Part of the reason so many lottery winners and heirs blow their windfalls shortly after getting rich is that they never learned the skills to manage, guard and grow that kind of money. The other reason is that they never had to sweat, sacrifice and risk to grow the fortunes that fell in their laps.

I’m a Millionaire: Why I’m Not Passing Generational Wealth to My Kids
Learn: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases

But self-made millionaires know just how hard it is to build riches worth seven figures — and they’re in no rush to return to where they started. Toiling your way to wealth tends to breed financial discipline, which means passing on things that you might want and can afford. That’s how you turn a small fortune into a large one.

A Millionaire Guards His Wealth After Almost Losing It All

Brian Crane is the founder and CEO of Spread Great Ideas, a multi-million dollar fund that invests capital “and sweat equity” into digital businesses and e-commerce brands. He’s helped launch four multi-million companies, including Archives.com, which Ancestry.com acquired for $100 million three years after its launch.

His hard work paid off and he’s now a self-made millionaire — but you wouldn’t know it by looking at his lifestyle.

“I learned the hard way very early in my entrepreneurship journey that splurging without the correct checks and balances can make one a pauper,” said Crane. “When I sold my first company in my late 20s, I made some foolish investment decisions that brought me close to bankruptcy. I am lucky that I learned fast.”

Here are the things he doesn’t splurge on to ensure he doesn’t repeat his early career mistakes and risk all that he’s worked so hard to build.

I’m a Self-Made Millionaire: Here Are 5 Stocks I’m Never Selling

Designer Luxury Brands

Movie, music and sports stars are infamous for squandering their fortunes on shiny things and status symbols that social media influencers peddle without mentioning that they’re depreciating assets.