get rich

Best Money Tips: Get Rich With These Mental Habits

Amy Lu — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:30:21 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on mental habits that will help you get rich, essential skills to learn this year, and the best and worst things to buy at Aldi.

The 12-Month Get-Richer Plan

Mikey Rox — Mon, 16 May 2016 10:30:09 +0000

Ah, the lifestyles of the rich and famous. It's a good thing it's all over the TV for us to gawk at and covet 24/7, because most of us will never attain that kind of excessive wealth. What we can do, however, is try to improve our own financial lot to the best of our abilities. Sure, that may seem like settling for second (or even farther down the line) best, but we can't all have everything — and at least we have a little something.

Alas, even if we can't be swimming-in-gold-like-Scrooge-McDuck rich, there are ways to be wealthier at any income level. Simple moves we make for the betterment of our personal finances can increase our net worth. If you start today, you can be richer by this time next year. Here's what to do.

1. Get Rid of (or Reduce) One Expense Per Month

It's simple mathematics. The fewer expenses you have, the more money you'll have. Eliminating or reducing one expense every month may seem impossible, especially if you think you can't live without certain comforts, but the truth is, we don't need as much as we think. The problem, however, is that we don't realize how little we need until we start letting stuff go.

Be honest about your needs. For example, out of 300+ television stations you might have in your cable package, how many do you watch on a regular basis? If you're spending $150 a month on cable, getting rid of this expense means you'll save about $1,800 a year. You can eliminate or reduce your cable bill one month, decrease your grocery bill by 10% or 20% the next month, get rid of a monthly subscription a month later, and so forth. The savings are there if you start looking for them, and they'll start to stack up quickly.

2. Get a Better Savings Account

As you cut or reduce expenses every month, don't leave the savings in your checking account. Keep track of how much you're saving every month and then automatically transfer this money into a savings account. Since the idea is to become richer in 12 months, a regular savings account won't do. You need a high-yield savings account, which offers a better savings account rate.

3. Think Outside the Box When Saving and Investing

Several banks offer programs to help customers build their personal savings. Wells Fargo offers a Way2Save account. For every debit card transaction, the bank transfers $1 from your personal checking account into your Way2Save savings account. Bank of America has Keep the Change, which rounds up your purchases to the next dollar and deposits the difference into your savings account.

You can also take a round-up approach with investing. Using apps like Acorns makes it easy to invest and grow your money. Download the app and then link a debit or credit card to your account. Each time you use this debit or credit card for a purchase, Acorns rounds up purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference.

4. Make Transactions With Cash Only

Nowadays you can use credit and debit cards everywhere, including fast food restaurants and vending machines. But although credit cards are simple and convenient, a cash-only policy can help you become richer in a year.

When using plastic for purchases, physical cash doesn't leave your hand. And because there isn't a physical exchange of funds, there's a tendency to spend more. A study conducted by Dun & Bradstreet found that people spent "12% to 18% more when using credit cards instead of cash." If you only have cash, you can only spend a specific amount, thereby reducing the overall amount you'll spend in a transaction. Keep this up for a year, and you could see a significant reduction in overall outflow — and perhaps a change in your spending habits altogether.

Alternatively, if you can commit to paying off your credit card balances every month, a cash rewards credit card will put money back into your pocket for spending on the things you normally would anyway. Using the right credit card for your everyday purchases can easily save you over $1,000 a year.

5. Sell Everything You Never Use

We can accumulate a lot of stuff over the years, and in some cases, we don't use half the items in our possession. If you want to become richer in the next year, stop hoarding junk and sell everything you never use. Personally, I sell everything for which I no longer have a use and which still has some value. Even if you think your item is worthless, it's worth trying to sell it because you never know who wants your junk. Case in point: I sold a box of used bottle caps for, like, $50 once. Cha-ching!

