Chris Voss, Codie Sanchez, and a host of real estate rockstars joined us on the podcast in February. Listen in and learn what today’s top entrepreneurs are doing to succeed in—and out of—the real estate space. Guests also shared their strategies for goal setting, real estate investing, building new businesses, and more.
Listen to today’s show and learn:
Jason’s advice for new agents who want to sell commercial real estate [7:17]
Focus on market share, not dollars [8:56]
Shifting business strategy for the shifting market [11:05]
Wally’s advice on setting goals [17:33]
Tips on staying top of mind [21:21]
Building a real estate business that can withstand all market conditions [23:57]
How to avoid friction when negotiating deals [25:31]
Advice on becoming an expert negotiator [31:14]
Why motivation really matters [33:10]
Why cutting costs is only part of the financial-freedom equation [34:29]
Advice for people on leaving a W-2 job for a career in real estate [37:46]
Unlock your potential by surrounding yourself with the right peers [40:21]
Showing business owners the value in a no-money-down offer [42:38]
How to apply systems, processes, and technology to businesses formerly owned by Boomers [43:25]
The first business deal you should look for [46:43]
Thank You Rockstars!
It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.
Sara’s been reading personal finance blogs for a while now, and she’s ready to set up a budget. She’s come to us for help. She writes:
I would like to start listing my spending totals into a spreadsheet budget along with setting goals for ‘bigger things’ (trips, winter tires etc). Do you have a budget template that works for you, or could you please recommend a few tips on getting started?
A budget can be an excellent tool not only for planning your spending, but also for planning your saving. Over the past 2½ years, I’ve shared a variety of budgets and budgeting tools — here are some of my favorite.
3 Budget Frameworks
A budget doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, readers have recommended three very simple budgets to me in the past. Most people will need more detail than these provide, but each provides a framework on which to build something more personal. (Notice that each of these allocates 20% to savings. If you can pick that habit up early, you’ll be way ahead of the game.)
In The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need, Andrew Tobias offers the following simple yet effective budget:
Destroy all your credit cards.
Invest 20% of all that you earn. Never touch it.
Live on the remaining 80%, no matter what.
Although Tobias is being glib, this is actually an excellent system. If you can develop the discipline to follow just these three steps, you can become rich.
In All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan, the authors argue that in order to succeed financially, you must keep three broad areas of your finances “in balance”. They say to divide your net income (after-tax income) as follows:
Allocate 50% to Needs (which the authors call Must-Haves). Needs include housing, transportation, groceries, insurance, and clothes you really need.
Spend 30% on Wants. Wants include cable television, clothing beyond the basics, restaurant meals, concert tickets, comic books, knitting supplies, etc.
Set aside 20% for Savings, including debt repayment.
This budget is designed so that you can save a lot and have fun. To achieve this, the authors encourage you to reduce your Needs. In fact, reducing Needs is the cornerstone of their advice.
At MSN Money, Richard Jenkins offers his 60% solution. He suggests your budget should divide monthly gross (pre-tax) income like this:
60% to Committed Expenses such as taxes, clothing, basic living expenses, insurance, charity (including tithe), and regular bills (including things like cable).
10% to Retirement.
10% to Irregular Expenses such as vacations, major repair bills, new appliances, etc.
10% to Long-Term Savings/Debt — money set aside for car purchases, home renovations, or to pay down substantial debt loads.
10% for Fun Money to be used for dining out, hobbies, indulgences, etc.
Jenkins believes that the best way to relieve money pressure is to reduce Committed Expenses: cut the cable TV, spend less on clothing, reduce your housing expense, etc.
4 Budget Spreadsheets
Once you’ve picked a framework on which to build, there are a host of budget spreadsheets to choose from. My top recommendation is the PearBudget spreadsheet, a detailed, polished work of Excel art. If this doesn’t meet your needs, move on to another option.
One of those options is the free and simple budget planner that Jeff M. shared with Get Rich Slowly readers last February. It’s available in two formats:
Microsoft Excel (70kb) — right-click and choose “Save as…” to download. This file should also work with Open Office.
Google Docs — select “File -> Copy spreadsheet…” to save to your account.
Jeff’s spreadsheet is designed solely to keep you on a budget you’ve already set, not to help you create a budget. Budgets vary from person-to-person. Create one that works for you, and use this planner to track your progress. If you need help developing a budget, try this Google Docs budget estimator from GRS-reader Justin M.
Finally, GRS forum administrator Stephen Popick shared his homegrown budget workbook last year. This highly customizable spreadsheet has tabs for your budget and your spouse’s budget.
(If you’re looking for other financial tools, It’s Your Money offers an additional 33 personal-finance spreadsheets for a variety of uses, from budgeting to fuel tracking to CD laddering.)
3 Web-Based Budget Tools
Naturally, there are web-based tools for budgeting, too. Here are three excellent choices:
The afore-mentioned PearBudget comes in a web version that receives rave reviews.
NeoBudget is an online budget manager that uses the envelope method to help you track your spending habits and stick to a budget.
Finally, You Need a Budget offers a robust feature set, and is probably most appropriate for advanced budgeters.
I’ve never used any of these products. If you have tried one (or more), leave feedback to let us know your impressions.
A Few Words of Advice
Last March, Joshua explained why he believes budgeting is the most important thing you can do with your money, and offered hints on how to get started. More recently, Trent at The Simple Dollar shared his 10 tips for a successful budget:
Know why you are budgeting. Don’t do it just because you think you should — do it to help yourself spend less than you earn.
Have a specific, concrete long-term goal in mind. Remember: the road to wealth is paved with goals.
Know how much you actually make.
Have accurate data for both your monthly spending and your irregular spending. You can get this data by learning to track your spending.
Choose checking and savings accounts that include useful budgeting tools by default. ING Direct, for example, makes it easy to open multiple accounts.
Use a simple budgeting tool that you’re able to understand. “Start with pencil and paper if you have to,” Trent says. (Any of the tools I listed above would be a good choice.)
Be realistic. Don’t start by promising yourself to be a super saver. Take small steps, and work up from there.
Get support from at least one other person.
Set some short-term goals that will be easy to achieve if you stay on budget. These will give you a psychological boost so that you’re more likely to stick to the program.
Don’t be afraid to adjust your budget (even radically). Be flexible. Your goal is to find a system that works for you.
Trent’s advice is great. I’d add that, if possible, you should base your budget on yearly expenses. The Journal of Consumer Research found that people are more accurate when constructing an annual budget than a monthly budget.
Reader Hints and Tips
All of these tools are excellent resources to help Sara start budgeting. I think her best bet, however, is to pick the brains of Get Rich Slowly readers. You are real people with real lives who have implemented real budgets. You’re not some personal finance writer pushing a theoretical model to sell books.
If you keep a budget (or have in the past), what’s the best way to get started? What works? What doesn’t? What should Sara do to ensure ongoing budgeting success?
I shared a list of my favorite books about money once before, but that was over two years ago. I’ve read dozens of books since then (and thumbed through dozens more). Here is a revised list of 25 great books about money.
These are all books that I found entertaining or influential. There are still many “big name” books that I haven’t read, such as “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” and “The Intelligent Investor,” and I’ve left off some perennial favorites such as “The Richest Man in Babylon” and “The Wealthy Barber.”
These books are grouped into sections, roughly following the financial progression of the average person (from debt to financial independence). I’ve linked to the Amazon page for each book, but, as always, I encourage you to borrow the titles that interest you from your public library. If you prefer to read on a device, get to know Overdrive, which allows you to borrow e-books for free.
Debt Reduction
For those in the first stage of personal finance, debt reduction is the most important task. I know from experience that this can seem like a long, lonely battle. But others have fought it before, and have lived to document the process. Here are three books that describe different approaches to winning the fight:
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey — Ramsey is an anti-credit zealot. He made a $4 million fortune by his mid-twenties, and then lost it to bankruptcy. Now he runs a personal-finance empire. He takes a lot of criticism for his support of the debt snowball, which he describes in detail here, but the thing is, his methods work. If you’re struggling with debt, there’s no better starting place than this book. Ramsey’s advice is permeated with his Christianity, but you can get a lot out of this book even if you’re not religious. [My review.]
Debt is Slavery by Michael Mihalik — Debt is Slavery is a deceptively simple book. It’s short. Its advice seems basic. And it’s self-published, so how good can it be? Well, I think it’s great. In fact, I found myself wishing that I had written it. Mihalik’s advice is spot-on, and he covers a lot of topics that other authors shy away from, such as the effects of advertising, the weight of possessions, and the soul-sucking misery that comes from a bad job. This book may be short, but it’s sweet. Especially great for recent graduates, I think.
How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously by Jerrold Mundis — How to Get Out of Debt is built on the principles of Debtors Anonymous, a twelve-step program founded in 1971 to help those who struggle with compulsive debt. Mundis was himself a debtor, and he based this book on his own experience. This isn’t purely theoretical information from the mind of some Wall Street finance whiz who has never struggled; this book contains real tips and real stories from real people. If you’ve tried Dave Ramsey without success, read this. It’s 20 years old, but the information is timeless. [My review.]
Everyday Personal Finance
After you’ve defeated debt, you enter the second stage of personal finance, mastering the everyday habits that allow you to build wealth. The books listed here offer a wide view, discussing many aspects of money. They offer advice about saving, investing, and frugality. They don’t go into much detail about any one subject, but they provide motivation to get started. And that’s what’s most important.
Your Money or Your Life by Dominguez, Robin, and Tilford — A classic, and one of the foundation books for the simplicity movement. The authors play off the concept “time is money” in a very literal sense. They encourage readers to sort out priorities, to cut expenses, and then to seek passive income in pursuit of financial independence. A little New Age-y in spots. An excellent book, and a huge influence on many prominent personal-finance bloggers. I hope to review the new, revised edition of YMoYL soon.
All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi — I didn’t like All Your Worth when I first read it. The book takes a dim view of frugality and thrift, and it contains some wild assumptions (like 12% stock market returns). But with time, I’ve come to appreciate the strength of All Your Worth, not just for those struggling to shake off debt, but also for those of us who are beginning to build wealth. This book’s balanced money formula is probably the single most important part of my current financial plan. There’s good stuff here, though you may need to filter some of the authors’ rhetoric. [My review.]
I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi — This book is great, but it’s not for everyone. It’s targeted almost exclusively at young adults. If you’re under 30 and single, and if you make a decent living, this book is perfect. But if you’re 45 and married with two children, and if you struggle to make ends meet, this book is less useful. Plus, Ramit has a strong authorial voice. He’s bold, sarcastic, and even a little sassy. Not everyone likes this. If you’re turned off by his blog (or by his guest posts at Get Rich Slowly), you’ll be turned off by his tone in this book. These caveats aside, I Will Teach You to Be Rich is packed with solid advice, cites its sources, and provides scores of tactical tips for managing money. [My review.]
