Insight & Advice

Try Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS
CLICK HERE NOW

Are You Patient Enough to Become Rich?

05/04/07 - 10:27 AM EDT

Jeffrey Strain

So you want to be rich? I can tell you how right here and now.

There is a very simple three-step formula that will create wealth. It's a formula that has been proven to work over the years. Best of all, it's so common that you likely already know it.

  1. Start saving money as early as possible.

  2. Always spend a minimum of 10% less than you make.

  3. Invest the money that you don't spend.

I'm guessing you're disappointed. You were hoping to learn some new secret that would teach you how to create wealth quickly and easily. Even though you already know how to create wealth, you're probably not actively building it. The reason that you aren't is because you lack an extremely important skill: patience.

Patience is one of the most important traits a person can posses in helping to build a substantial nest egg for their retirement years. When it comes to personal finances, patience usually isn't considered critical, but it should be.

Here are five ways that patience can help you achieve riches:

1. It helps forgo instant gratification: Being patient allows you to wait until you have the money to purchase the things that you want. But it's not easy to show patience in a society where instant gratification is advertised as being the norm and credit is easy to obtain. If you aren't patient, however, it means that you will likely use a credit card to pay for things you don't have the money to pay for. This is how people get into credit card debt, which will deteriorate savings and hinder your ability to become wealthy.

2. It helps you save: Part of being able to save 10% of your take-home pay is making sure that you spend your money wisely. Having the patience to wait until a product's price comes down will go a long way toward helping you build wealth. People who have to have the latest gadgets the instant that they appear end up paying a premium. When the technology becomes more mainstream, its price becomes more reasonable. Having the patience to wait before you buy often is the difference between having 10% to invest and not having it.

Previous «
1 2
Jeffrey Strain has been a freelance personal finance writer for the past 10 years helping people save money and get their finances in order. He currently owns and runs SavingAdvice.com.

Insight & Advice


05/02/07
Save the Earth (Plus a Few Bucks)

Ten easy ways to help the environment and boost your savings.


04/25/07
Using the Snowball to Melt Debt

To decide which variation of debt reduction to use, first determine how you view your money.


04/20/07
Save Yourself

Your best investment could be the few minutes it takes to learn how to save your money.


04/18/07
How Your Senses Cost You Money

Retailers use a variety of ways to manipulate your senses in an effort to get you to spend.


04/12/07
Saving Without Misery

You don't necessarily have to sacrifice your lifestyle to put more money away.


04/11/07
10 Banking Moves You Should Make Today

It takes more than putting your money in the bank to save it.


08/05/08
Three Internet Stocks That Could Double

These forgotten Internet stocks are being accumulated by hedge funds.


08/15/08
The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street

Raspberries for Apple; You'll be sorry, UBS; Fortress or Fort Knox? Wholly unappetizing Foods; give Liberty AOL or give them...


08/15/08
McCain Fund-Raising Picks Up

The GOP presidential candidate raised $27 million in July.


08/15/08
Cash-Back Cards Aren't Money in the Bank

Some credit and debit cards give you some cash back on purchases. But you need to manage it well to benefit from it.


Your Recent Quotes: Quote Up0 | Quote Down0
Dow S&P 500 NASDAQ
Oil*
Gold
10 Yr
0.00%
%
%
%
Data delayed 20 min
Sign up for our FREE newsletters now. See All

  • Cramer's Daily Booyah!
  • Before the Bell

Premium Stock Ideas
Access Action Alerts Plus to find out Cramer’s latest picks now!