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So, you’ve set your sights on becoming a millionaire, just like the 59.4 million millionaires living in the U.S. today.
If you dive into these statistics more closely, you’ll find that the average wealth per adult is expected to be at $110,270 by 2027.
Given these averages, some of you might be wondering how to reach that million-dollar mark by the time you turn 30.
And if you’re ambitious, you might be wondering how to get rich in your 20s. While others just want the lowdown on “how to become a self-made millionaire with no money” at any point in your life.
A million dollars today doesn’t stretch as far as it once did, largely due to inflation. Indeed, a dollar from the past carried more purchasing power than one today!
I must admit, a million dollars might not take you as far in retirement as you might hope, particularly if you’re envisioning more than a basic lifestyle. Ultimately, it all depends on how you envision your future.
Still, saving up $1,000,000 is a massive pile of cash, especially for the 60% of folks who are barely making ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck, according to a report from CNBC.com.
Given all that, for many of us today, becoming a millionaire, especially a self-made one starting with no money, might seem like a distant, if not impossible, dream.
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How To Become a Millionaire in Your 30s From Nothing
It’s not surprising I felt that way, growing up in a low-income family where money was tight and financial knowledge was scarce.
I was filled with self-doubt and reasons why I couldn’t succeed, never genuinely considering the possibility of becoming a millionaire. But as you continue reading, you’ll learn what turned my thinking around.
I’ve had my fair share of financial mishaps in the past, but I’m here now to share my insights so you can build your wealth and reach millionaire status without the need to win the lottery or wait for an inheritance.
The path to prosperity involves keeping an open mind and taking time to understand the mindset of a millionaire (or even a billionaire).
If I had continued clinging to the scarcity mentality I had for so many years, I’m pretty certain I’d still be living paycheck to paycheck with less than $1,000!
But I didn’t.
When I was just 19, I took a small but fun step towards my savings goal by starting an adult piggy bank (and yes, I’ve still got that piggy bank and use it to this day).
And then I eventually learned how to save $10,000 a year, all while managing to pay off my student and car loans by simply sticking to a lifestyle I could afford.
Over time, I managed to increase my savings to a point where I was putting away at least half of my income. This gave me a chance to try my hand at investing and get my money to do the heavy lifting through passive income streams that allowed me to quit my job.
By developing good money habits in my 20s, I was surprisingly able to eventually save 7 figures in net worth in my 30s! But to pull this off, I had to hustle and find ways to make some extra money. Because, let’s face it, there is a limit to how much money you can save!
I’ve tried many profitable hobbies and gigs, ranging from earning $100 a day to making as much as $500 per day!
“If you are born poor it’s not your mistake, but if you die poor it’s your mistake.” — Bill Gates
💡 QUICK PRO TIP: Did you know that you could become a millionaire quicker than the average person when you put in the effort to earn extra money? This is exactly what I did to speed up my net worth over the years.
I experimented with many different ways to earn extra money, and my top recommendation is to start a profitable blog from scratch with my easy step-by-step tutorial.
As a beginner, I honestly had no clue what blogging meant or how bloggers made money online, but I am SO glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to start this blog because within 1 year of learning, I was making an EXTRA $5,000 per month on top of my 9-5 job. In less than 2 years, I hit my goal of earning $10,000+ per month with a small blog like this one you’re reading here.
Trust me, you DON’T need to be a tech wiz. You don’t need to be writing a blog post every day to earn money online with a blog. You don’t need to be an expert at writing either.
👉 Sign up for my FREE 7-day e-mail course here, and I’ll show you exactly how I made my first $10,000+ per month with this blog WITHOUT being a tech genius or expert. I literally started with NO experience and was very clueless. But doing this helped me earn extra money so I could increase my net worth at a faster pace – this could also help you hit your goal of becoming a millionaire sooner!
UPDATE: It has almost been six years since I originally wrote this post, and I’ve earned almost $800,000 to date just from blogging alone, which all started as a hobby!
Can anyone become a millionaire?
Yes, becoming a millionaire is within your reach if you learn how to separate a poor vs. rich mindset. This is probably one of the first and most important steps to conquer before you can take action and see results!
Before I dive into the nitty-gritty of how you too can hit the millionaire mark by 30, or any age for that matter, let me just say this: If you’re the type to find a million reasons why something won’t work for you, this blog post might not be your cup of tea.
And if you’re thinking or asking pie-in-the-sky questions like any of these below, well then… close this browser.
