The middle-class money trap: Why looking rich keeps Sri Lankans poor

Every January, we make grand resolutions about our finances.

- by C. A. Saliya

We promise ourselves we'll save more, spend less, and finally get serious about investments. By March, most of these promises were abandoned, alongside our unused gym memberships.

The problem isn't our intentions, it’s our approach. We treat financial management as a personality flaw that needs fixing, rather than a skill that needs the right strategy. This year let's try something different. Let's put actual behavioural science behind how we handle our rupees.

Based on the article 'Seven proven, realistic ways to improve your finances in 2026' published on Inews.co.nz, I aim to adapt these recommended financial strategies to the Sri Lankan context." Here are seven money habits that work because they're grounded in how humans actually behave, not how we wish we would.

While these strategies offer useful direction for strengthening personal financial management, it is important to acknowledge that they may not be suitable for everyone. Many households face severe financial pressure and cannot realistically follow traditional income allocation frameworks, such as the well-known but outdated Singalovada Sutta guidelines, when even meeting daily food expenses has become a struggle. For individuals and families who are burdened by escalating costs of essentials, including electricity, water, mobile connectivity, transport, and other nonnegotiable commitments, strict adherence to prescriptive models is neither practical nor fair to expect. Therefore, readers should remain mindful of their own financial realities and adapt these strategies in ways that align with their income levels, essential obligations, and broader personal circumstances evergrowing list of marketing-driven occasions such as Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and many others. Each of these events carries its own financial weight, often placing additional pressure on already-stretched household budgets.