Millionaires and Investments

Developing good spending and saving habits early in life can help grow wealth. While no one magic bullet guarantees success, understanding how money works certainly helps people get ahead.

Often the advice is a combination of saving, spending, investing by doing what you love or playing a sport you love. Rich people often say,  “if you do something you love, you will never work a day of your life.”

Millionaires might not be what they used to be, but there are still plenty out there. Most are self-made business owners, corporate managers, or professionals who’ve accumulated wealth working hard and making wise financial decisions over decades.

It’s not easy to accumulate millions of dollars, but it can happen if you know how to manage your money well both while saving and spending. Even though millionaires don’t always follow the crowds, they tend to follow certain lifestyle habits that could be useful for the majority of us who aren’t millionaires yet.

Here are some everyday habits millionaires practice all the time:

They start small

Before they became millionaires, they started small. For example, Richard Branson sold records (vinyl LPS) at university, which funded his more significant projects, taking it one step at a time.

Starting your career early is one way of making sure you utilize your youth well and achieve something significant before you get married and have kids.

They make a plan

Once they had some funds, they started planning their future and focusing on investing their money instead of spending it on frivolous things. While the best-laid plans don’t always work out, it’s better to have some idea of where you want to land, or you risk getting distracted from your course.

They’re disciplined

Millionaires are not just disciplined with their money, but they’re also disciplined in terms of time. They know how to prioritize tasks, and they have a strong focus on self-improvement.

They don’t give up

While some millionaires may have had ideas that failed, they didn’t let this discourage them from searching for the next big thing. They keep trying again until something works out.

Many famous businessmen and women say the best way to learn is to fail; for instance, Warren Buffett failed in his first endeavor, but that didn’t stop him. He continued to look for something better, and that’s how he became the successful man he is today.

They learn from their mistakes

Learning from their mistakes is especially true if they fail at something – most millionaires would try to turn it around by understanding what went wrong so that things go right the next time.

They’re self-made

Most millionaires will tell you that they didn’t inherit their wealth, they earned every penny of it on their own by working hard and using their money wisely. Millionaire parents can help make them rich, but they won’t make them rich without some effort on their part (and luck).

Saving money comes first

Millionaires know the importance of setting aside some money each month for savings. They don’t spend it all on things they don’t need. They are aware of the power of compound interest.

If you save at a young age, there is no reason why your savings won’t become millions by the time you retire. Even if you just invested in stocks or mutual funds that pay dividends, that money will keep adding up over time.

They pay themselves first

It’s not only essential to save up for the future, but you also need to make sure that you can cover your expenses today – by paying yourself first (and living below your means).

Millionaires always set something aside for emergencies or unexpected circumstances that might require their attention or money.

They make their money work for them

If they can’t afford to buy something, then the chances are that they’re not going to go out and spend money. Millionaires understand this concept well – if you don’t have enough cash on hand for something, you need to find other ways of getting it without sacrificing your savings or lifestyle.

They invest in real estate

Typically millionaires will own at least one home, but some might even be landlords with multiple properties (and renting them out). Either way, owning real estate rather than renting provides a source of passive income after all expenses are paid.

They learn from the millionaires that came before them

There’s a good chance that most folks who managed to “make it” have a mentor or someone they looked up to for inspiration. Many millionaires will be quick to tell you how important this was for their journey towards success.

They’re always learning new things

Millionaires have a thirst for knowledge, so they read books and take classes to improve themselves personally and professionally. Knowledge not only helps them become better individuals, but it also allows them to share what they’ve learned with others in the same field.

They network and stay positive

Even self-made millionaires had help along the way, even if it’s just from other individuals in their industry. Knowing how to build a rapport with others goes a long way, as does making sure that you’re always upbeat and happy, even if something unexpected happens.

They keep active

According to CNBC, some millionaires might be workaholics for most of their lives, but they also know when to take a step back and enjoy life. Whether it’s going on a break or spending time with the family, millionaires aren’t afraid to let loose every once in a while. Active people tend to have healthier lifestyles too.

They don’t brag about being rich

Millionaires won’t tell others about how much money they have or what they do for a living. Sure, some might be open about these things, but most millionaires will try to keep their personal life and finances as private as possible.

They take calculated risks

Just because you have a lot of cash doesn’t mean that you should throw it all away on ventures that could fail miserably. Savvy entrepreneurs won’t spend everything they have on a new business without having some backup plan in case things go wrong.

They teach the next generation how to manage their own money 

It’s one thing to make money and become rich, but it’s another thing to turn those skills into something that can benefit future generations. Billionaires will typically create a charitable foundation so that they can share their success with those less fortunate. Being charitable also has excellent tax incentives, so while we applaud philanthropy, we know there’s a payoff that suits the billionaires too.