different personalities and incomes. Whether you automate savings first or split paychecks, the goal remains the same: money should serve your values. Her playful analogy to nail art—choose the style that suits your life—takes the intimidation out of finance.

Boundaries and Family Pressure

Budgeting doesn’t exist in isolation; it collides with relationships. Tu’s discussion of family expectations—especially in immigrant cultures—helps you assert boundaries around giving or lending money. Her conversational scripts teach you to say “I don’t loan money” or set monthly gifting limits without guilt. In doing so, budgeting becomes emotional independence as much as financial planning.

Vivian Tu’s section on saving isn’t about scrimping—it’s about safety and strategy. Saving isn’t how you get rich, she argues, but it’s how you stop being desperate. It keeps you from making fear-driven choices and gives room to breathe before investing or spending.

Emergency Funds and Sinking Funds

Tu’s emergency fund story—when she sliced her finger and faced a $16,000 hospital bill—illustrates why savings matter. Having $1,300 on hand avoided ruin. Her rule: save three to six months of expenses in a high-yield savings account (HYSA). Beyond emergencies, she promotes “sinking funds”—dedicated accounts for planned big expenses, from vacations to weddings. These dual systems make saving both proactive and protective.

Banking Like the Wealthy

Rich people use multiple bank accounts strategically. Tu shows how to automate direct deposits into various checking and HYSA accounts—turning your bank into a budgeting machine. Her “Pretty Woman moment” with banks encapsulates entitlement done right: you are the customer, not a beggar. Ask for fee reversals, demand better interest rates, and remember banks spend hundreds acquiring your business. Expect quality service.

Negotiating to Save Big

While many focus on skipping coffees, Tu urges negotiating major expenses. A single call about rent, internet, or car insurance can save thousands—far more than cutting lattes. Her step-by-step guide turns negotiation into a game: research, ask, threaten politely, play hardball, and persist. This “platinum mindset”—focusing on big wins—reflects the rich person’s efficiency in saving time and money simultaneously.

Entitlement as Empowerment

Perhaps most radical, Tu reframes entitlement. Middle-class politeness often prevents us from demanding fair treatment. She encourages you to act like money royalty—know your worth, request upgrades, and own your power. “Your bank isn’t doing you a favor,” she writes. Saving, then, isn’t passive—it’s self-advocacy that expresses both dignity and control.

If saving builds security, investing builds wealth. Tu demystifies investing like your cool best friend explaining TikTok trends—casual but precise. Her goal: show that anyone can invest without jargon or genius credentials.

Understanding Investing

Investing isn’t gambling or day trading—it’s planting seeds that grow over time. The key concept is using money to create more money. Tu breaks investments into categories: assets (stocks, bonds, funds, real estate, crypto), accounts (401(k), IRA, HSA, brokerage), and brokers (the grocery stores of finance). Once you grasp this flowchart, complexity disappears.

Debt, Delta, and the Math of Growth

Rich people invest even with debt, Tu explains, as long as their returns outpace interest rates—the “positive delta.” With markets averaging a 7% annual growth (based on S&P 500 data), paying off 3% loans while investing still increases wealth. This rational approach replaces guilt with numbers: money can handle multitasking better than humans.

Tax-Advantaged Accounts

Tu’s breakdown of retirement options—401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs—makes tax strategy feel approachable. These accounts are government “bribes” to save for retirement, she jokes. Her practical checklists guide where to invest first: match employer contributions, max tax-free benefits, then open personal accounts. She explains the nuances between traditional and Roth accounts using pizza metaphors—showing humor is the best pedagogy.

Automating Success

Tu favors robo-advisors and index funds for beginners. Her motto is “set it and forget it.” Start small, stay consistent, and let compounding do the rest. Investing doesn’t require brilliance—just commitment and patience. Her real message is that participation matters more than perfection. Every dollar invested starts working for you, turning effort into exponential growth.

Money mastery isn’t just about earning or investing—it’s about control. In her chapter on “financial domination,” Tu tackles the intimidating trio: credit, debt, and taxes. Her tone shifts from cheerleader to drill sergeant—you can’t be Rich AF without wielding these tools strategically.

Credit as Power

Tu learned the hard way by closing her oldest credit card, which tanked her score. Credit scores, she explains, aren’t moral judgments—they’re math. To “ace the test,” you need long history, timely payments, and low utilization. Her hacks are simple: keep old cards open, pay on time, and request higher limits to lower utilization percentage. Building credit isn’t about luck—it’s about consistency.

Debt Without Shame

Tu distinguishes debt from desperation. Rich people call it leverage, poor people call it debt—but it’s the same tool. The snowball, avalanche, and consolidation methods help you regain control over what you owe. Debt isn’t evil; only misused debt is. By reframing loans as opportunities for positive delta, she replaces fear with strategy.

Taxes: Playing by the Brackets

Tu’s famous “pizza” metaphor explains marginal tax rates better than any accountant: you don’t lose all your income when moving up tax brackets—only slices of new pizza flavors. Understanding this prevents panic and reinforces that earning more always benefits you. Her playful explanations turn fear of the IRS into confidence.

Building Your Team

Finally, she introduces your financial Avengers: CPAs for taxes, estate attorneys for wills, and fiduciary advisors for big-picture strategy. Unlike shady “financial coaches,” these professionals are legally bound to act in your interest. Knowing when to hire help turns financial management from anxiety into structure. Combined, these practices give you mastery over every dollar you earn, owe, or invest.

How much money lets you truly live life on your own terms? Vivian Tu calls it your “FU number”—the amount that lets you quit any job, leave any bad situation, or simply never stress over bills again. It’s not about retiring early; it’s about reclaiming power.

Your Personal Equation

Tu provides an elegantly simple formula: FU Number = Annual Spending ÷ Average Annual Rate of Return. If you need $100,000 a year and expect a 4% return, your freedom price is $2.5 million. This calculation personalizes wealth—no generic benchmarks, just what sustains your desired life. It includes luxuries, children’s education, homes, pets—whatever “enough” means to you.

Beyond FIRE Culture

Tu challenges the “retire at 35” FIRE movement for its judgmental extremes. Financial freedom isn’t about living in an Airstream—it’s about independence. You can still work, but by choice. The FU number liberates your decisions from money stress. Like author Vicki Robin in Your Money or Your Life, Tu reframes wealth as flexibility—freedom to pursue meaningful work, not endless hustle.

A Living Target, Not a Fixed Goal

Because life evolves, your FU number does too. Marriage, kids, or health changes require recalculating annually. She urges conservative estimates—understating returns and overstating costs—to stay safe. This practice turns money math into mindfulness: periodically reevaluating keeps your wealth serving your values.

Money as Choice

Ultimately, Tu ends on empowerment. When you hit your FU number, you stop making choices based on fear. You can leave the toxic boss, support your family, or take a creative risk. Money isn’t the goal—it’s the tool for autonomy. As she reminds you, “You deserve to be Rich AF, because we all deserve options.”