- “Is that all you got? I’m here for the get-rich-quick schemes! Like making a million a year super fast with crypto, no sweat off my back.”
- “How can I become a millionaire overnight?”
- “What’s the quickest way to get rich without doing anything?”
- “You just lucked out. Those opportunities aren’t around anymore!”
- “Sure, if you’ve got a fancy degree like a master’s or Ph.D., making more money is a breeze. Try hitting millionaire status by 30 or 40 without one!”
- “Yeah, easy for you to say. You’re probably one of those folks pulling in over $120,000 a year from your cozy office job! Try getting by on $40,000 a year! Even better, try surviving on a minimum wage job at Starbucks while providing for a family with 5 kids!”
“99% of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” — George Washington Carver
Now that those excuses and negative thoughts are cleared, you are on your way to becoming a millionaire by 30 (or at any age)!
Even if you don’t become a millionaire by 30 (chances are you may be in your late 20s or past your 30s and 40s), it’s never too late to get started with building wealth and obtaining financial independence.
Achieving this milestone by 40, 50, or by your traditional retirement age of 65 will greatly reduce your financial stress compared to most others who are scrambling and crying when they realize it’s too late!
Mind you, nothing in life is guaranteed, and there are NEVER 100% risk-free returns.
However, when you form good daily habits that help you reach your $1,000,000 milestone (AND you keep persisting regardless of any obstacles), your chances of getting there are higher than sitting on your couch and doing nothing about your situation!
Staying motivated is the hardest part, but if your mind is determined to get what you want and you actually put in the effort to take action, you will start to see results!
Without further ado, here are the steps to becoming a millionaire by 30, or at any age before retirement.
How To Become a Millionaire From Nothing (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Change your poor money mindset to a rich one!
Did I mention earlier that I had a really poor money mindset many years ago?
Ever since I was a kid, my dad, who earns a minimum wage even to this day, constantly complained about our family being poor. He kept yelling about how we were going to remain poor for the rest of our lives because we just weren’t lucky!
Honestly, I didn’t know any better and was stuck with that mentality for over 20 years without noticing it!
I don’t know what hit me, but I soon realized and acknowledged that my low confidence and negative mindset were robbing my future and happiness away!
I stopped giving myself excuses and picked up some personal finance and self-development books for help:
Word of caution:I really have to admit that changing your mindset and becoming more open-minded is the HARDEST part! It’s actually harder than all the other steps I list below!
Without acknowledging and overcoming your negative thoughts and ignorance, all the other steps will be difficult to achieve.
Again, this has A LOT to do with opening up to different perspectives (that you may typically disagree with).
You REALLY need to see things from different angles and be open about giving things a chance. That includes not being so opinionated and fixed on a certain view all the time.
2. Find ways to save money (and increase your savings rate)
When you try to look up the best frugal living tips, you’ll find that the general rule of thumb is to save 20% of your income. It comes from the 50-30-20 budgeting rule, wherein you allot 50% of your income for your needs, 30% for your wants, and 20% for your savings.
It’s not a bad budgeting rule, but with that, you may just be able to retire with $1,000,000 by 60. It’s not enough if you want to be a billionaire before retiring.
Learning how to become a millionaire earlier is important for those who want to gain financial independence before retirement.
So how can you do that?
Well, if you’re not already saving part of your income, you will have to look for more ways to save money to fast-track the journey to becoming a millionaire.
Based on my experience, the best way to increase your savings each month is by ditching the stuff that you don’t add anything to your life. I’ve seen other people struggle to save because they don’t realize they’re spending on unnecessary items. Sometimes, stopping ourselves from buying the things we don’t need is all we need to do to save more effectively.
When I stopped buying unnecessary things, I found myself saving an additional $1,000 a month without penny-pinching. That’s something you can do, too!
How To Make a Million From Nothing
If you want to know how to build your wealth in 10 years or how to become a millionaire by 30 or at a young age, I’m going to be honest right now: saving 10, 15, or even 20% of your income is NOT enough. Unfortunately, that traditional advice just won’t suffice.
What you have to do is make a strong effort to increase your savings rate. Do you really want to reach your first $1,000,000 faster? Then you need a bolder approach to saving.
Increase your savings rate for low to average-income earners
Let’s start with those of you who earn a low-to-average income at your day job.
It will be hard to save more when you have a ton of responsibilities and bills to pay. I won’t deny that!
Even prioritizing your essential expenses and following these money-saving tips may not be enough because the truth is you’re just not making enough to save a higher percentage of your paycheck!