Deposit whatever you earn from the sale into a high-yield savings account. Items you can sell include clothes, furniture, and electronics. I had a friend with a garage and two storage units packed with stuff. He had a massive yard sale over three weekends and walked away with over $3,000.

6. Increase Your Retirement Contributions

Some people think they don't earn enough to increase their retirement contributions. But even if you can't increase contributions by a lot, upping your contributions by 1% or 2% can make a difference over a year, and you'll be better prepared for the future.

Yes, extra money will be taken from your paycheck — and at first, you may feel the pinch — but I'm willing to bet that after a couple of months you'll adjust and no longer miss the money. It's just like getting hit with a new bill. You may not like the idea of a new expense, but you do whatever it takes to make room in your budget.

7. Skip Your Vacation for One Year

There's nothing wrong with a little fun away from home. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without a vacation or mini-getaway here and there. But if you want to build your net worth over the next 12 months, you can make headway by sacrificing a vacation for one year. You should continue to save just like you would for the trip. But instead of spending the cash on airfare and hotels, put it toward building a bigger nest egg. Remember, rich people didn't get where they're at by spending their time on vacation, but they do get to go on more vacations now that they're rich. Keep this philosophy in mind when you're feeling the pinch to keep going the extra mile.

What steps are you taking to get richer this year? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: 3 Proven Steps to Get Rich

Amy Lu — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 10:30:28 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found helpful articles on steps anyone can take to become rich, tips for grocery shopping when you’re single, and cool car hacks to try out.

5 Ways Good Manners Make You Wealthier

Brittany Lyte — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:00:03 +0000

Manners maketh the man. They're one of those things in life that cost you nothing, but can bring you great benefits — like respect. Or a smile from a stranger. And, in some cases, money. Here's how manners can lead you to a wealthier life. (See also: 12 Lessons in Manners From Around the World)

1. They Can Get You Hired

Good manners can help you score a great job. Politeness is a sign of professionalism, which is something every employer wants from their workers. Of course, manners won't compensate for a lack of job qualifications or a negative personal reference. But they can give you that boost you may need to clinch the gig. Likewise, a lack of manners can oust you from the running.

According to Tom Keene, editor-at-large at Bloomberg Television and Radio, illiteracy in the table manners department can quickly make a job interview go south. "Memo to all seeking gainful employment: Nothing kills the wine-and-dine interview like not knowing where the knife goes after you cut into the expense account New York strip steak," writes Keene, who has interviewed his fair share of job candidates. "I have personally seen too many qualified and unfortunate people that will never get ahead because, for whatever reason, they never learned the basics of fork, fork, knife, spoon, spoon."

2. They Can Help You Move Up the Ladder

If you're after a raise or promotion, don't discount manners as a means of getting you there. All told, 85% of respondents in a recent survey from the staffing firm Accountemps said being courteous to co-workers has an impact on a person's career prospects. On the flipside, just 14% of participants said that having poor manners at work has no influence on an employee's career success. The study is based on surveys completed by more than 450 employees ages 18 years and older who worked in office culture in the U.S.

"Time constraints and external pressures aren't excuses for bad behavior," says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. "While it takes more than just good manners to rise through the ranks, displaying professional courtesy will only help your career." Among the biggest work etiquette offenses: Using a speakerphone or talking loudly on the phone, loitering or talking around a colleague's desk, eating foods that have strong odors, keeping a messy or cluttered workspace, and leaving the phone ringer on loud.

3. They Can Help You Succeed at Networking

When you receive a person's business card at an industry mixer, do you take the time to send them a polite email the next day noting that it was great to meet them? Do you take the time to learn the names of the people at the mixer so that you can properly greet them should you encounter them again in the future?

These sorts of manners are a step beyond "please" and "thank you." They take time, consideration, a good memory, and a little forward thinking. But folks who practice these next-level manners, otherwise known as polished social skills, will get ahead in their careers more times than not. That's because they know how to bridge frivolous meet-and-greets into meaningful connections. After all, you never know who might be in a position to help your career in the future.

