“We don’t spend money to look rich”: Indian entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo and his wife Ruchi share the five money rules they follow while raising two children

Ankur Warikoo and his wife Ruchi (Image Credit: Instagram/ @ankurwarikoo)

When it comes to managing finances within a family unit, one needs to make informed decisions based on individual values and priorities, not just the latest fads. Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo, along with his wife Ruchi Warikoo, have a set of financial principles based on which they give more priority to financial well-being, good health and positive experiences than materialistic things. In a social media video shared by Ankur, the couple highlighted the five financial rules they follow while raising two children in their mid-40s. While they stressed that these rules are not meant to be followed by everyone, they offered a candid look at the values that shape their financial decisions.

Build wealth, not appearances

The first rule the couple discussed was the importance of spending with a purpose instead of trying to appear wealthy.“We don’t spend money to look rich. We spend so that we become wealthy and earn the freedom of our time,” they said.Explaining how this philosophy influences their lifestyle, the couple shared that they do not own a luxury car but instead use a rented one. They also said they have only one home, do not invest in additional real estate simply for status and avoid spending on expensive brands to impress others.Their message was that real wealth is measured by financial independence rather than visible possessions. Instead of directing money towards maintaining an image, they prefer using it to create long-term security and greater freedom in the future.

Ankur Warikoo and his wife Ruchi share the five money rules they follow while raising two children (Image Credit: Facebook/ @Ankur Warikoo)

Health and experiences come before luxury

The second rule centres on investing generously in health. While they are careful about many expenses, the couple said they never compromise on the quality of the food they eat.“We spend generously on high-quality food because we know that what goes into our body is ultimately the biggest wealth we have. Unfortunately, healthy food isn’t cheap,” they explained.For them, nutritious food is not an unnecessary expense but an investment in long-term well-being. They believe that maintaining good health is one of the most valuable assets anyone can have. The couple’s third rule is closely connected to this mindset. Rather than buying more possessions, they prefer spending on experiences.“We spend more on experiences than things. Things give you happiness for a while, and there is no end to wanting more. Experiences stay with you, make you a better person and help you grow,” they said. To illustrate this point, they spoke about how much they travelled during the previous year. When discussing the number of days spent travelling, Ankur shared, “I counted exactly 116 days.”According to the couple, experiences such as travel create lasting memories, strengthen relationships and contribute to personal growth in ways that material possessions often cannot.

Ankur and his wife with their children

Invest first and never stop learning

One of the most practical rules they follow is investing before spending.“As soon as our income comes in, the biggest amount goes into investments. Whatever remains is what we use for our expenses,” they said.The couple even shared a glimpse of their finances to explain the concept. Since they recorded the video near the end of the month, Ruchi revealed that she had only around ₹9,000 left in her bank account because most of their money had already been invested. Ankur added with a smile, “I have only ₹600 left.”Their point was not that everyone should maintain such a low bank balance, but that making investments the first priority helps them stay disciplined and avoid unnecessary spending. The final rule focuses on continuous learning. The couple believes there should never be a fixed budget for books, courses or learning new skills.“There should be no budget for books and learning. No amount spent on learning is too much,” they said.Sharing their own examples, Ruchi revealed that she is currently learning pottery, watercolour painting and tennis, while Ankur said he also keeps learning new things. They added that their children participate in several classes as well, making learning an important part of family life.The couple concluded the video with an important reminder that these principles are unique to them. “These are our rules. It’s not necessary that they apply to you, but it’s very important to have rules in life,” they said.Rather than prescribing a universal formula for financial success, Ankur and Ruchi Warikoo encouraged people to define their own money principles based on their goals and values. Their five rules reflect a simple philosophy: focus on building wealth instead of appearances, invest in health and experiences, make investing a habit and never stop learning.