Spend Less Than You Earn
Although there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for financial success, there is one universal rule everyone should live by, said J.D. Roth, founder of Get Rich Slowly, a financial website.
“It’s hard to say that there’s one thing that everyone should do,” he said. “I believe that each of us has different strengths, goals and circumstances, so blanket advice is generally useless.
Having said that, there is one universal [tip]: To accomplish whatever you want to accomplish, you have to spend less than you earn. Yes, that sounds elementary, but it’s a fundamental truth. Whether you want to buy a home, travel the world, send your kids to college or retire early, you’ll make quicker progress toward your goal if you increase the gap between your earning and spending.”