4. They Can Increase Your Sales

If you work in sales, you likely already know that being kind, polite, and understanding with your customers increases the chances that you will earn their future business — regardless of what it is that you're selling. If you own a business or work on commission, practicing politeness with customers quite literally translates to more money in your pocket. At the very least, good manners will keep you from being labeled by your customers and co-workers as boorish.

5. They Can Solidify Friendships That Bring You Success

Friends are scientifically proven to make you more successful. Specifically, developing and maintaining friendships with positive, like-minded people. It's these folks who share your drive and goals who can best help you narrow in on your dreams. Now, here's where manners come in: Research shows that saying "thank you" helps people to build and sustain friendships. Truly, minding your manners can make a big difference in the quality of the friends you keep, and your overall success.

What other manners make you wealthier? Let us know in the comments!

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This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Do You Really Want to Be Rich?

Tara Struyk — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:24:12 +0000

Here’s a statistic for you — according to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 57% of people over the age of 18 play the lottery in a given year. That suggests there are a whole lot of people out there who are angling to be rich — or at least richer.

Maybe it’s only human nature to dream about wanting more out of life, whether that means a bigger house, a better car, more time off, or real financial security. But here’s the thing — while I’d venture to guess that most people would like a little extra padding in their finances, very few actually take any steps to make it happen. To me, that’s a bit like wishing for washboard abs while watching the “The Biggest Loser Workout” videos — and scarfing down a family sized bag of potato chips. What I mean to say is that it just doesn’t make sense.

It makes me wonder...how many of us are actually willing to do the real work that’s most often involved in raking in the big bucks? And if we aren’t willing to get our hands dirty, are we really interested in being rich at all? (See also: 5 Money Lessons From Millionaires)

What It Takes to Be Rich

Take a look at the Forbes list of the richest people in America, and it becomes very clear that there are really only a few key ways to become filthy, stinking rich (because, let's face it, moderation just doesn't factor into our dreams):

Inherit
Found a successful company
Invest

Unless you’re the heir to a major fortune, you can scratch the first one of your list right off the bat. Now you’re left with two solid options. And when I say solid, I mean that they’re possible, not that they’re easy. Building a business is a huge commitment of time, effort, money, and risk. In the end, a lot of start-ups fail despite the heroic efforts of their founders. But when your own business pays off, you get to enjoy a lot more of the spoils than if you were simply an employee.

Investing your way to wealth may be even more difficult. Even with high returns, you’ll need a fairly large amount of money to work with. That means you have to either earn more or save more. Plus, scoring a huge win (often called a “tenbagger”) in investing is very rare and tends to be a once-in-a-lifetime deal, even for many of the best investors out there.

A Practical Option

I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but all in all, the odds of being very rich aren’t that good, at least not in the near future. So do you have any chance of being richer? The answer is yes — if you can muster a little patience.

Let’s go back to the people who play the lottery. According to the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), about 20% of players spend more than $1,300 per year on lottery tickets. That’s a lot of money, especially when you consider that those regular players tend to be on the lower end of the income spectrum.

Now, I can totally understand the lure of dreaming about winning the jackpot, but based on the odds, I think I can safely say that it won’t happen to you. What I can say with all certainty is that if you were to invest that $1,300 per year at a modest 5% rate, you’d have $70,000 at the end of 25 years. Kick in a little extra here and there, and you’ll have yourself a respectable retirement account. OK, so maybe you won’t be rolling in a giant pile of cash, but having some money to spare during retirement doesn’t sound all that bad, now does it?

Do You Really Want to Be Rich?

“Whether rich or poor, it’s always nice to have money,” the old saying goes. I’m not going to say that having more money can’t make life more comfortable, but most studies show that the sense of well-being that comes from wealth peaks well below a six-figure salary, never mind millions. That suggests that you might get more mileage out of a living in a house and dreaming about a mansion than you will out of actually crossing the threshold to become truly rich. Plus, a level of wealth that meets all your needs, leaves room for a few wants, and allows you to build a secure financial future is a lot more attainable for everyone.

