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Yeah, yeah, one million U.S. dollars is not what it once was. But there is more than 90% of all U.S. households have. Who would not want to be a millionaire?

This article from Money Central is a millionaire and in it she shares tips on how to make a millionaire. The most important tips:

* Make financial security a priority.
* Less than you deserve.
* Save and invest regularly.
* Pay down debt.
* Own a house.

Good, simple, basic, effective tips. I come back to this in a minute, but let the first review a few other tidbits from the piece:

* If you do not have a plan, it is much too easy to lose your way: money for stuff that is not important, the debt to the poisonous and unhelpful, in despair, when the markets turn against you . After a long-term goal, and a long-term perspective, are essential for the balance.
* I bless my Depression-era mother, who grew up poor, knew how to pinch a penny and a high priority on savings. They understand the importance of the “pay yourself first”, so from my first job, I have been in the habit of saving at least 10% and often 20% of my gross pay. She has taught me to use credit cards as a convenience, not an excuse to buy things, I could not afford. You see people who have credit card balances with the same suspicion and displeasure, with which it in people who are not an ordinary house.
* Also automated investing plans really help. We invest, regardless of whether the market is up, down or sideways. We know that in the long term, a well-diversified portfolio of shares proposes any other investment, although there are some bumpy times along the way.
* Another point: Do not cash your 401 (k), if you have a job. About half of all workers do, and that is crazy. It is not only the taxes and penalties that eat up a quarter to half of the withdrawal. Even more important is that every $ 1000 cash-out costs you $ 10,000 or more in future retirement. So roll the money over into an IRA or your next employer plan.
* But it does mean you should avoid high-rate debt and cautious about your total debt load. Protect your house expenses at 25% of gross pay, for example, will help ensure that you have enough left over to finance the other goals and have fun once in a while.
* Despite the ups and downs, owning a home has long been the cornerstone of wealth for most people. The view that the median net worth of all homeowners in the U.S. in the year 2004 $ 184,400. For tenants, it was $ 4,000. Among the richest 10% of households, 96.9% are homeowners, compared with 69.1% of all households.
* We have discovered (duh) that it might be easier to meet your goals and have money for fun, if your income increases. So we have invested in education, their own businesses and looked for new ways to get cash. In today’s constantly changing economy, you must be willing to learn new skills and new directions.
* Finally, and perhaps most importantly: My husband and I do not live just for tomorrow. Our long-term goals are important to us, but we also want to enjoy life today. The fattest bank account in the world would not be useful if we do not have the opportunity to enjoy each other, our daughter and our lives. We appreciate the financial Milepost, if we achieve these goals, but we know there is more – much more – life than money.

Only an excellent, good, good article about the whole way. All this, and she also recommends two of my all-time favorite finance books – The Millionaire Next Door and the automatic millionaire. What’s not to love?

If you are already reading Free Money Finance for more than two seconds, you know how I learn about these issues on a regular basis. Here are a few links that provide additional thoughts on what the article has: Enter Here