What is the future for Gen Z within China? If you don't want to be stuck with a fixed salary your whole life, try this minimalist approach to advancement ↓ You can refer to it. For ordinary people, breaking free from family ties isn't about working overtime relentlessly, but about managing spending, saving capital, and choosing the right learning direction. Consumption: Cut emotional spending, buy only functional items. Prioritize standardized chain restaurants like McDonald's and KFC for meals. Prices are transparent, the quality is consistent, and you don't need to agonize over what to eat, saving decision-making costs. Cooking yourself is of course ideal. Choose an iPhone; it's durable, and you should use it until it's completely unusable before replacing it, avoiding annual upgrades. For bulk purchases, go to Sam's Club or Costco to reduce unit costs; for clothing, stick to Decathlon, Uniqlo, and Muji—basic items are sufficient, don't chase after trendy items at inflated prices. Don't force yourself to have a fitness plan. Most ordinary people lack the intrinsic motivation to stick to it. Consider fitness later when you're no longer working and your financial pressure is significantly reduced. For now, prioritize convenient and healthy foods. Wealth Management: Saving Your First Pot of Gold is the Starting Point Core Logic: Cut all unnecessary expenses and actively distance yourself from social interactions that continuously drain your finances. Many gatherings with relatives and friends are essentially a drain on your energy and money, offering no benefit to asset accumulation. Prioritize working in large cities, where opportunity density is higher. Two Asset Allocation Strategies, Choose One: • Stable Strategy: Long-term, consistently invest in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100; • Aggressive Strategy: Patiently wait for the market cycle bottom and concentrate your funds on a large allocation to the Nasdaq index. Key Point: You must wait for the cycle bottom; do not enter the market arbitrarily. The domestic market is merely a game of chips; if you lack quantitative stock selection and market timing abilities, it is advisable to stay away. Learning: Use your spare time only to learn things that can be monetized. After get off work, dedicate your time to knowledge related to making money: psychology, economics. Recommended Reading List: *The Road to Wealth Freedom*, *Navarre's Almanack*, and related works by Buffett, Munger, and Peter Lynch. Persist in reading extensively; you'll find that many good books share a common underlying logic. Your first pot of gold is crucial. Without accumulating initial capital, it's difficult to dedicate yourself to mastering long-term, high-barrier skills like English or deep learning. Only after accumulating capital will you have the motivation to cultivate long-term skills.