How Teenagers Think Rich While School Teaches Poor Habits

You overhear classmates saying they’ll never afford that designer hoodie or the next festival pass. Maybe you catch yourself echoing them. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you believe you can’t, you won’t. But what if you flipped that script?

One afternoon, Emma realized every “can’t” in her head stopped her from even looking for options. She caught herself mid-complaint—“I can’t save for that phone”—and paused. She asked, “What if I could find a way?” That single question sparked ideas: selling eco-friendly bookmarks, dog-walking between classes, even launching a weekend car-wash crew. The buzz of her brainstorming felt like a coffee jolt.

Research in identity theory shows that when you adopt the mindset of a problem-solver—asking “How can I?” instead of “Why can’t I?”—you activate neural pathways tied to creativity and resilience. You start spotting gaps everyday: a neighbor who needs pet care, classmates craving custom merch, local businesses wanting flyers.

Emma’s first small risk was handmade bracelets sold at lunch. She earned enough to buy a used smartphone case by saving just ten dollars of her week’s income. Each win rewired her belief: she wasn’t destined to stay in the rat race. She learned to view money as a tool she could shape, not something that shaped her.

By reframing limiting thoughts into curiosity questions, you literally retrain your brain. This simple habit taps cognitive flexibility and goal-setting frameworks. So next time you catch “I can’t,” challenge yourself: “How can I?”

You’ve caught those limiting thoughts and reframed them into “How can I?” Now scaffolding on past wins, write down three creative ways to meet your next money goal—maybe selling snacks at practice or offering to tutor a subject you ace. Choose the smallest commitment, share your plan with someone who’ll cheer you on, and take your first step this afternoon.