The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn — “The Tightwad Gazette” was a newsletter published during the early 1990s by Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced “decision”). Eventually the back issues were collected into a series of books, which were in turn collected as The Complete Tightwad Gazette. Dacyczyn wrote articles like: “Used Shoes: Are they Good or Bad?”, “Budget Bug-Busting”, “Tightwad Toys”, and “Saving Money on Your Mortgage”. Sounds just like a personal finance blog, doesn’t it? This book has thousands of tips, many of which were contributed by readers of the newsletter. (You won’t find any info on investing here. This book is about frugality!)
Investing
Learning to invest your money wisely is one important aspect of the middle stages of financial development. Wall Street is not friendly to the small investor. It’s designed to part you from your hard-earned dollars. These books can help you develop an investment philosophy that will let you improve your odds of retiring wealthy.
The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein — I’ve read dozens of books about investing. Of these, The Four Pillars of Investing is probably my favorite. Most investing manuals espouse one sure-fire method or another. Four Pillars does that to an extent, but the author provides a great deal of depth and color to support his argument. I love that Bernstein takes a comprehensive, holistic approach to the subject, not just looking at the theory and business of investing, but also looking at the history and psychology of investing. This is a great book. [My review.]
The Random Walk Guide to Investing by Burton Malkiel — Malkiel is best known for his classic A Random Walk Down Wall Street. This book is shorter, written in plain English (there’s no investing jargon), and easy to understand. But that doesn’t mean it’s simplistic. This is an excellent book, filled with advice based on sound financial principles. It covers risk tolerance, asset allocation, diversification, and even a little behavioral finance. An excellent guide for beginners. [My review.]
The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias — Andrew Tobias is an entertaining writer. His jocular, conversational tone will keep you interested as he describes mutual funds, bonds, and treasury bills. There’s a good section on how to handle a windfall (lottery, inheritance). My favorite bit from Tobias is his three-step budget: destroy your credit cards, invest 20% of everything you earn (and never touch it), and live on the remaining 80% no matter what. Awesome. This is a classic introduction to the subject of investing, though at times it seems a little dated. (You can read Andrew Tobias every day at his blog.
The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing by Larimore, Lindauer, and LeBoeuf — You want expert investment advice? You can’t beat the info found here. These devotees of Vanugard founder John Bogle are big on slow, sure investments like indexed mutual funds. They tap their decades of experience to teach about diversification, inflation, and asset allocation. It’s not nearly as boring as it sounds. This book covers a broad range of topics, though its primary focus is investing. Highly recommended.
The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach — There’s more to David Bach than just “the latté factor”. The system he recommends here is excellent — an automated approach to managing your personal finances. If you’ve been meaning to open a Roth IRA, but have never actually done so, then read this book! He’ll explain how to set it up so that it’s painless. The only caveat I’d note is that this book is several years old now, and because it contains specific recommendations for financial companies, it may be be in need of an update.
Financial Independence
This next group of books may be my favorite. These volumes cover topics related to Financial Independence — that magical point where you no longer have to work. This is the final stage of money management. For many people, this means retirement. But it doesn’t have to be that way. These books offer solid advice for how to create a future that matches your dreams.
The Millionaire Next Door by Stanley and Danko — The authors interviewed and surveyed a pool of millionaires, attempting to find common connections among them. They discovered that millionaires live below their means. They budget. They let their adult children make it on their own. This book introduces several key concepts, including degrees of wealth accumulation. It’s a bit tedious in spots, at least in the audio version. This is one of just a few books to cover both sides of the wealth equation: saving money and earning money. [My review.]
Yes, You Can…Achieve Financial Independence by James Stowers — Yes, You Can…Achieve Financial Independence is informative without being dense. It’s accessible without being condescending. Its advice is solid. The book is filled with investment advice, but it gives equal time to thrift and savings. Best of all, it asks as many questions as it provides answers. It prompts the reader to think, to evaluate her priorities. Its message is that yes, you can achieve Financial Independence, but you can’t get there overnight, and you can’t get there without setting goals and making sacrifices. [My review.]
The Incredible Secret Money Machine by Don Lancaster — This hard-to-find volume from 1978 looks like a get-rich-quick book. It’s not. It’s all about starting and running small businesses, especially craft businesses. To Lancaster, a “money machine” is any venture that generates “nickels”. Nickels are small streams of revenue from individual customers. If your goal is simply to earn a comfortable income for yourself by doing something you love, then this book can help you explore the idea of business ownership. One of my Dad’s favorites, and one of my favorites, too. [My review.]
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss — The 4-Hour Workweek is a frustrating book. A lot of the advice seems impractical and out-of-reach for the average person. But on the other hand, it’s filled with inspirational anecdotes and provocative ideas about how you can make the leap from desk jockey to the pursuit of your dreams. In my review, I wrote that this book “is like a kick in the head”, and it’s true. The flow of ideas is relentless. Despite its flaws, I think this is a great book. [My review.]
Work Less, Live More: The Way to Semi-Retirement by Bob Clyatt — While Financial Independence is my long-term dream, semi-retirement is my more immediate goal. Clyatt describes techniques for leaving the workaday world years (or decades) before the traditional retirement age of 65. Work Less, Live More includes sections on defining your goals, learning to live on less, putting your investments on autopilot, and more. This book is like a toned-down, practical version of The 4-Hour Workweek. I like it. A lot.
The Psychology of Money
I firmly believe that success with money is more about mind than it is about math. We all understand the arithmetic behind personal finance — to build wealth, you must spend less than you earn — it’s mastering the emotions and habits that causes us trouble. These books explore your money and your brain.
Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes (and How to Correct Them) by Gary Belsky and Thomas Gilovich — In this short book, Belsky and Gilovich catalog a menagerie of mental mistakes that cause people to spend more than they should. What might have been a boring topic becomes fascinating thanks to an engaging style and plenty of anecdotes and examples. This book covers more than a dozen psychological barriers to wealth and explains how to prevent them from sabotaging you. [My review.]
The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz — I just finished this book the other night, and hope to provide a full review in the next week. It’s fascinating. Schwartz argues that the vast array of choices available to us in the marketplace actually make us less happy. We’d be better off with two options for a wide-screen plasma television instead of twenty. Too much choice doesn’t just make us unhappy — it prevents us from making smart decisions. Fascinating stuff.
Kids and Money
Many parents are unprepared to teach their children about money. You needn’t be one of them. These books suggest methods for getting kids to understand how money works.
Living Simply with Children by Marie Sherlock — Sherlock offers tips for how to raise children that aren’t part of the consumerist culture. She encourages strong family ties as a counter to the relentless purchase to acquire “stuff”. Sherlock is also a proponent of using family rituals to replace consumer-oriented cultural activities. There’s some great advice here (the book is strongly influenced by Your Money or Your Life), but some readers may be put off by the author’s philosophy.
Growing Money: A Complete Investing Guide for Kids by Gail Karlitz — Growing Money has good chapters on banks and bonds, but most of the book is devoted to stocks. The book also contains chapters on the history of the stock market, how investors make money, and how to buy and sell stocks. This is probably my favorite book for children, but it does have some weak spots. Only one page out of 120 is devoted to mutual funds. Because the book is aimed at children, taxes are barely considered. Still, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses. It’s the sort of book to buy for your nephew, but read yourself before you pass it on. [My review.]
What Color is Your Piggy Bank? by Adelia Cellini Linecker — This slim volume is a great choice for kids from 10-14 who are beginning to show an interest in entrepreneurship. Linecker covers the world of jobs, setting up shop, and how to manage money.
Financial Journalism
This final trio of books won’t help you get rich — at least not directly. These don’t contain overt stock tips or advice for frugal living. Instead, they tell real-life stories about certain aspects of finance.
Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart — It’s not just Bernie Madoff. Wall Street has fallen prey to all sorts of unscrupulous men over the course of its history. In Den of Thieves, Stewart takes us inside the high-finance worlds of Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, Martin Siegel, and Dennis Levine. These men were embroiled in the insider trading scandals that shook the market during the 1980s, and through their stories were able to see just how corrupting the influence of money can be. A little dense at times, but a great way to learn about the market.
Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein — It’s no secret that Warren Buffett is one of my financial heroes. In this biography of Buffett, Roger Lowenstein describes the events that shaped his life, starting as a boy in the early 1930s. As we follow Buffett’s growth, we learn about the development of investment theory. There’s plenty of information here about Buffett’s investment philosophy. Entertaining and educational.
Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel — Writer Studs Terkel published Hard Times in 1970. It features excerpts from over 100 interviews he conducted with those who lived through the 1930s. Terkel spoke with all sorts of people: old and young, rich and poor, famous and not-so-famous, liberal and conservative. By including the perspectives of so many different people, Terkel is able to paint a richer picture of what things were like. [My review.]
Bonus! The Worst Book About Money
Over the past few years, I’ve read many bad books about money. But none can compare to to the idiocy contained in The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. This book promotes all of the wrong messages, and encourages readers to believe that if they simply wish for something, it will come true.
The Secret contains tips like:
“It is helpful to use your imagination and make-believe you already have the money you want. Play games of having wealth and you will feel better about money; as you feel better about it, more will flow into your life.”
“The only reason any person does not have enough money is because they are blocking money from coming to them with their thoughts.”
“Visualize checks in the mail.”
“This kind of crap is dangerous,” I wrote in my original review. “It’s get-rich-quick drivel of the worst sort. It doesn’t help people address their money issues. It puts them into a pattern of wishful thinking.”
This book is awful.
Final Thoughts
Few personal finance books are perfect. For most, you need to employ personal filters. Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover is a fantastic book on debt reduction, but if you’re not Christian, you’ll have to tune out the Bible verses. All Your Worth contains a great plan for achieving financial balance, but you may need to ignore its constant disparaging of frugality and thrift.
Because I’ve limited myself to 25 books, I’ve had to leave a lot of great titles off the list. Please feel to share your favorite books about money and explain why others should read them.
Looking for tips on real estate investing, updates on interest rates, or advice on goal setting? If so, you won’t want to miss this podcast with Wally Elibiari, a lender and investor with over two decades of real estate experience. On today’s podcast, Wally shares his personal goal-setting plan (one that helped him purchase over 200 doors) and what his most successful strategy has been in shifting markets.
Listen to today’s show and learn:
A quarter of a century in lending [3:16]
Shifting business strategy for the shifting market [4:22]
Tips for getting more referrals [9:22]
Wally’s advice on financing homes right now [16:54]
Managing your real estate debt [20:48]
Wally’s real estate investing journey [21:44]
Cost segregation for real estate investors [26:00]
The problem with some apartment complexes [26:50]
Aaron’s first apartment complex [34:11]
Wally’s advice on setting goals [35:46]
Managing family and business [40:46]
Advice on planning your vacations and taking time for yourself [43:42]
How to reach out to Wally Elibiary [45:07]
Wally Elibiary
Wally Elibiary is a leader in the mortgage industry, recently creating his own mortgage company Empower Lending, a presence in the coaching industry, and a huge proponent of creating scalable business with a work-life balance. After being in this industry for 23+ years, he has been through nearly everything. He has worked with some of the greatest loan officers to learn from and teach the most successful methods in his time.
