‘You don’t need to be rich to start investing’: CA shares the mindset to become rich

A lot of people delay investing because they believe wealth is a prerequisite, not a result. The idea is simple but misleading: wait until income is high, savings are large, and life feels “stable” before putting money into the market. But what if that thinking itself is what keeps most people stuck? Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik recently addressed this mindset on X, arguing that financial growth doesn’t begin with wealth. It begins much earlier, with small, consistent action and a shift in how people view money.

CA Nitin Kaushik took to X and shared a direct message that challenges one of the most common financial habits. He wrote, “You don't need to be rich to start investing. You need to invest to become rich." The waiting mindset that delays wealth

According to him, most people fall into what he calls a “waiting game.” Instead of starting early, they postpone investing until they believe they have accumulated a “massive bank balance.” He pointed out that this thinking is completely backward. As he explained, many people keep telling themselves they will start investing later, once they feel financially ready, but that delay often works against them.



In his words, “most people play a waiting game, telling themselves they will start investing only when they finally have a massive bank balance.”

Why starting small changes everything

Kaushik emphasised that building wealth is less about the starting amount and more about developing the right habits early. He explained that financial freedom begins with a mindset shift, even if someone starts with as little as Rs 1,000 a month.


As he shared, “if you want true financial freedom, you have to change your mindset first even if you are starting with just Rs 1,000 a month.” The idea is not about how much is invested initially, but about building consistency, discipline and familiarity with how investing works.

Small investments build experience, not just money

The CA also highlighted an often-overlooked benefit of starting early with small amounts. It’s not just about returns, but about learning. He noted that beginning with small sums helps individuals understand the process, make mistakes in a controlled way, and gradually build confidence in managing money.


In his post, he explained that starting small is how people “actually learn the game, make your mistakes safely, and build up your confidence.” This approach reduces fear and hesitation, two factors that often prevent people from entering the investment space altogether.

The real cost of waiting too long

Kaushik’s strongest warning focused on the opportunity cost of delay. He argued that waiting until someone feels “rich enough” to invest doesn’t preserve money, it wastes time. And in investing, time is one of the most powerful growth factors. As he put it, “waiting until you are already rich means you are just throwing away your most valuable asset, which is time.”

The underlying message is clear: the earlier the start, the greater the advantage, even if the initial steps feel small.