The bottom line is that there’s no magic pill for wealth. Hard work and smart choices play a key role, but any successful businessperson or investor will also tell you there’s more than a little luck involved. Working hard, saving as much as you can, and investing well will put you in a position to capitalize on that luck. The best part is even if you never get lucky, you'll still be better off. That's more than I can say for the other options. Spending your money on lottery tickets (or just idly wishing for a bigger bank account) are likely to leave you broke and possibly bitter.

So here's the bad news — extravagant wealth is pretty hard to come by, and unless you’re the heir to a fortune, it's pretty unlikely you'll get there, even with hard work and sacrifice. So why not work toward creating a life where your needs are met and you don't have to walk the thin line between survival and financial failure? Sure, it's a lot less glamorous than a million-dollar lifestyle. The good news is if you put in the work, the odds on this one are in your favor.

This article is from Tara Struyk of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Do You Own a Domain Name That’s Worth a Fortune?

Paul Michael — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:09 +0000

Chances are, many of you reading this already own a few domain names. At around $8 a year these days, they're cheap enough. I own several, usually because I have a "bright" idea that I think would make an awesome product or website and snag the domain name before someone else does. Then it sits there gathering internet dust.

Many people do the same as I do, and then forget about those websites. The option to auto-renew makes it very easy to sit on a website name for years and not even remember that you own it. And some of those domains can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even millions.

A highly publicized example of this was the sale of the domain name sex.com a few years ago. That particular domain name sold for $14 million dollars! That was clearly going to be a very popular web address considering the amount of money the online pornography industry is worth. I am by no means suggesting you go out and buy smutty web addresses, by the way. No, there is money to be made from any web address if the right person is in the market for it.

A friend of a co-worker of mine recently sold a domain name he bought back in 1994. He received over $100,000 for it. Not bad for an $8/year investment. Do a little searching on the internet and you can find many examples of this. But how do you know if you have one of these domain name goldmines?

Well, first, use a little common sense. If you look into your archive and see a domain name that is a short, popular word, it's going to be valuable. Three-, four-, five-, and six-letter word domains are generally very difficult to come by these days. If you have one, consider putting it up for sale. An auction site like sedo.com is a great way to sell off your domains, minus a small percentage for the service.

Next, remember that .com addresses are still the most sought after. The .info, .tv, .net and .org addresses can still be worth a ton of money though, so don't rule them out. But generally speaking, .com is where the money is.

If the domain name you own isn't obviously popular, it still doesn't mean it's not valuable. You could have a made-up word like "plunty" or "gigazig," and although it's meaningless, it could be the next Napster or Starbucks. If you put it up for sale, you may be surprised to find that a startup business wants it.

There is also a growing business in domain name speculation. This is NOT cybersquatting, which is buying a domain name with the bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. For instance, buying nikeshoes.com and waiting for a big fat check from Nike.

This is speculation, pure and simple. You buy a domain name that's free and hope that someday you can sell it for a profit. For instance, I could see if "gigazig.com" is free, and if it is, I could snap it up. It will probably be worth nothing for many years, but hey, you never know. For a while I owned "goalfrenzy.com," which was going to be a website dedicated to the best goals from soccer matches around the world. Of course, I never got around to creating the site and the domain name expired. Who knows, though. If I held on to it and a magazine or TV show appeared called Goal Frenzy, then that domain would now be worth cash.

So, if you have a few domains sitting around doing nothing, go and check them out. Maybe you're sitting on something that could be worth thousands and thousands of dollars. Good luck to you.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Millionaire Next Door: Riches De-mystified

Nora Dunn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:19:20 +0000

You've seen them driving by you but you didn't even notice. They were in the checkout line at the grocery store but you didn't give them a second glance. They're everywhere, infiltrating our lives in ways we can't even detect...millionaires.