• Wally helps finance professionals scale their businesses. • And focuses on gaining your most precious resource back, your time.
Coaching sessions are a passion for Wally, and without them early on in his career he would not have achieved the success he has today. Passing forward the valuable lessons, and keeping his ears open for opportunity to learn is all he hopes to accomplish in future meetings.
Related Links and Resources:
Thank You Rockstars!
It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.
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The ripple effect of a financial mindset can be seen in every aspect of your life.
Think about it: If you are not mindful of how you spend and save money, then you will be in a constant struggle each and every month.
If you are simply someone who is struggling to make ends meet, there are many things we can do to save money. If you are trying desperately to reach financial freedom sooner, then you need these best money hacks to make it happen sooner.
Around here at Money Bliss, we spend a lot of time on our money mindset and setting goals.
Everyone is in a different season with their finances.
But, one thing is true… Most of us never learned proper money management.
Do you find yourself in a constant cycle of financial struggle? Do you feel like you are constantly trying to live up to unrealistic standards?
It is easy for people to feel that they are constantly broke, and in some cases this is true. But, it is also important to remember that there are ways in which you can make more money and start saving for your future.
Since changing money habits does not always come easy and often requires some serious changes in our mindset, we are here to support you to find the top money hacks.
Read on as we share 50+ ways you can start saving more money as well as making more money while also saving your sanity!
What are Money Hacks?
Money hacks are the ways in which people stretch their money.
These money hacks can come from a variety of sources, such as personal experience, family members or friends, and other individuals on social media.
Money hacks can come in many forms such as:
Simple money saving hacks
Ways to make money on the side
Strategies to make every dollar count
Thrifty ideas to be more frugal
Ideas to be more conscious of our waste
All in all, money hacks will help you to spend less money. Thus, saving more money.
As you will learn at Money Bliss, saving money opens up doors of opportunities
Best Money Hacks
Money hacks are ways to build long-term wealth.
Even though most of the hacks for money include quick saving wins, over the long term, you will actually start a snowball effect of more money in your bank account.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the motivation to save money, but these 7 best real money hacks will help you reset your financial mindset and start saving!
The best money hacks are the overarching big picture concepts that you must master for long-term success.
1. Think Big
Open up your mind.
One way to reset your financial mindset is by opening yourself up to new ways of thinking about spending and saving.
Too often, we are focused on what is directly in front of us instead of thinking about the big picture.
A great way to think big with your finances is to decide how you want to live life with intention.
2. Habit of Saving Money
Get back in the habit of saving.
If you have been beyond your means or barely scraping by, the best way to get back on track is by saving at least 20% of your income.
This may seem a little ludicrous. However, by prioritizing saving first, you will be pleasantly surprised how well you live off the rest.
In this post, there will be so many simple and easy ways to start saving today.
3. Make a Plan for Your Money
Create a spending plan (aka that dreaded word budget).
Creating an outline for what you want and need will help you to make smarter decisions about your spending.
This concept has been made too difficult over the years.
The bottom line is you want to spend less than you make. So, make a plan for that to happen today.
4. Make Money on the Side
This one is huge!
Personally, making extra money has been a priority for the last 5 years. We spent many years trying to cut our expenses and hating our inability to actually spend less as a growing family. So, we changed our focus to finding ways to make more money instead.
Start a side hustle. If you are not making enough to live comfortably, start a side hustle! Use your unique skill set to make extra cash.
Pick up a second job or ask for more hours.
There are plenty of ways to make money fast.
5. Invest in Stock Market
This means a way to make money or increase your net worth. AKA make your money work for you.
Too many times, the concept of investing is big and scary. The thought of starting is way too overwhelming. So you put it off until next week or next month. Then, a couple of years go by and you have not invested your money.
That is the biggest financial mistake you can make.
Start small by investing in an index fund. Each month consistently add more money.
If you want to learn to trade stocks, then you must enroll in the best investing course I have found.
Read my in-depth investing course review.
6. Pay Off Debt
Ugh… debt is the cash flow killer.
You are unable to make forward progress if you are straddled by debt.
Figure out how to pay off debt ASAP.
When calculating how long it will take to pay off high-interest debt, you should consider paying the highest interest rate first. Here is the best debt payoff app available.
7. Watch Your Spending
Be mindful of your spending.
This is a great practice that many people need to start doing again, regardless of how much money or how little money they have.
Every few months, you need to evaluate your spending to see if it matches up with your values.
As you can imagine there are many money hacks that can help you save, but the list above is the money hacks that will make the biggest difference the quickest. Below we have many more money hacks for you to explore.
Hacks for Saving Money
Money app hacks are small, quick, and easy ways to improve your finances.
They can range from things like automating your budget or creating a money jar that pays for itself, to more complex solutions like changing your tax withholding or moving money around to get a higher return.
Honestly, there are so many life hacks for saving money.
8. Automatic Savings
This is a practice of automatically transferring money from your checking account into your savings account on a regular basis.
It is best to set a transfer amount and stick to it.
Since it is easier to save your money before you spend it, you must save as much money as possible in order for this strategy to be effective.
9. Financial goals
A financial goal is a long-term, quantifiable expectation for how much money you want to have, or what you plan on doing with your money. Your goals can be as simple as saving for the down payment on a house or as involved as saving for retirement.
Our financial goals allow us to set specific, numerical targets that help us achieve our desired lifestyle in a more concrete way.
You must set smart financial goals.
10. What brings you joy?
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that life is all about finding what brings you joy.
The question is open-ended, but your money must line up with what brings you joy.
Spend a few minutes and stew on the question.
11. Build an emergency savings fund
Building an emergency savings fund is a great idea if you are in the habit of saving money and want to make sure that you have some money saved up when times get rough.
If you are struggling to save, there are a few ways you can increase your savings.
For example, you might be able to set up automatic transfers from your checking account into an investment account. You should also make sure that you have a way to save money outside of your checking account.
Saving cash in a jar or saving up coins are ideas for some people.
12. Invest spare change
If you go shopping and buy something, most stores will give you change. If you use a debit or credit card, you can do the same thing with help of a popular app!
Simple money hack: investing your spare change.
In order to invest your spare change in an account, you can open one for as little as $5. Acorns then automatically invest the money from your checking account and into a savings acorn account.
As the round-up feature continues to add upon each purchase, it is a good idea to invest in this app so that you can save more dollars!
13. Challenge Yourself to Save
If you are looking to save money, it is best to set up a budget that includes challenging yourself.
A great way to do this is with the no spend challenge.
A no-buy is when you decide to simply not make any purchases for a certain amount of time.
A no-spend is when someone decides to not spend any money in a certain period of time.
When you are struggling with spending too much money and want to reset your wallet, then give up spending money. Period.
14. Join a buy nothing group
The buy nothing groups are a growing movement that started in order to help people cut their ecological footprint, save money, and break free of consumerism.
This is a great way to find things you need as well as declutter your house.
15. Negotiate everything
The key to successful negotiation is preparation.
Research the company’s past sales, price changes, and discounts offered in order to get a better understanding of what you’re negotiating for.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
What is the worst thing that can happen when someone says no!?!
16. Refinance Your Mortgage
It is never too late to refinance your mortgage.
In fact, it might be a good idea if you’re in the market for a new home or refinancing your loan on an existing property.
You must weigh the costs of refinancing to how much you will save over the time period of the loan.
Ask around for mortgage broker recommendations and get at least two quotes.
17. Downsize your Home
Downsize your home is the term for reducing a residence in size. This can be done by either moving to an apartment or buying a smaller house. There are many benefits of downsizing, including living a more affordable lifestyle and having less upkeep.
Downsizers use their homes as investments and save money on rent or mortgage payments.
18. Cut the cord
With the internet becoming accessible to everyone, people have started cutting their cable and watching shows online. People can save up to $500 a year by cutting cable from their bills.
Cut the cable & stop watching TV!
19. Learn about Finances
Ask for help.
If you are struggling, there is no shame in asking for assistance from your friends or family members.
The goal is to get ahead with money and not keep digging further into a hole.
Check out any of our courses to help you.
20. Save for What You Want
Decide what you want most and work towards it with the money you have now, instead of waiting for a windfall or a large inheritance.
This may mean setting aside $200 a month.
For example, as a reminder of your long-term goal of buying a beach property, you may buy something you would hang in the new place. Every time you see it, you will be reminded of what you are saving towards.
Budget Hacks
Financial hacks are not unusual.
Since it is so easy to overspend, you must know a few budgeting hacks ahead of time.
21. Need vs Want
A want is a desire for something, while a need is something that fulfills the requirement of your body like food or shelter.
When you think about buying something, ask yourself if it is a want or a need.
By uncovering needs vs wants, you are quickly able to find ways to spend less and save more.
22. Avoid Temptation
To avoid temptation, it is important to maintain a healthy amount of physical and emotional distance from the things that tempt you.
Sometimes, spending triggers are easy to avoid but other times they’re not.
However, people should always be aware of their temptations and try to stay away from them because it will lead to unnecessary debt or stress in the long run.
23. Practice the 30-day rule
Many people wonder what’s the 30 day rule with money…
The 30-day rule is the principle that states that you should practice a new habit or stop an old habit for at least thirty days before expecting success.
When it comes to your money, it means to wait thirty days before making big purchases or changes.
24. Keep a Budget Binder
A budget binder is an important tool that helps people keep track of their finances.
The binder can help people plan out their finances by providing a place to record expenses and income.
Keeping a budget binder is an effective way to track your spending and keep yourself accountable.
By keeping it, you can easily plan for future expenses in advance as well as see what money could be saved or spent on different items over time.
25. Get a spend tracker and use it regularly
Track your spending for 30 days. It can be a good idea to track your spending for at least a month to get an idea of what you’re spending and where.
A spending tracker is a tool that helps people keep track of how much they are spending on a certain item. It is important to use this tool regularly in order to be able to see patterns in your spending.
Then, review your spending. Share it with a trusted friend or family member to come up with some goals to reduce expenses in order to save money.
26. Create a budget
Create a budget, and follow it.
When you schedule your spending, make sure to leave room for savings. This is the easiest way to ensure that you can stick to your budget.
Find more budgeting resources on our site.
27. Pay Bills on Time
This should be a simple statement that we all know. However, life can throw curveballs.
Try to pay your bills on time and in full every month, and make sure all of your bills are paid each month.
This will show lenders that you are responsible and that you are taking care of your credit. Plus you don’t rack up those pesky late fees and high interest rates.
28. Avoid Missed Payments
Don’t miss any payments, and pay off your balances each month to avoid paying high interest rates or fees on late or missed payments.
Read again… do not miss paying your bills.