One of the best solutions, which I personally did over the years, is to increase your income and/or find ways to make extra money. I talk more about this point later.
Again, I definitely wasn’t the smart graduate with high marks nor had a ton of connections, so I didn’t land a high-paying job fast.
In fact, I had terrible marks and didn’t know any hotshots — I wish I made the effort to network with others (I admit that I still give myself excuses today for doing it).
Despite not being able to have that in my early 20s, I didn’t use it as an excuse to stop myself from reaching my financial goals by 30.
I admit it’s easier when you’re younger and have fewer responsibilities. But if you have kids and more responsibilities, could you make it a priority and spare an hour or two each day or week? Every little bit of extra money helps!
Again, being able to achieve this comes with the ability to say goodbye to those excuses and a poor mindset!
Increase your savings rates for high-income earners
Fortunately for you, if you’re diligent and mindful about your spending, you can save a big portion of your paycheck!
If there really isn’t any room left to cut your expenses, and you want to maintain your current lifestyle, then you’ll have to look into money-saving hacks and find ways to increase your earnings.
TRUST ME, regardless of your income bracket, making the effort to increase your earnings will give you the option to save a higher percentage of your pay!
Let’s not forget, that if you put those savings into long-term investments, you can imagine how fast your equity can grow thanks to the magic of compound interest!
However, I understand how you feel.
Despite earning a high income, I know it may be just as hard for you as it is for lower-income earners to sock away your savings (for different reasons).
More often than not, you’re probably asking yourself, “I earn so much but why am I not an automatic millionaire? Where’s all my money at?”
Let’s take a look at the next point to find out where your potential $1,000,000 went…
3. Avoid lifestyle inflation (to become a millionaire faster)
Some people are earning more than enough to save a million dollars in a few years, but somehow, it still feels impossible to save. Lifestyle inflation is just getting in the way.
For instance, even though doctors generally have a significant salary, not many of them can save up as much because they tend to spend more when their income rises. But even though you’re not making as much money as a doctor, lifestyle inflation can still creep its way toward you.
It doesn’t matter how much money you’re making. As humans, we’re always tempted to upgrade our lifestyles. Sometimes, we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
Think of a time when you got bumped up at work. Maybe you saw a 3, 5, or 10% boost in your paycheck, and the first thing that came into your mind is something like “I can finally eat at that fancy restaurant I’ve been eyeing!” Thoughts like this are harmless, but that’s the trap of lifestyle inflation.
If you look closely at how you spend your money, you’ll be shocked to find out that these impulsive upgrades are sneakily consuming a big chunk of your income. So always remember that there might be a hidden reason why your bank balance isn’t going up the way you want it to.
The best way to counter this is to consistently live below your means. It also wouldn’t hurt to seek fulfillment and satisfaction in activities that don’t require you to continuously upgrade or spend too much, like volunteering, reading, or even meditating.
4. Prioritize your spending (so you can save $1,000,000 faster)
Picking up from my previous point about lifestyle inflation and dodging it, I’m not suggesting you pinch every penny and give up the things you love.
If your daily Starbucks coffee or latte is your little slice of joy, then absolutely, go for it! Spending between $700 to $1,300 a year on your coffee fix isn’t going to derail your millionaire plan, especially if you’re actively seeking ways to bump up your income.
And hey, why spend if you can find ways to get free drinks at Starbucks today? Just putting these free coffee hacks out there…
The truth is, not everyone’s willing to slash their caffeine budget to join the millionaire club!
Maybe you’re a fan of luxury items, like a posh designer handbag or a pair of boots with a $500 price tag. Or perhaps you prefer shelling out more cash for a memorable family vacation.
What I’m getting at is this: it all boils down to sorting out your essentials first, like your basic needs, and then splurging a bit on the things that genuinely make you happy. After all, we all deserve to savor life a little.
As long as you’re staying on track with your financial goals and keeping lifestyle inflation in check, I see no harm in treating yourself to the little luxuries that add a dash of excitement to life.
5. Create a savings system (or a budget) that works
I’ve often shared on my blog how my fiance (now husband) and I got hooked on a few money makeover shows while we were still in University.
That’s where we picked up some ingenious budgeting techniques. It’s a dream for anyone dipping their toes into budgeting for the first time!
There’s a heap of budgeting methods for beginners out there, but the one we’ve been sticking with for over ten years, the reverse budget or the “pay-yourself-first” method, is what really gave us a leg up in saving our first $1,000,000 by age 30. It’s incredibly straightforward and works like a charm, but the trickiest part is keeping that drive going.
