Most people get 'rich' slow and steady rather than overnight ...and by 'rich' those that are financially the best off typically don't look like it. They drive a

Most people get 'rich' slow and steady rather than overnight ...and by 'rich' those that are financially the best off typically don't look like it. They drive a modest car, live in a modest home, have nice but not flashy things. 3 main rules to live by: 1. The easiest way to increase your ability to save (other than a windfall inheritance) is to earn more money. Live a balanced life, but make sure that focus includes a strong career track with 1, 5 and 10 year goals. As has been discussed elsewhere at length, popular culture likes to play up the person that worked at a startup and sold their options for millions. This is very rare (most options are worthless or end up being worth less than the cash one gave up in the form of a lower salary to get them). Most 'rich' people are those that work hard and earn above average salaries over long periods of time. 2. As soon as practical, at every stage of your life live below your means. This isn't practical early on when some people are just scraping by, but once you start earning some real $$ learn from times when you had less $$ and live happily well under your means. If you earn $150k, live like you earn $100k. As one earns more it's fine to spend a bit (maybe you have a somewhat expensive hobby). Saving every penny eating beans and rice your whole life is no way to live. However, so long as you live well under your means you'll do very well. One of the biggest mistakes I see high earners make over and over is that they increase their spending as fast or faster than they increase their earnings. I can't tell you the number of "millionaires" I know that have trouble paying the electric bill some months. Don't fall into this trap. 3. Invest, but do so in a diversified and conservative fashion. Slow and steady is the key. Trying to "get rich quick" is also an easy way to "get poor quick." Build a reasonable pool of assets and invest when the market is up or down, just keep investing throughout your life. The math shows time and time again that people are horrible at timing the market. When everyone was in a full blown panic in 2008-09 the smart person just kept investing. Every $ the they invested is now worth 2-3x. Those that panicked and pulled out or stopped investing missed out big time.