29. Reconcile Your Checking Account
Balance your checkbook monthly. Okay, no one really uses a checkbook anymore, but you can still do this with pen and paper.
Even better, use Quicken as a simple way to balance your checking account. Read my Quicken review.
This is a great way to check for being charged too much or find a subscription you don’t use anymore.
30. Avoid Summer Budget Busters
Avoid spending money for the summer by just being conscious of your spending and reviewing what is different than the norm.
It is too easy to get into the trap of spending money because the weather is warm.
31. Review your Credit Card Statements
If you’re like most people, you probably review your credit card statements once every six months.
What’s the best way to go about reviewing them?
It depends on how often you use your credit card, how much debt you have, and what your credit score is. You should review your statements at least once a year if you’re carrying a balance on your credit cards.
If you use your credit card, then you should review your statements at least monthly.
32. Use the Cents Plan Formula
While the 50/30/20 budgeting rule is popular, our method of budgeting your money will be more helpful.
Learn how to divide your income into various categories.
Check out the Cents Plan Formula.
33. Use Cash
Use cash instead of credit cards to spend, which will make it easier to limit yourself to how much you can spend.
The envelope system helps you save money by only spending from one designated cash stash each month and withdrawing a set amount for different types of expenses (like groceries).
34. Spending Freeze
Implement a spending freeze, which helps you get used to not buying things for an allotted time so that when the freeze is over, it’s easier to buy what you want.
You will be surprised how much random online shopping you do.
Begin your spending freeze now.
35. Use a Budgeting App
Use your bank’s budgeting tools, like Quicken, which can help you track how much money is coming in and out of your account.
This is the simplest way to manage your money wisely.
Using a money app or a personal finance website can help you to stay organized and get more creative about your budgeting.
Check out this list of the best budgeting apps available.
Hacks to Make Money
Hacks to make money are a list of ways to generate income for yourself. Many ways to make money include blogging, affiliate marketing, or day trading. These money making hacks are great, but they can take more time and energy invested.
36. Use cash back apps
Cash back reward apps like Ibotta are a way to get extra money for your purchases.
They take some time getting used to and you only have access to partner stores that offer cash-back offers. It only takes a few seconds to make some extra cash.
Check out the best cash back apps available.
37. Ask for a Raise
A raise is an increase in pay for a job, labor, or service.
If you are concerned about asking for a raise, then you are missing out on lost money.
Your boss may be receptive to it, then try negotiating more money. Not only will this be good for your career, but also the relationship between you two can improve as well.
38. Get a side hustle
A side hustle is an additional job or career, usually, one that requires only a small amount of time and effort.
For example, someone who wants to work on the weekends might start a side hustle as a bartender.
Side hustles are a form of entrepreneurship that allows you to earn money and do little tasks. They are not difficult or time-consuming, but they can still help you make extra cash on the side.
Pick one of the best gig economy jobs.
39. Rent out a part of your home
A part of your home is often a room, which can be rented out on Airbnb.
Airbnb is the largest and most successful company in the world that lets people rent their extra space or properties. They are a well-known company that provides an easy way for people to make money from their extra space.
Use Neighbor to lend out your space in your home.
40. Declutter: sell your junk for cash
Decluttering is the act of getting rid of excess or unnecessary items.
In order to declutter, you must be willing to give up something that has been a part of your life for a long time. It is important to remember that decluttering does not have to be a quick or easy process.
Then, sell your stuff on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, eBay, etc.
Learn more at Flea Market Flippers.
41. Earn Money While Watching TV
Although it is not a fast way to get rich, this can be used as a side hustle.
It’s better to use the money earned from watching TV or something else that takes up your time for other things like bills and groceries.
Survey platforms are online sites that allow people to earn money while watching TV.
The survey platform will send surveys through the mail or email, and then they can choose whether they want to take the survey for a set reward amount or if they would like cash back on their purchase.
One of these options is MyPoints, which allows users to earn points by completing tasks such as taking surveys and shopping online at specific retailers.
Others include:
42. Maximize Your Income
Find ways to increase the amount of money you bring in, whether that’s through a side hustle, increasing hours at work, or asking for a raise.
In today’s society, there are plenty of ways to make more money.
Only you put a limit on what you are capable of earning.
43. Build Your Credit
Building your credit can be a long process, but it’s worth the effort. If you’re trying to establish or improve your credit score, here are some tips that might help:
Try to keep your credit utilization rate below 30% at all times.
Do not open too many new lines of credit in a short period of time.
Pay your bills on time.
This will help you avoid damaging your credit score.
Hacks for Free Money
Hacks for free money are a form of fraud wherein the perpetrator solicits payment via PayPal, credit card, or other methods in exchange for access to what they promise will be a legitimate business opportunity.
Hacking free money is a way to make more cash, fund your financial goals, or help you pay off debt. There are lots of ways that people hack their finances and use cash back apps for some extra income.
Other options include signing up for bank bonuses or credit card bonuses.
Honestly, real free money hacks are more likely to be scams. So, beware when searching online.
Money Hacks in the Kitchen
You can save the most money by looking at what you eat.
Typically, people waste over 25% of their grocery budget and throw out food. Would you willingly throw out $250 a month? Probably not.
So, learn how to stretch your money for food.
44. Start meal planning
Meal planning is a money-saving strategy that can help in the long run. It’s also important to eat healthily and reduce food waste when meal planning.
But planning ahead will help save on the grocery budget, and it’s not too late to start now.
Start meal planning by deciding what you want to eat for each day. Then, make a list.
45. Say no to prepackaged foods
Packing your lunch for work or school can be time-consuming, especially if you have a family.
Some people prefer to buy prepackaged foods because they save time, but this is not always the best option.
A better choice is to make your own food at home and pack it for lunch, which you can then eat in peace without worrying about what other people might be saying about the food you packed.
46. Eat at home
Eating at home is a way to save money. It may be uncomfortable for those who do not enjoy cooking as it requires extra effort and time.
Instead of getting food at restaurants, consider cooking your favorite meals at home.
You can save money and time by eating the same meal over and over again.
Learn about the frugal home must haves.
47. Grow your own herbs and food
The most common methods of gardening include container gardening, hydroponics, and both indoor and outdoor gardening.
Many people are growing their own herbs and food for the satisfaction of being able to eat something that was grown with their hands.
48. Take your lunch
If you are interested in saving money, consider taking your lunch. This will save you up to $1,000 a year on work lunches and make it easier to meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables as well.
“Take your lunch” is an invitation to eat at home. There are many benefits of eating out less often, such as saving money and gaining more control over food choices.
Travel Hacks to Save Money
The following are travel hacks that can help you save money on your next trip.
Some of these hacks include traveling during weekdays, using public transportation, staying at hostels and Airbnb instead of hotels, and using a travel credit card.
49. Use foreign websites for lower prices abroad
Foreign websites are websites that have been created by people from other countries, and they sell products in the language of their country. These websites often offer lower prices on products than what is offered in the United States.
If you’re traveling abroad and need to find a place to stay, there are plenty of websites that can help. A few websites have deals on places where travelers often stay while they travel internationally.
50. Stay for free or get paid to house sit abroad
A house sitter is someone who looks after someone’s property for a certain amount of time in exchange for the promise of payment.
House sitting is typically offered by homeowners to travelers and others who are looking to stay in a particular location for an extended period of time.
The main types of house sitting include:
– full-time house sitters, who are responsible for all aspects of the house and who are typically paid a monthly salary,
– part-time house sitters, who may be responsible for taking care of one or more specific tasks such as gardening or handling the mail
51. Hide your search
To avoid being taken advantage of by airlines, it is best to open a new incognito or private window between searches.
This will make sure that you are not tricked into buying tickets that may be significantly more expensive than they need to be.
Airlines use cookies in your browser to make you believe the prices are going up and up.
Money App Hacks
Money app hacks are ways that people have figured out to make their money work for them in terms of saving and spending. These apps offer different features, such as budgeting, tracking your spending, and saving money.
If you want a simple way to save money, then any of these money apps are designed to find excessive spending.
52. Billshark
This is a legitimate way to save money on monthly bills. Billshark offers you the opportunity to save up to 25% each month (when compared with regular bill payments).
All of this can be done for you by BillShark team, and there are no fees involved!
Try Billshark for free!
53. Trim
Review your spending habits to find what you can cut out, like subscriptions.
Find other ways to save by looking for ways to reduce costly bank fees or getting a discount on your cell phone plan. By using Trim, you are saving money and improving your financial health.
Sign up with Trim now.
54. Truebill
Truebill can help you to track your spending, save money and get a clear picture of your financial life.
This helps you identify services that you are no longer using but continue to pay for. It will help save money by automatically negotiating prices with your service providers and receiving a refund of the money going to waste, which is free money.
Get started with Truebill.
Which Life Money Hacks Can You Start?
This is a lot to take in, but don’t worry.
Take the time to read through each suggestion and consider how you can implement it into your life.
The more hacks you try out, the closer you’ll get to a healthy financial mindset.
These are the life hacks to save money I have found to work for me and my family in order to reset our financial mindsets and grow our net worth.
Everyone will find their niche and what will work best for them.
Personally, you need to figure out how do I make more money. That will make the biggest impact the fastest.
What have you done with your money lately?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Motivation is important because it can help you keep your eye on the goal even when you want to quit.
Motivation will help you continue to work hard towards your goal, even when it seems impossible.
Motivation is what keeps you going so that you do not quit.
Without motivation, most people would give up on a goal very easily. This is why it’s so important to learn how to stay motivated.
Whether your goal is finance-related, career-related, family-related, lifestyle-related, or something else, there are many ways to help you stay motivated so that you can reach it.
Below are eight ways to get motivated so that you can reach your goals and become successful.
Related: How To Set And Reach Goals In The New Year
1. Write down your goal.
Writing out your goal is a very important part of the process. I know it helps keep me motivated whenever I do this, and I believe this is a big reason for why we are doing better with our food budget.
Writing down your goal helps keep it in your mind. Whenever I don’t write something down or have it in front of me on a regular basis, I usually forget about it.
If you can’t remember your goal, it would be very hard to reach it. I suggest creating a blog, creating a vision board, and so on.
2. Remember the reasons for why you want to reach your goal.
A big factor in staying motivated is to remember why you are wanting to reach your goal. If there is no reason, then it would be very hard to stay motivated.
You should envision what your life will be like once you reach your goal, why you are trying so hard to reach it, and so on. A little daydreaming can go a long way every now and then.
If your goal is debt payoff, then your reason is probably so that you can stop living a stressful paycheck to paycheck life. Just keep dreaming about what a debt free life would be like!
3. Create a plan to reach your goal.
If you want to learn how to stay motivated with your goals, then one of the first things you do after you create your goal is to create a plan. Without a plan, it would be difficult to reach a goal as you would just be all over the place.
You should create a plan that details the steps you need in order to reach your goal, what will happen as you reach each step, when and how you will track your progress, and more. Being detailed with your plan will help you reach your goal and become successful.
