'How to Get Rich' star Ramit Sethi shares what separates the wealthy from the rest: They're asking '$30,000 questions' instead of '$3 questions.'

• Ramit Sethi has spoken with hundreds of individuals and couples about money.
• He's found that most people ask "$3 questions," while wealthy people focus on "$30,000 questions."
• Rather than focusing on your coffee budget, ask questions such as, what is my savings rate?

If you want to build lasting wealth, forget about your latte splurges or Target runs.

"Target is not your problem. Coffee is not the problem," Ramit Sethi, personal finance author and the host of Netflix's "How to Get Rich," told Business Insider. "Those are minor financial purchases. They're what I call $3 questions."

Sethi, who has spoken to hundreds of couples and individuals about their personal finances, says that most people are overly concerned with minor, day-to-day purchases: "Did I spend too much on dessert? Did I buy too many toys?"

The wealthy, on the other hand, focus on what he calls "the $30,000 questions."

These are questions such as:

• What's my savings and investment rate? Can I increase that by 1% every year?
• What is my debt payoff date — the exact month and year that I will be debt-free?
• What percentage of my money is going toward guilt-free spending?
• When will I have $500,000? $1 million? When will I be able to retire?
• What is my rich life?

"Those are the big, important questions — and if you get those right, you can buy as many coffees as you want for the rest of your life," said Sethi.

The last question — What is my rich life? — is important because it gives you a vision and a purpose. Think about exactly what you're working hard to save for. Is it early retirement? A rental property? Your child's education?

Be as specific as possible when dreaming up your rich life, said Sethi. Instead of saying, "I want to travel," pick a specific place you want to go, decide when you want to go, and decide what activities you want to do. Bring it to life.

Another difference between wealthy people and everyone else is their ability to zoom out and think long-term.

The average person tends to focus on the month right in front of them — how much they're spending and saving that month.

"And this can be people who make below the median income or people who are making $300,000 a year. They literally focus on that month," said Sethi. "But in order to live a rich life, you have to be able to zoom out and plan six months ahead, one year, even 20 years ahead."