Building Generational Wealth When You Don’t Make a Lot of Money

I know when you hear about building generational wealth it sounds like something only “rich people” do, right? But I’m here to tell you, it’s possible for everyday families like ours too. My husband and I have spent most of our marriage living paycheck to paycheck. We’ve had hard seasons where it felt like we’d never get ahead. But I made up my mind that I was going to break that cycle not just for us, but for our kids and grandkids too.

Where We Started

I grew up knowing my family history and my parents will be the first of their families to be able to leave their kids anything. They won’t be leaving us much in terms of money or property, but they did something so wise, they thought ahead. They paid for their funeral expenses and made sure there would be no debt left behind for us to deal with. That’s a huge blessing, and I’m honestly so proud of them for doing it. It’s not flashy wealth, but it’s responsible, thoughtful, and loving.

On the other hand, my in-laws had a lot of money at one point, but they spent  it all. Now they’ll likely leave us a mess to sort out. Watching both examples side by side taught me a powerful lesson — wealth isn’t just about how much you have, but about how you manage what you have.

Changing Our Path

As I've talked about in other post we struggled financially most of our marriage. Some of it was because of our own mistakes and then some of it was due to things out of our control. But let's just say we hit some rock bottom times. 

For years I cleaned houses, sold Tupperware, Avon, but then I worked up the nerve to sell on eBay. I loved selling there and I even still have some listings up right now. It helped pay bills and kept us afloat during tight months. Eventually, I started designing merch and printables  which is something I truly enjoy and can build on long-term. But even with side hustles, it felt like money was always tight.

That’s when I got serious about our finances. I started with small, consistent steps. I first built a little emergency fund and I do mean a little one. It was great though to just have $500 at first so I could stop relying on credit cards every time something went wrong. Then I tackled debt one payment at a time. When that was gone, I focused on building a full one-year emergency fund. It took time and a lot of discipline, but it gave me peace of mind like nothing else.

If I could go back and do one thing differently, though, I would’ve started investing sooner. We didn't invest in a 401K because in our mind we needed every bit of that money to live. Then after we finally started putting a little into one that's all we did until just recently when I started to learn more about investing. I'll share more about that in another post. Just remember the earlier you start, even with small amounts, the more time your money has to grow.

How to Build Generational Wealth (Even on a Small Income)

Here’s what worked for us and what I’d recommend to anyone starting out:

1. Start with a budget. 
   You can’t grow what you don’t track. When I finally created a realistic budget, it changed everything. If you haven’t read it yet, check out my post: Why You Really Do Need a Budget (Even if You Don’t Make Much). That’s where the foundation begins.

2. Build an emergency fund.
   Start small — $500 or $1,000. Then slowly work your way up to three months, six months, and eventually a year’s worth of expenses. This step gives you breathing room and keeps you from falling back into debt every time life throws something at you. Check out this post on how to build an emergency fund. 

3. Pay off debt.
   Every dollar in interest you pay is money that could have gone toward your family’s future. Tackle one debt at a time, starting with either the smallest balance (for motivation) or the highest interest rate (for efficiency). Or mix it up a bit, just make a plan that you can stick with.

4. Invest — even a little.
   Some people will say not to invest until your debt free but I don't agree with that. It took us years to become debt free and now we're really behind in this area. You don’t need a ton of money. Begin with what you can even if it's only $25 or $50 a month and use low-cost index funds or ETFs. Time in the market matters more than timing the market.

5. Create multiple income streams.
   Your 9-to-5 might pay the bills, but side hustles can build your future. For me, that started with eBay and grew into designing merch and printables. Find something that fits your skills, lifestyle and is something you actually enjoy.

6. Teach your kids early.
   Talk to them about saving, giving, and investing. Let them see you handle money with purpose. Even if you don’t leave them millions, you can leave them wisdom — and that’s the foundation for lasting generational wealth.

A Final Word

Building wealth isn’t about luck or income level. It’s about mindset, consistency, and patience. We’re still growing, learning, and investing, but I can already see how far we’ve come. The best part? I know our daughters will start their adult lives with a better financial foundation than we had and that means everything to me.

So no matter where you are right now, just start. You don’t have to make a lot of money to make a lasting difference for your family. You just have to begin.

Please share your tips and tricks for saving money in the comments. I love to hear from y'all.