Related:Setting Goals – How To Set Personal Goals
4. Set smaller goals in between so that you can become successful.
When you’re creating your plan, you might want to think about setting smaller goals in between. This can help you learn how to stay motivated because it will help you keep your eye on your goal and fresh in your mind.
One way to do this is by setting smaller goals that directly relate to your overall goal.
So, if your overall goal is to pay off $24,000 in debt in two years, then you might want to aim for $1,000 in debt payoff each month. This seems much more attainable than the $24,000 number, and this can help you stay motivated.
5. Keep track of your progress.
To stay motivated with your goals and become successful with them, you should review your progress every now and then. You might want to check in daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on what type of goal you have and what personally works for you.
Keeping track of your progress is a good idea because it can tell you what you need to do in order to each your goal, if you are behind, or if you need to make a change.
I highly recommend that you check out Personal Capital (a free service) if you are interested in gaining control of your financial situation. Personal Capital is very similar to Mint.com, but 100 times better as it allows you to gain control of your investment and retirement accounts, whereas Mint.com does not. Personal Capital allows you to aggregate your financial accounts so that you can easily see your financial situation, your cash flow, detailed graphs, and more.
6. Make changes when needed.
After you check in on your progress, you might find that you need to make changes in order to reach your goal. You might decide to change your timeline, your goal entirely, or you might set different smaller goals in between your time frame.
You should always make sure your goal is what you want and that it is realistic, so doing this step is important.
7. Be nice to yourself when learning how to stay motivated.
Every now and then, you might fall off track or come short of your goal. If this happens, do not be too mean to yourself. This is a very important step when learning how to stay motivated with your goals, as many people drag themselves down when they are not on track with their goals.
Things happen, but instead of being negative you should analyze what happened and see what needs to be changed so that it doesn’t happen again.
8. Reward yourself when you do become successful.
Whenever you reach one of your smaller goals, you might want to try rewarding yourself so that you can stay motivated.
A reward doesn’t mean that you are cheating your goal progress or that you need to fall off the wagon. You can reward yourself in many ways – you just need to find what works for you while also staying on track.
What are your current goals? How do you stay motivated with your goals?
Some industries and projects require significant self-motivation, like writing a book or service provider industries where promotion is a goal. In these cases, measuring productivity based solely on output can be difficult. And productivity can suffer in apathetic environments where there’s a lack of interest, or anger and other issues prevail. Here’s how to stay productive in such situations.
1. Find Your Why
In an apathetic environment, finding a reason to stay productive can be a powerful motivator. Consider what drives you and why you want to be productive. Are you working towards a specific goal or dream? Are you trying to provide for your family or contribute to a cause you care about?
Keep Reminding Yourself
Reminding yourself of your underlying reasons for working hard can help you stay focused and motivated, even when the environment is not supportive. Remembering your “why” and setting goals can help you find meaning and purpose in your work, even when the environment is not conducive to productivity.
2. Set Achievable Goals
To stay productive in an apathetic environment, it is helpful to set achievable goals. Setting specific, achievable goals for yourself can provide a sense of purpose and direction, helping you to stay productive and motivated despite external challenges.
Begin With a Clear Vision
This can be done by starting with a clear vision, using the SMART framework, focusing on what you can control, breaking tasks into smaller chunks, and celebrating progress. This will help you can stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
3. Creating a Daily Routine
Creating a daily routine is a valuable tool to help you stay focused and achieve your objectives. Balancing work, relaxation, and leisure activities can be difficult, particularly in an unstimulating environment where productivity is low, and other issues may arise.
One Habit at a Time
However, you can build productive habits, like setting a time to check your email; once keeping up with email is an established habit, you can add returning any missed calls right after, and follow that with another productive habit. Piece by piece, you’ll build your day into a super productive zone.
4. Find a support system
To be productive in an apathetic environment, it’s crucial to have a support system. You can find support by joining a group, seeking a mentor, attending networking events, considering therapy or coaching, and reaching out to friends and family.
Good Things Take Time
Keep in mind that building a support system takes patience and persistence, but it can offer a sense of community, guidance, motivation, and encouragement that can keep you on track toward your goals.
5. Practice Mindfulness
To maintain productivity in an environment that lacks motivation, it is beneficial to incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation, sensory engagement, intentional breaks, clear task objectives, avoidance of multitasking, and self-kindness. Mindfulness fosters improved focus, stress reduction, and better management of time and energy, ultimately leading to increased productivity.
One Moment at a Time
One way to increase your attention span is to set a timer for 20-40 minutes, focus entirely on the project in front of you, and then take a five minute break. Knowing there’s a break coming can help motivate you to focus, and giving a task single-minded focus can increase your dopamine, so it becomes inherently rewarding.
6. Always be Positive
Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial for staying productive in an apathetic environment. To develop a positive mindset, try focusing on the positives, setting goals that you can realistically achieve, practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with positive people and surroundings, taking good care of yourself, and being adaptable.
Change Begins with You
By following these tips, you can stay motivated and productive even when faced with challenges. It’s important to remember that you have control over your mindset and approach, regardless of the external circumstances. And as you begin to change your attitude and productivity, hopefully the people around you will begin to adapt as well!
Staying productive in an apathetic environment takes effort, patience, and a positive mindset. By finding your reason to stay productive, setting achievable goals, and using other positivity tools, you can stay on track and achieve your objectives. Remember to focus on your goals, and don’t let external circumstances dictate your productivity.
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The numbers never cease to amaze me.
In fact, I’ve always been a fan of comparisons because they help us understand how we compare to others and what areas in life are more important.
However, should you compare yourself to those with 10 figures?
I was recently asked the question, “How much is 10 figures salary?” and my first thought was well beyond 99.9% of people’s salary range.
So then I had to ask this person what they meant by “10 Figures.”
This led me on a journey of figuring out exactly what 10 Figures means when it comes to money.
Many people are curious about the value of a 10-figure career. While it is not easy to become a 10-figure earner, there’s no reason you can’t start working toward your goal.
In this article, we’ll look at how much 10 figures really mean and why it’s important to understand this term.
What is 10 Figures?
10 figures is a term used to describe the amount of money in a given period of time. It is typically used to describe the amount of revenue that a company makes in a month or the amount of net worth someone has.
A number that is over 1,000,000,000 but less than or equal to 9,999,999,999 is a 10-figure number.
If the number is between those two values then it is a ten-figure number.
What is a Ten Figure Number?
Ten figures refer to any number that has 10 digits.
They are important for many reasons, but some of the most important include being able to easily calculate someone’s wealth or income.
How Much Money is 10 Figures?
Earning 10 figures can mean earning anywhere from $1,000,000,000 to $9,999,999,999.
That number is unfathomable for most people earning six figure salaries, which are often viewed as an income milestone by many people.
Simply put, 10 figures in money equates to a billionaire dollars.
Individuals who earn ten figure salaries are usually uber-successful in their careers.
What is 10 Figures Salary?
A ten figure salary means in one year you make more than $1,000,000,000.
Earning a 10 figure salary does not mean you have to earn all of your income from one job source. You can also earn income from investments, royalties, and other sources.
There are many different jobs that can lead to a 10 figure salary. It is possible for anyone with the right qualifications, dedication, hard work, and skillful negotiation tactics to achieve this level of income.
For the common folk, earning a 10 figure salary is an extremely unlikely event. A more doable amount is a $100k salary.
However, if you want to become a billionaire and earn ten figures, by all means, go ahead.
Even earning six or seven figures in a year is a huge accomplishment.
How Much is Ten Figures a Year?
People will use the phrase “10 figures” when talking about how much someone is worth or how much money a business makes.
Ten figures is any number between 1,000,000,000 and 9,999,999,999 that is earned in a span of 365 days or one year.
10 Figure Salary Jobs
A ten-figure salary is a salary that starts at the first 10 figure value which is $1,000,000,000.
This amount of money is not easily earned and usually takes many years of hard work and dedication. It’s important to remember that while having a high salary is great, it’s not everything.
Most people who earn 10-figure salaries created their own companies as a start-up and grew them into massive empires. These jobs can be found in a variety of industries, including technology, fashion, business, finance, and law.
To earn a ten-figure salary, you need to have an aggressive mindset and excellent skills in your field. With the right combination of talent and ambition, you can definitely achieve this goal.
For these people, a business degree was worth it.
Examples of people who earn 10 figures or more
People who earn 10 figures or more are typically some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world. They often have a great deal of control over resources and economies.
There are only 724 people in the United States that are billionaires (source) with a collective total of over 2700 billionaires globally.
Here are examples of people who earn 10 figures or more:
Elon Musk
Well known for his social media tweets and swings in TSLA stock.
Elon Musk is the founder and CEO of Tesla Inc, a maker of electric high-end luxury cars.
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world, with a net worth of $223 billion as of February 28, 2022. He made his fortune as the founder of Tesla Inc., SpaceX, and several other startups. He is also known for being an advocate for renewable energy and space exploration.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, an online retailer that offers a wide range of products and services to consumers globally. In 1994, he founded the company with a vision to make the world’s largest bookstore and offer low prices for books. Bezos had worked on Wall Street in his twenties.
Jeff Bezos held the title of the richest man in the world with a net worth of about $203 billion until Elon Musk overtook his spot.
From 1998 to 2021, Bezos made $88,840 per year or more with extra compensation bringing the figure to a little over $1.6 million each year.
Bill Gates
Bill Gates is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He founded Microsoft Corporation with Paul Allen in 1975 in Albuquerque.
His net worth is estimated to be over $122 billion with a salary of $1 million per year.
Bill Gates was the richest person in the world for a number of years. However, he dropped to the second richest person in the world in July 2017 when he was overtaken by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Melanie Perkins
Melanie Perkins is the co-founder and CEO of Canva, a design software company that was valued at $40 billion by private investors in September 2021. Perkins started the company in 2012 with her then-boyfriend and now-husband Cameron Adams. The company has since become a major player in the design world, with over 15 million users and offices in 17 countries.
Though some were skeptical of her idea, Melanie Perkins and her team persevered in the development of their freemium software, Canva. 60 million monthly users later, 500,000 teams from companies like Intel and Zoom are now paying for it. This goes to show that with hard work and a great product, anything is possible.
Her net worth is estimated at $6.5 billion.
Gina Rinehart
Gina Rinehart is an Australian billionaire, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She was the world’s richest woman until her daughter took over in 2018. Rinehart has been involved in the Australian mining industry for decades and was the director of Hancock Prospecting, a company her father founded.
Her net worth is estimated at $31 billion.
Susanne Klatten
Susanne Klatten is an extremely wealthy woman. Aside from her BMW stake, she also has significant ownership in Entrust, a company specializing in digital identity and data security, as well as carbon and graphite producer SGL Group. Additionally, Klatten’s brother Stefan Quandt owns 23.6% of BMW- making the two siblings the automaker’s two largest individual shareholders.
