3 Utterly Obvious Ways to Build Wealth

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to build wealth.

In case you didn’t let that first sentence sink in, read it again.

The wealthy generally understand that while being smart can certainly help you earn money, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll build wealth with your earnings. Likewise, being famous doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to build wealth. Sure, it can help, but there are countless stories of those who earn a ton of money only to watch it disappear seemingly overnight.

So, what are the secrets to building wealth? And once you build wealth, how do you keep it? The truth is that the “secrets” to building wealth really aren’t secrets at all. They are simply common sense behaviors that, when practiced with purpose and over a long period of time, are likely to result in a pool full of cash (if that’s how you like to stockpile your money).

Let’s take a look at some of these behaviors.

1. Say “No” to Debt

“The most successful clients that I have worked with over my 18-year career are those that have no debt and positive cash flow,” says Joseph A. Carbone, Jr., CFP, wealth advisor and founder of WealthManagementfortheRealWorld.com.

Saying “no” to debt is truly a behavior at the heart of so many wealthy individuals. Why? It has something to do with interest rates.

Student loans, credit cards, personal loans, car loans, and many other types of debt all have interest rates. Some of these rates are higher than others, but one thing is guaranteed: You will pay a lot more money than necessary if you make minimum payments on a loan, and the interest rates will slowly drain any wealth you do have. (Making only the minimum payment can also drag out the life of your loan. You can track how your payments how affecting your credit for free on Credit.com.)

Unfortunately, that’s where many people get stuck. They are so used to debt, they think it’s normal and shrug it off as a way of life. Sure, it might be a way of life for some people, but it doesn’t have to be a way of life for you.

The way to get out of debt is to focus your energy on saying “no” to more debt. Make money fast, and you might choose to attack your debt even faster than you initially thought was possible.

2. Practice Discipline & Invest for the Long-Term

The media continually reports on this or that “new hot stock.” Don’t fall for it. We all know it’s better to diversify your investments and not get carried away by the allure of quick wealth.

“The number one behavior that inevitably leads to more wealth is staying disciplined. Emotions are very real and very dangerous, and it’s hard to be objective about your money, especially when people around us are talking about doom and gloom as it relates to the economy,” Scott Wellens, CFP, financial advisor and founder of BestinWealth.com explains

The stock market, for example, can be extremely volatile from year to year. Newbie investors might find themselves panicking when the stock market takes a steep dive, and decide they can pick the winning stocks. That’s a mistake.

“Most of your money is invested for the long-term — do not make short-term decisions about your long-term money. The best way to get market-like returns is not to fool with your investment mix. If you do, the probability of achieving your financial goals will most likely go down,” Wellen says.

The best advice is to buy and hold. And when you do so, hold for a long, long time. The discipline to stick to the buy-and-hold strategy isn’t easily found, but if you can do it, you’re much more likely to be financially stable in retirement.

3. Stay Frugal

You just got a new job. Now you’re bringing in the big bucks. Time to relax and buy that boat you always wanted and that recreational vehicle and that gold-infused (and bejeweled) smartphone case (to protect your less-expensive smartphone), right?

You guessed it: Not a good idea!

It’s a much better idea to stay frugal. Remember, you can only build wealth by saving money, not spending it. Sure, you’re going to have to spend some money, but you don’t have to inflate your lifestyle to match your new income. Far from it.

“It’s human nature for any increase in income to be immediately swallowed by lifestyle improvements, a phenomenon known as ‘lifestyle creep’,” Benjamin Brandt, CFP, at RetirementStartsTodayRadio.com, says. “Avoid lifestyle creep and build guaranteed increases into your savings plan by changing the way you think about annual raises. The next time you are presented with a raise, challenge yourself to save half of the increase and ‘creep’ with the other half. This strategy will allow you to pay yourself first, enjoy the fruits of your labor and build wealth over time.”

It’s better to stay frugal, build wealth and have a firm financial position rather than squander your money on things that you really don’t need – especially over the long-term.

There are plenty of ways to save money. Learn them, dream them and act on them. Stay frugal. Your wallet will thank you. (Well, maybe not right away, but over time it will.)

There is a common thread that ties all of these tips together: Earn more, save more and spend less. That’s an equation that will get you on the moderately fast track to building wealth. Sure, it’s not an overnight fix, but it’s worth the journey.

To motivate yourself, envision what you could do with your wealth. Perhaps you could quit your day job and go on that mission trip that would be much more fulfilling. Maybe you could give more than you ever thought possible. Leave an inheritance to your children and grandchildren! The sky’s the limit.