A while ago I read The Millionaire Next Door , mostly for business purposes. I found the book initially extremely dry and scholastic, but after persevering found that I was quoting all sorts of words of wisdom from the book on a regular basis.

At the very least it gave me a new perspective on millionaires and de-mystified the grandeur of their lives for me.

What goes on behind closed doors is amazing.

Did you know, for example, that the large majority of people living in "rich" neighbourhoods, driving fancy cars, and wearing the latest fashions actually aren't "rich" at all? According to the book these people more often than not live paycheque to paycheque, often working in high-income professions such as medicine or law. They generally have more debts than assets, and their monthly expenses are over the top. They are busy trying to keep up with the Joneses at a pace they often can't maintain.

Or these people were born into or inherited money, and are propagating the statistic that most people who come into money lose it within one generation.

The real millionaires are the people living in the modest houses in modest neighbourhoods, driving older cars, and even clipping coupons.

They understand the value of a dollar, and aren't too proud to go out and save one. (I'll bet we even have some millionaires reading frugal living tips on Wise Bread this very minute)! They believe in investing, delegating matters like financial planning and accounting to the experts, and thoroughly researching their options when they make any major decisions.

Most millionaires are self-made, through hard work, patience, and honesty.

The life of a millionaire (the sort of millionaire referred to in the book, rather) isn't out of reach for those of us who are patient and disciplined enough to get there if that's what we want. But beware: being "rich" isn't a status, and doesn't become a new lifestyle when your bank account magically hits a certain number. Being "rich" is a way of life and an attitude, regardless of whether or not you have money. So start being rich now and become the next Millionaire Next Door!

This article is from Nora Dunn of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Over 7 million money-making ideas - Google Patents

Paul Michael — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:35:08 +0000

Ever dreamed of patenting a great idea that could make you a fortune? The Pet Rock maybe? Or the Jump To Conclusions mat? Well, you'll find even more crazy ideas using Google Patent Search , or even better, submit one of your own.

I've only been buzzing around on Google's patent search engine for a few minutes, but I have already found some very unusual and unique inventions. For the sake of Wisebread readers, I thought I'd look for inventions about saving money, time and hassle. I found thousands. Here are just a few of my favorites.

1: The Compartmented Piggy Bank

2: A space-saver pizza box (nice)

3: A wine & spirits carry-out package

4: A briefcase that converts into a table

5: A split-ends remover (not much use for me, I shave my head)

I'm sure you'll have something more specific in mind when you're looking around. Maybe it will inspire you to invent something of your own, and file a patent. With over 7 million already out there, you've got some competition. But who knows, maybe your idea will be the next iPod. Go for it.

Oh, and speaking of inventions, check this one out. A fridge that throws you a beer. Nice.

Beer Fridge Launcher - Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

get rich

Best Money Tips: Get Rich With These Mental Habits

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

The 12-Month Get-Richer Plan

1. Get Rid of (or Reduce) One Expense Per Month

2. Get a Better Savings Account

3. Think Outside the Box When Saving and Investing

4. Make Transactions With Cash Only

5. Sell Everything You Never Use

6. Increase Your Retirement Contributions

7. Skip Your Vacation for One Year

Like this article? Pin it!

Best Money Tips: 3 Proven Steps to Get Rich

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

5 Ways Good Manners Make You Wealthier

1. They Can Get You Hired

2. They Can Help You Move Up the Ladder

3. They Can Help You Succeed at Networking

4. They Can Increase Your Sales

5. They Can Solidify Friendships That Bring You Success

Like this article? Pin it!

Do You Really Want to Be Rich?

What It Takes to Be Rich

A Practical Option

Do You Really Want to Be Rich?

Do You Own a Domain Name That’s Worth a Fortune?

The Millionaire Next Door: Riches De-mystified

Over 7 million money-making ideas - Google Patents