Susanne Klatten is the richest woman in Germany and the third-richest person in Europe.
She has a net worth of $25 billion.
Some of the other Richest People in the world include:
Larry Page
Sergey Brin
Warren Buffett – Check out where he eats for breakfast.
Bernard Arnault
Amancio Ortega
Carlos Slim
Micheal Bloomberg
Larry Ellison
Mukesh Ambani
Alice Walton
Arne Morris Sorenson
Charles Koch
Dara Khosrowshahi
Dustin Moskovitz
Eric Schmidt
Eric Yuan
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
Oprah Winfrey
Kim Kardashian West
Jacqueline Mars
Abigail Johnson
10 Figures Net Worth
In short, becoming wealthy requires having a net worth of 10 figures. That will give you billionaire status.
To have 10 figures net worth, your net worth is over $1,000,000,000.
Net worth is assets minus any liabilities.
Much of the billionaire’s net worth is made up of high income, stock options, real estate, and diversified portfolios.
Tops Ways to Earn 10 Figures
The following are some of the top ways to earn a billion dollars in a year. Even if you don’t get close, you will still earn way more than a traditional 9-5 job.
There are many ways to become a 10-figure earner, but the most common paths are entrepreneurship, investing, and influencer status.
All of these paths have their own challenges and rewards, but they all provide opportunities for anyone who is willing to work hard and take some risks.
1. Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of developing, launching, and running a new business venture. Entrepreneurs start a business with little or no outside funding in an attempt to generate profit for themselves and their investors.
They are generally risk-takers and may work long hours in pursuit of their vision.
There is no ceiling to how much you can earn as a successful business owner.
You can make a 10 figure salary if you are innovative and work hard. For example, one of the most successful billionaires has made their fortune by starting innovative technology companies. Additionally, there are many other opportunities for entrepreneurs such as franchise restaurants and clothing companies.
2. Investing
Investing is one of the most important aspects of becoming a billionaire.
Most of the net worth of billionaires is made from their stock options from when their company went public. Then, they slowly moved to a more diversified portfolio.
In addition, investing can be used to grow and protect wealth, and there are many different types of investments that can be made.
For the average Joe, investing needs to be crucial for growing your wealth. There are also many different ways to invest, so it is essential to find the right option for each individual.
Learn how to invest in stock for beginners.
3. Influencer Status
Influencer status is a term that refers to the type of person who has an influence on social media, through books, or in fashion.
Typically, influencers are individuals who have a large social media following and have the power to make or break products.
Becoming a media star is the first step, but it’s only likely to make someone a billionaire if they can leverage that star status into building successful businesses. For many celebrities, this means starting their own production companies, launching product lines, or creating exclusive content deals.
At 21 years old, Kylie Jenner is the youngest self-made billionaire in the world due to the success of her company, Kylie Cosmetics. The company was founded in 2015 and has since sold over $630 million worth of products. Jenner’s story is an inspiration to young entrepreneurs who want to make it big.
Now, Take Some Lessons from Billionaires
The chances of you becoming the next billionaire is slim. However, there are plenty of lessons to learn from those earning 10 figures.
There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from billionaires. They have achieved a level of success most people only dream of, and there is a lot to be learned from their stories. One thing that stands out among all billionaires is their resilience in the face of failure. They understand that failures are an important part of the learning process, and they use them to propel themselves forward.
While some people might see billionaires as lucky, the truth is that they have worked hard for their money.
In addition, excellence is a habit for billionaires; it is something that they do on a daily basis. In fact, many have a set billionaire morning routine.
Sure, billionaires have long-term goals, but they also take the time to break these goals into manageable milestones. This allows them to focus on their end goal while ensuring that they don’t become overwhelmed by it. In addition to setting goals, billionaires also know the importance of being decisive and taking calculated risks.
From the 3-comma club members, we can learn a lot about work ethic. Most of these billionaires achieved their wealth through sheer hard work and perseverance. They are not afraid of long hours or tough challenges, and they never give up on their dreams.
Now, the chance is for you to see how many figures you can earn.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Inside: Enjoy these millionaire quotes about achieving success! These statements will help you motivate yourself to achieve your goals and become a millionaire.
Success is not a destination- it’s a journey.
When you find yourself stuck, struggling to make progress on your goals, often the only thing that will inspire you to keep going is by reading quotes from other successful people who have been there before. So grab some time and read these meaningful quotes now!
Quoting people is a great way to remind yourself of your goals and stay motivated.
It’s easy to get distracted by the demands of life, so I like reaching for quotes that tell me what I need most right now.
Quotes by millionaires are a great source of inspiration and motivation for anyone looking to achieve success in life. Not only do they offer wise words of advice, but they also remind us that failure is an essential part of learning and achieving greater things.
So don’t be afraid to dream big and work hard towards making those dreams a reality.
In fact, here are the most inspiring millionaire quotes.
The power of millionaire quotes
Millionaire quotes have the power to change your life. If you’re feeling down or unmotivated, reading a few words from a millionaire can give you the boost you need to get back on track.
For example, Tony Robbins is one of the most successful millionaires in the world with a net worth of over $600 million. And he’s not the only one; there are countless millionaires out there who have made their fortune through hard work and determination.
When it comes to making money, these people know what they’re talking about! Their advice is worth listening to, and if you take their words to heart, you’ll be well on your way to success.
So next time you feel like giving up, read some inspiring quotes from millionaires and see how that changes your outlook on life. You may be surprised at just how powerful these words can be!
How to use millionaire quotes to achieve success
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to use millionaire quotes to achieve success depends on your personal goals and objectives.
However, some tips on how to use quotes to achieve success include:
Find quotes that resonate with you and inspire you.
Keep your goals in mind when reading quotes and using them to motivate you.
Write your own quotes and keep them in a place where you can see
If you’re looking to achieve success, millionaire quotes can be a great way to get started.
They provide inspiration and motivation and remind you that failure is not an option – which can be a great thing if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes.
The benefits of using millionaire quotes
Quotes by millionaires offer great advice and motivation for anyone looking to achieve success. They provide a unique perspective that can help you focus on your goals and push through any obstacle in your way. Additionally, these quotes can help increase productivity in any context and inspire creativity.
While it’s important to remember that not everyone is able to become a millionaire, following the advice of those who have achieved this level of success can be incredibly beneficial.
As Thomas A. Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
This type of attitude will help you stay motivated even when things get tough.
Walt Disney also had some profound words of wisdom: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” This quote speaks to the idea that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Reaching your goals may seem difficult at times, but with enough determination and hard work, you’ll be able to accomplish anything.
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Millionaire Mindset Quotes
These inspirational, motivational, and wise words from millionaires who achieved success despite all odds teach us that determination and perseverance is the key factor in life.
Your mindset will determine your outcome.
Enjoy some of the best millionaire mindset quotes…
1. “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
2. “Start with the end in mind. If you want to be a millionaire, talk like one, act like one, work like one.”- Bob Proctor
3. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
4. “The easiest thing I ever did was earn a million dollars. The hardest thing I ever did, and it took years, was believing I was capable of earning a million dollars.” – Les Brown
5. “There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire. If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit there and complain – do something to make more money yourself.” Gina Rinehart
6. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs
7. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey
8. “To win big, you sometimes have to take big risks.” – Bill Gates
9. “Fail trying; don’t fail watching.” – Bob Goff
10. “There are a ton of ups and downs, and many times our highest points come immediately after our lowest.” – Pat Flynn
Motivation is key to success. It is what drives us to achieve our goals and reach our potential.
There are many reasons why motivation is so important, but here are some of the most important ones:
Without motivation, it’s hard to stay focused and push through difficult tasks.
You’ll be more likely to give up if you’re not motivated.
Motivation gives you the energy you need to work hard and achieve your goals.
When you’re motivated, you’re more likely to take action and make progress towards your goals.
Now, here are the best motivation millionaire quotes to keep you going.
12. “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.” – Elon Musk
13. “You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead.” – George Lucas
14. “You cannot push any one up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself.” – Andrew Carnegie
15. “The future of humanity: a choice between the past and the present, between stagnation or progress.” – Vladimir Vernadsky
16. “If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” – Azim Premji
17. “Before you can become a millionaire, you must learn to think like one. You must learn how to motivate yourself to counter fear with courage.” – Thomas J. Stanley
18. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs
19. “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” – Lucille Ball
20. “Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson
Success Millionaire Quotes
Your goals will help guide your lifestyle and create a more meaningful journey for you.
By reaching your goals along the way, you find success. It is those small milestones that can help you along your journey. Believing bigger is about knowing deep down inside you are successful.
Now, here are some of the best success millionaire quotes to start believing in today!
21. “My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn’t have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail.” – Sara Blakely
22. “Success if not final. Failure is not fatal.” – Teri Ijeoma
23. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. You only have to be right once and then everyone can tell you that you are an overnight success.” – Mark Cuban
24. “I have had all of the disadvantages required for success.” – Larry Ellison
25. “It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” – Bill Gates
26. “Obviously everyone wants to be successful, but I want to be looked back on as being very innovative, very trusted and ethical and ultimately making a big difference in the world.” – Sergey Brin
27. “You don’t have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.” – Michael Dell
28. “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins
29. “You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” – Ted Turner
30. “All of us, in a sense, struggle continuously all the time, because we never get what we want. The important thing which I’ve really learned is how do you not give up, because you never succeed in the first attempt.” – Mukesh Ambani
Millionaire Mentor Quotes
Self-made millionaires offer great insight and motivation for those working towards success. They remind us that failure is often a part of the journey, but it’s important to stay true to ourselves along the way.
When you are building a business or starting a new endeavor, wouldn’t you want to have a mentor looking over your shoulder and motivating you?
So, although you may not be able to afford to meet these millionaires in person, you can write their quotes on your planner or near your computer to keep you focused on making your million.
When we spend time with people who have achieved success, their positivity rubs off on us.
We can begin to see the world through their lens and get motivated to achieve our own goals.
31. “The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg
32. “I believe people have to follow their dreams – I did.” – Larry Ellison
33. “If you don’t live your life, then who will?” – Rihanna
34. “Money is just a consequence. I always say to my team, ‘Don’t worry too much about profitability. If you do your job well, the profitability will come.’” – Bernard Arnault
35. “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you’ll achieve the same results.” – Tony Robbins
36. “Dedicating myself to actually following through was my single biggest achievement.” – Nick Woodman
37. “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer
38. “I’m an entrepreneur. ‘Ambitious’ is my middle name.” – Kim Kardashian
39. “Talent without working hard is nothing.” – Cristiano Ronaldo
Strong Millionaire Quotes
Okay, there are times you need to hear the hard stuff. Like the coach whispering exactly what you need to be told when you weren’t executing as you should be.
These strong millionaire quotes are the ones that put us back on track.
They remind us why motivating yourself to achieve great success is necessary.
