10 Smart Money Habits Americans Should Steal From Other Countries

Summary:

• The United States lags in financial literacy compared to other countries. Adopting global money habits can lead to savings.

• Germany uses cash for small purchases, reducing spending.

• Countries like Japan and Sweden have financial habits that lead to wealth accumulation.

The United States is a very powerful nation with many advantages, but in the field of daily financial literacy, it is still behind in comparison to many countries around the globe.  Here are ten habits that feel completely normal elsewhere and save people a small fortune once they’re adopted here. Pick even two or three of these habits and run with them for a year. You’ll probably look up and realize your bank account suddenly speaks fluent Wall Street.

Germany: Pay with cash for everything under $100

Germans still use cash for daily purchases, and it keeps spending visible and real. Americans who switch to the “cash stuffing” method routinely cut their monthly splash spending by 15–25% without feeling deprived.

Japan: The 50-year mortgage is normal

Japanese home loans often stretch 35 to 50 years and can be passed to the next generation. It drops monthly payments so low that families free up thousands every year for investments instead of house-poor living.

Netherlands: Kids bike or walk to school from age six

No daily school drop-off line, no second car needed for many families. One less vehicle in the driveway saves the average household $8,000–$12,000 a year.

Sweden: Everyone tracks every single expense

Swedes log every krona in simple apps from the day they get their first paycheck. This habit creates millionaires who never earned six figures because they never leaked money without noticing.

Italy: Big lunch, tiny dinner

The main meal is at midday (usually cheaper), and dinner is light. This way, families save hundreds a month on groceries and eat out more often because lunch specials are half the price of dinner.

Singapore: Mandatory 20% retirement contributions

Employees and employers together put 20–37% of salary into retirement accounts that grow tax-free. Americans who voluntarily max similar accounts in the U.S. retire with seven-figure balances while neighbors panic at 65.

France: 30 days paid vacation (and they actually take it)

Workers recharge without burning money on weekend splurges to “survive” the year. The habit keeps lifestyle creep low because people aren’t constantly self-medicating with spending.

Denmark: Buy quality once, own it for decades

Whether it is furniture, clothes, or kitchen tools, Danes invest in things built to last a lifetime instead of replacing every five years. The math works out to tens of thousands saved over a lifetime.

South Korea: Group gifting and shared meals

One person pays this time, and someone else handles next time; the bill is always split evenly. No awkward Venmo chasing, and everyone eats out more often because it costs half as much.

Switzerland: Renting is respected, not pitied

Over 60% of Swiss households rent their entire lives and invest the difference. Many retirees are wealthier than American homeowners who poured everything into one property that barely outpaced inflation.