40. “Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom.” – Sam Walton
41. “Winning is not always the barometer of getting better.” – Tiger Woods
42. “If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.” – Kobe Bryant
43. “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” – Warren Buffett
44. “If you’re changing the world, you’re working on important things. You’re excited to get up in the morning.” – Larry Page
45. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey
46. “As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” – Donald Trump
47. “Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.” – Jack Nicklaus
48. “You have to be able to accept failure to get better.” – LeBron James
Millionaire Quotes about Life
Successful people are usually happy because they have found a way to be content in life while still reaching for more.
Regardless of the type of millionaire they are, they all find happiness in some form or another from their work. This in turn leads to greater motivation and a desire to keep growing and achieving more. Additionally, small challenges help to keep these levels of happiness and motivation high.
Here are the best millionaire quotes about living life to the fullest!
49. “I’d rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.” – Elon Musk
50. “A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.” – Jeff Bezos
51. “Everybody has equal opportunity, and I think that is true for everything.” – Mukesh Ambani
52. “If you are born poor it’s not your mistake, but if you die poor its your mistake.” – Bill Gates
53. “Treat your life like a game.” – Ray Dalio
54. “Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.” – John Madden
55. “Being rich is a good thing. Not just in the obvious sense of benefitting you and your family, but in the broader sense. Profits are not a zero sum game. The more you make, the more of a financial impact you can have.” – Mark Cuban
56. “People should only profit to the extent they make other peoples lives better.” – Charles Koch
Future Millionaire Quotes
Success is a tricky thing to quantify.
This perspective can help you stay motivated as you work towards your goals- knowing that things are always changing and evolving. Additionally, it’s important not to compare yourself with anyone else in this world. You’ll only end up insulting yourself!
So from one millionaire to the next millionaire (you), here are the future millionaire quotes to memorize.
57. “You can’t just wish to be a millionaire; you have to figure out how to earn it.” – Dolly Parton
58. “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.” – Steve Jobs
59. “The key to life when it gets tough is to keep moving. Just keep moving.” – Tyler Perry
60. “Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.” – Tony Hsieh
61. “Education is the most important for our children, and it’s also the best investment.” -Bill Gates
62. “I never took a day off in my 20’s. Not One.” – Bill Gates
63. “At the end of the day, you know yourself best.” – Abigail Johnson
Millionaire Quotes about Money
Millionaire quotes are a great way to get motivated and inspired to achieve success. They offer a glimpse into the mindset of millionaires and what drives them.
Money is often seen as the key to happiness.
And while it can certainly bring a level of comfort and ease, it is not the only thing that can bring happiness. Hard work and dedication are essential for success, and it is important to believe in yourself and your dreams.
So, enjoy these millionaire quotes about money…
64. “Never depend on a single income. Make investments to create a second source.” – Warren Buffett
65. “If you do not see riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.” – Napoleon Hill
66. “Most people fail to realize that in life, it’s not how much money you make. It’s how much money you keep.” – Robert Kiyosaki
67. “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No.1” – Warren Buffet
68. “Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the dollar for a bookmark?” – Steven Spielberg
69. “I want the last cheque I write to bounce.” – Chuck Feeney
70. “It’s not about the money, it’s about what you can do with the money.” – Thomas J. Stanley
Which Thing will You do to Result in More Wealth Opportunities?
So there you have it, 70+ powerful millionaire quotes to help you motivate yourself to achieve success.
These are people worth at least 7 figures – maybe even 10 figures.
If you want to become a millionaire, it all starts with taking action towards your goals.
Use these quotes as inspiration and fuel to keep you going on your journey to success.
Remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.
Enjoy the process and don’t stress too much about the outcome. As long as you’re taking action and moving forward, you’re on the right track. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next millionaire!
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Do you want to live a great life? Do you feel like your life isn’t going the way you want?
Maybe your plan isn’t working, or you just want a change because anything is better than how things are currently going.
Or, maybe you just want to improve your life even more this year!
No matter how you’re feeling, I believe that everyone is in charge of their own destiny and that everyone can learn how to live a great life.
If you feel things are not going the way you want them to go, then change it! You can improve your life and how you perceive it by taking part in different actions.
For that reason, I’ve packed this post with my best and most actionable tips so that you can live a great life, and there are some new ones that are sure to make this new year your best ever. Enjoy, and I hope this year is a great one for everyone.
Related reads:
How to live a great life in 2023!
1. Reach your goals in 2023.
To make it a great year, you’ll want to set goals so that you can reach your dreams. Those who set goals are much more likely to be successful than those who do not.
To reach your goals, you’ll want to:
Review the previous year along with your previous goals and objectives.
Make sure your goal is SMART.
Write down your goals and objectives.
Create a plan to reach your life goals.
Break your goal apart into smaller goals.
Keep track of your goal setting progress and make changes (if needed).
Find small ways to stick to your goal.
Find ways to motivate yourself when setting goals.
Make reaching your goal a friendly competition.
Read further at The Best Way To Set Goals And Reach Success.
2. Smile more.
Smiling is contagious and is very important if you want to live a great life!
Studies have even proven that smiling can improve your mood, even if it’s a fake smile.
Smile at the next person you pass, smile when you’re talking on the phone, smile when your loved one comes home, smile in an interview, and more.
Related: How To Better Yourself – 23 Challenges That Will Change Your Life
3. Don’t be afraid of what people think.
I used to really care about what other people thought of me, but I’ve been able to let go of that and now I couldn’t be happier. This has really helped me learn how to live a great life.
You shouldn’t let the opinions of others affect you, drag you down, control you, and so on. Like I always say “Who cares!?”
Why should the opinions of others matter to you? And, because everyone is different, all that should matter is what is right for you.
Related content: Learn How To Set Resolutions — Make This Year The Best Yet!
4. Spend less time watching TV.
I bring this up a lot on Making Sense of Cents, but this statistic is just crazy-
the average person watches around 35 hours of TV a week.
35 HOURS!
Our minds are greatly influenced by what we see on TV. Plus, watching TV can be a big time waster and can be detrimental if you want to live a great life.
Instead of turning on the TV the next time you are bored or looking for something to do, you may want to do something more worthwhile, such as working out, spending time with friends and family, reading a book, and so on.
5. Be more confident.
A lack of confidence may:
Prevent someone from believing in themselves.
Lead to someone being too shy to do what they want or need.
Force someone to do things they hate.
Cause someone to ruin a meeting, job possibility, and so on.
Lead to unhappiness.
On the flip side, confidence can open many doors for you.
It can lead to getting the job you want, making more money, reaching your dreams, meeting new people, networking, traveling the world, and more.
Read more at Be More Confident And Get What You Want In Life.
6. Be thankful for what you have.
The next time something negative is bringing you down, I suggest you try to remember all of the positive and good in your life. You already live a great life, you just need to remember that.
This is the power of positive thinking at its best.
You can be thankful for your family, friends, job, a past experience, opportunities, and more.
Thinking about everything you are thankful for can make something negative seem very trivial. You may even laugh at yourself for being so negative!
7. Start investing.
I want you to start investing if you haven’t done so yet.
You want to invest your money so that you can:
Retire one day.
Prepare for unexpected events in the future.
Allow your money to grow over time.
Read more at The 6 Steps To Take To Invest Your First Dollar – Yes, It’s Really This Easy!
8. Be kind to others.
You should always be kind to others. This can help both you and others live a great life. Being kind can open your mind, help you stop dwelling on negative things in life, brighten someone’s day, and more.
You can be kind to others by doing things such as:
Say hello to every person you walk by today.
Open doors for others.
Smile at strangers.
Help someone with their groceries.
Volunteer somewhere.
Related post: 50+ Random Acts of Kindness.
9. Look for ways to save more money.
Looking for ways to save more money may allow you to pay off your debt quicker, improve your financial habits, help you reach your dream sooner, and more.
Plus, there are many, many different ways to save money. You don’t need to sacrifice your favorite things or live an unhappy life in order to save money.
It’s all about being realistic and finding a good balance between saving and spending.
Read more at 30+ Ways To Save Money Each Month.
10. Take a risk.
Have you ever thought about doing something particularly risky but were too afraid to go for it?
Well, it may be your year! Or, at least maybe you can start planning to take that risk?
Doing something risky every so often can get your heart beating and your adrenaline rushing. This can really make you feel alive and like you are in charge of your life.
11. Realize that it’s okay to fail.
If you’re taking risks or trying new things, there is a chance that you may fail.
But, that’s completely okay!
You won’t know if something will work or not unless you try it, and sometimes failure is just a part of the learning process.
Part of living a great life is failing every now and then. Accept that fate now and you’ll be better prepared when it happens.
12. Create a budget.
The average family carries a lot of financial stress. Most people have student loans, credit card debt, a mortgage, car loans, and sometimes other forms of debt.
However, not many people have a budget.
In fact, 68% of households in the U.S. do not prepare a budget.
Budgeting can help you take control of your finances, which can then help reduce stress and allow you to reach your dreams. Having a budget is crucial if you want to live a great life.
Read more at The Complete Budgeting Guide: How To Create A Budget That Works.
13. Say yes.
If you often find that you’re hiding from everyone and you feel like you are stuck, you may want to try branching out and saying yes more often.
Saying yes can open you up to more situations, help you grow as a person, and so on.
14. Say no.
If you say yes to everything, but you are ready to pull your hair out, then you may want to start saying no. No one wants to be walked on or spread too thin, and you also don’t want to be holding yourself back from the things that you truly want to do in life.
Saying no may allow you to have more time to focus on what you truly want from life.
15. Don’t let life pass you by.
It can be really easy to let life pass you by. Before you know it, years or even decades may be gone.
Too many people have the mindset of “Oh, in 10 years life will be so much better because of such and such.” And then, they just let their lives go by without ever thinking about the present.
Well, what about now?!
10 years is a long time!
Reaching a goal is great, but you should always make sure you are living life to the fullest (on a budget, of course).
16. Cherish moments with loved ones.
You should never take a moment for granted with those that you love. This will sound very doom and gloom, but you just never know what may happen to you or them.
Plus, spending time with your loved ones is always a great time, so why not just do it more?!
17. Pay off debt.
Paying off your debt can lessen your stress levels, allow you to put more money towards something else (such as retirement), stop paying interest fees, and more.
Debt can hold a person back significantly, and by paying off your debt you may be able to live the life that you’ve always wanted.
Let’s make this the year that we finally get rid of our debt or at least work our way towards eliminating it!
Read more at How To Eliminate Your Debt.
18. Exercise more.
Whenever I’m feeling a little stressed out, tired, or even grumpy, I try to fit in a workout. I know that even a small workout is better than none.
Exercising is great and it can improve your life because it can make you healthier all around. You will feel more confident, your mind will be clearer, you will be able to better cope with stress, and more.
19. Increase your credit score.
If you need a loan for anything in the future, you can do easy things to increase your credit score. Watch your utilization rate on your credit cards, pay your bills on time, watch the amount of hard inquiries on your credit report, and so on.
Your credit score is important because it can affect your interest rate and whether or not you will get approved for a loan.
Just a few percentage points can mean the difference of hundreds of dollars each month.
That means you can wind up saving THOUSANDS each year just by increasing your credit score. You can check your credit score for free with Credit Sesame.
20. Don’t keep up with the Joneses.
Whether you are five years old and want that new toy everyone is playing with, or if you are 50 years old and are feeling the need to upgrade your house, car, etc., everyone has experienced wanting to keep up with someone else.
The problem with this is that keeping up with the Joneses can actually make you broke.
When trying to keep up with the Joneses, you might spend money you do not have. You might put expenses on credit cards to (in a pretend world) “afford” things. You might buy things that you do not care about. The problems can go on and on.
This can then lead to an excessive amount of debt and potentially set someone back years with their financial goals, if not decades.
21. Do what YOU want to do.
What makes you happy, excited, joyful, and motivated? That’s what you should be doing with your life (as long as it’s legal)!
Stop thinking about what other people want you to do and start listening to your heart. Who cares about what others think? If you spend all your time thinking about others, you will just be wasting a ton of time!
If you want to live a life of adventure – Go for it.
If you want to start a family – Start planning one.
If you want a better job – Get one.
If you want to change the world – Do it.
22. Read as much as you can.
I’ll admit it, I don’t read as many books as I would like to.
I’m so focused on reading about personal finance, but I know I need to occasionally take a break and do some reading for pleasure.
Reading is great for many reasons, such as:
Providing knowledge.
Improving your memory.
Opening your mind.
Bringing out your creative side.
It is affordable entertainment.
And more!
23. Think positively.
I say this often, and I believe it.
Thinking positively can greatly improve your life and your outlook on life. Being positive can help motivate you, it can help you to not waste time on regret, and more.
Related article: Why I Believe Being Positive Can Change Your Financial Situation And Your Life.
24. Don’t waste time on being negative.
You are wasting your time when you are being negative.
Instead of wasting your energy on things like dwelling on regret and/or gossiping, you can be more productive by using this time for things that actually matter.
By being more positive, you will be able to better simplify your life.
25. Find free forms of entertainment.
Someone once told me how expensive it was to have fun. They were telling me about all of their debt and everything that goes along with it, then they also told me that their monthly “fun” budget was around $500.
Uhhh what?! $500? A month?!
If you are trying to get rid of high-interest rate debt, I can’t think of any reason for why you should be spending $500 a month to have fun.
There are many ways to have fun for cheap. Check out How To Have Frugal Fun for some of my ideas.
26. Stop letting money control you.
If you want to gain control of your life and make it a great year, then you need to gain control of your money.
This means you need to stop worrying about all of the things that are holding you back. Instead, create an action plan so that the littlest things do not tear you down or stress you out.
27. Get enough sleep each night.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average person needs around 7.5 hours of sleep in order to “function at their best.” However, the average person actually only sleeps around 6.5 hours.
Lack of sleep, according to HealthLine, can lead to issues such as:
Impaired brain activity
Memory problems
Moodiness
Depression
Cold and Flu
Type 2 Diabetes
Weight gain
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Due to this, you should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
28. Find something good in a negative situation.
There may even be some good in a bad experience, even though it can be hard to think about the positive while you are experiencing something negative.
Through the power of positive thinking, you can use a bad experience to learn something new about yourself, to realize you made a mistake, to come up with a new plan you never thought of before, and more.
Taking the negative and turning it into a learning experience can help prevent a negative situation from happening again. Or, maybe next time you’ll be more prepared!
29. Travel to a random place.
There are many wonderful places in the world. Traveling to a random place can help improve your confidence, open you up to new experiences, and may even make you a little uncomfortable- and sometimes that’s okay.
30. Create a bucket list.
If you don’t have a bucket list, I recommend creating one now! In case you are unaware, a bucket list is where you list all of the major goals you want to meet, places you want to visit, and things you want to do in your life.
Creating a bucket list can give you the motivation you need to work harder towards your dreams, it can give you a sense of direction, and a great feeling of fulfillment as you complete each amazing thing you want to do.
31. Welcome the unknown.
Some people like to ignore the unknown because they are afraid of it. However, you’ll never know what your future holds unless you try new things and welcome different experiences.
When looking forward, you should make a realistic plan for what may happen once you start taking steps to reach your goal. This may make the whole thing much more relaxing and less stressful because you will be more prepared for the unknown.
For example, if you want to leave your job for something else but are afraid of what may happen, one thing you might want to do is to make sure you have a well-funded emergency fund. This way, if it takes you a little longer to find your dream job or dream life, your emergency fund will be there to help ease some of the stress.
32. Be open to new things and tackle your fears.
When was the last time you did something new? So many people live inside their comfort zone when they actually need to branch out every now and then.
Yes, stepping outside of your box can be tough, but what if it completely opened your eyes and changed your whole outlook on life? Wouldn’t that be amazing?
If you want to learn how to live life to the fullest, this is something you need to do every now and then. You could even give yourself a goal to try something new each day, each week, or each month.
33. Become more organized.
Being unorganized can waste a significant amount of your time. It leads to late fees, stress, lost items, and more.
Here are some surprising statistics I found from Simply Orderly about being unorganized:
The average person spends 12 days per year looking for things they can’t find.
Every day, the average office worker spends 1.5 hours looking for things.
In a recent survey, 55% of consumers stated they would save anywhere from 16 to 60 minutes a day if they were organized.
23% of people pay bills late and have to pay late fees because they are unable to find their bills.
34. Be open minded to live a great life.
Being open minded is a great quality. There are billions of people in this world and everyone is different, so instead of judging others we should be more open minded.
And, everyone can stand to be a little more open minded.
Being open minded can help you accept changes, love others, be optimistic, learn from others, and most of all, it’s relaxing. Instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, you can relax, have less stress, and just accept those around you.
35. Finally get rid of cable.
The average monthly cable bill is over $100. The average cable bill is around $200 a month.
You can read more about cutting cable here and how to save money by doing this. I recommend getting a digital antenna so that you can receive local channels for free!
We don’t pay for any form of TV (not even Netflix!), and we LOVE it.
36. Drink more water to live a great life.
According to Lifehacker, the average person should drink around 9 to 13 cups of water per day. This is just a baseline, though, as if you exercise or are in hot weather, then you should consume more.
However, not many people get anywhere near this amount of water.
Drinking water can help you lose weight, perform better, be happier, prevent headaches, help your skin, and is a must for your body to survive.
37. Make more money.
Here on Making Sense of Cents, I spend a lot of time discussing extra income, side hustles, side income, and how to make money online. I believe that earning extra income can completely change your life in a positive way. You can stop living paycheck to paycheck, pay off your debt, and more, all by earning extra money.
In fact, because of extra income and my blog, I was able to pay off $38,000 in student loans within 7 months, I was able to leave my day job in order to pursue my passion, travel full-time, and more!
Related blog posts:
38. Spend less time on social media.
The average person spends many, many hours on social media each week.
Between Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and many others it can be quite easy to waste your entire day.
If you find that you are spending too much time on social media and that it is negatively impacting you, you may want to shut down the social media accounts that you are spending too much time on. You can even create a time block so you cannot access your accounts during certain periods of the day, and so on.
39. Declutter and downsize.
Decluttering and downsizing can help you:
To save money. In some cases, a bigger home can cost more due to higher utility bills, more clutter being bought, higher insurance, more maintenance and repairs needed, higher purchasing price, etc.
To have less clutter. The bigger your home, the more likely you’ll have empty rooms that you feel the need to put stuff in. Now that we live in an RV, we are much more mindful of what we buy. We think about every purchase in terms of weight, size, where we can store it, and more.
To spend less time on maintenance and repairs. If all other factors between two homes are the same (age, location, etc.), a bigger home is more likely to take up more of your time and money due to more things breaking.
To spend less time cleaning. A larger home is going to take a lot more time to clean than a smaller one.
40. Have regular family money meetings.
Talking about money and conducting regular budget meetings is an important task for every family and serious relationship to take part in. A family who has regular money talks and budget meetings is more likely to be financially successful and happier than a family that doesn’t.
Regular money meetings can lead to better communication between family members, a more unified financial goal, family members being more involved and motivated, and more.
Read more at Family Budget Meetings – Yes, You Need To Have Them.
41. Keep a journal.
While I don’t have a journal, I do have this blog, which acts as a journal in a way. Keeping a journal can help you reflect on your past, and it also allows you to see the progress you are making towards your goals and dreams.
Plus, spilling your heart out every so often is great for the mind and soul.
Related tip: If you’re looking for a life planner, I highly recommend checking out Erin Condren and looking at their life planners and monthly planners. This can be a great way to stay motivated so that you can reach your dream life!
42. Don’t be afraid to be successful.
When some people become successful and reach their goals, they occasionally start feeling guilty.
Yes, I know, this might seem weird. However, I understand this.
Sometimes I really dislike telling my friends and family how great life is and how much I love my business. I often feel guilty, but I just need to remember that a mixture of luck and hard work led me to where I am. Everyone has their down points, and I had them as well.
You shouldn’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments, and you shouldn’t ever be ashamed of your success.
43. Sit silently.
When was the last time you just sat down in complete silence with no distractions? For the average person, this is probably a rare occurrence.
Sitting silently can help you reflect on your life and what’s going on in the world around you. It can also help you relax, destress, and clear your mind.
44. Have an emergency fund.
An emergency fund is something that I believe everyone should have. However, according to a report by Bankrate.com, 26% of Americans have no emergency fund whatsoever.
This same report stated that only 40% of families have enough in savings to cover three months of expenses, with an even lower percentage having the recommended six months worth of savings.
This is frightening to me, as having an emergency fund can really help you get through tough parts of your life.
An emergency fund can help you if you lose your job, if your hours are cut back, if you have an unexpected expense, and so on.
Read more at Everything You Need To Know About Emergency Funds.
45. Stay motivated.
Even with how much I love saving money, every now and then it becomes easy to get unmotivated and want to SPEND ALL THE MONEY!
I’m sure I’m not alone either.
While many choose to live a frugal life, it’s not always easy. Some have large amounts of debt to pay off, others find it hard to stick to a budget, and more.
Finding financial motivators will help you continue to work hard towards your goal, even when it seems impossible. Without motivation, one might give up on a financial goal quite easily. This is why it’s so important to learn how to stay motivated.
Read more at Paying Off Debt And Budgeting: Tricks For Staying Motivated.
46. Stop being afraid of your past.
Just because you may have failed at something in the past, this should not prevent you from aiming for your goals. I know people who have completely given up with reaching for hard goals because they weren’t successful in the past. However, that’s a horrible mindset to have.
If you have failed in the past, then you should use those mistakes as learning tools for the future.
What will you do to live an amazing life? What tips on how to live a great life do you have to share with us?