To lighten things up a bit, I like to have a little money set aside for my “no regrets” splurges. You could think of it as your “YOLO” stash. 🙂
Thanks to this savvy strategy, I put away some money before I spend the rest. It turns out, it’s a whole lot easier when you save first and then spend what’s left over.
“Do not save what is left after spending; instead spend what is left after saving.” – Warren Buffet 🌟
Grab your free budget printable!
To help YOU master YOUR savings, we created the fail-proof budget binder HERE just for you!
In this budget kit, we included a monthly budget tool that keeps track of all your income sources plus expenses. We also made these pretty weekly printables that will keep your budget and savings on track.
These free printables were made to give you instant results to boost your confidence in your financial journey.
For this to work, you need to form a good long-term habit with your money!
It’s okay to get sidetracked once in a while — the key to seeing results is consistency and actually following through with your financial goals!
6. Increase your earnings
A lot of the cash I’ve stashed away comes from upping my earnings through extra income so I could save (and ultimately invest) more, all without ditching the lifestyle I’m into.
Yes, early on, I might have had to make a few tough calls to earn and save more, but it’s paid off big time! Also, knowing the fact that my family was always broke and living paycheck to paycheck gave me a push to improve our financial situation!
To give you a leg up in boosting your income and making a million dollars, I’ve put together a bunch of separate articles that focus on side gigs and business ideas:
Update: I started this small blog almost six years ago, and I managed to give my earnings a solid boost by figuring out the ropes of making money online as a beginner.
So far, as a six-figure blogger, I’ve earned over $800,000 just from blogging alone! I started from $0, so it’s crazy to reflect back on what I’ve done with this little blog of mine!
I want to share this wealth of information and let you know that it’s completely feasible to add a side hustle like blogging to pump up your current income, even if you’ve got zero experience or understanding of the online landscape or blogs.
I’ve helped over 100,000 students start their blogs and I’m excited to join you on this financial adventure! You can learn how to start a profitable blog with my step-by-step guide here.
Build passive income to become a millionaire faster
I’m a fan of a few passive income streams because they allow money to work for you while you sleep.
You can also take a look at these incredible passive income ideas that may help you earn money while working a full-time job!
The younger you start, the better. I mentioned that time is one of your greatest assets, so learn this while you’re young!
Increase your salary (through traditional methods)
You may recall from the beginning of this post, I said that I never thought I’d be worthy enough for a decent-paying job. I just didn’t think I had the skills or educational background to earn more.
Many people who are unemployed or earn lower salaries have these self-limiting thoughts. You need to realize that this is very toxic to your mindset, which is what’s robbing away your potential to earn more money!
Once I got rid of that poor mindset, I was able to increase my earnings — that includes switching to a higher-paying job, negotiating higher salary/bonuses, and working overtime on special projects.
I love Ramit’s guide to getting a raise and boosting your salary.
Make extra money (with these non-traditional methods)
Like most people, I used to be stuck in the mentality that saving money from a 9-to-5 job was the only way to achieve financial independence.
The idea of “making more money outside my 9-to-5” intimidated me because, again, I didn’t think I was capable of doing it, but I eventually let go of that fear and limited mindset.
For several years, I tried many creative ideas to make extra money on the side, and that made it easier to boost my savings rate!
Stumbling upon various side hustles was a real game-changer. Even as a beginner, I was earning an extra $1,000 fast every month, just by dabbling in the most random yet enjoyable activities.
These money-making ideas include:
- Investing in stocks and funds
- Investing in rental properties (you can also check out how to make money with Airbnb)
- Flipping furniture and selling it for extra money
- Making home decor pieces and crafts to sell
- Looking for surveys that pay real money through PayPal (FYI – taking surveys was only good for earning free gift cards)
- Flipping clothes online (you can check out the best apps to sell clothes online)
- Selling my clutter from home online
- Looking for a list of things to sell to make money
- Blogging (you can check out how I made $27,689.76 in a single month)
Start a blog for extra money
Not too long after, I discovered something called “blogging” and decided to give it a try, which is what you’re reading right now.
I’ve said this many times, but I really didn’t know that blogs (especially small ones like mine) could make money.
I was SO naive and clueless! I didn’t even know how to start a blog (or what to do).
I came across stories about bloggers who became millionaires (it’s as if they learned how to become millionaires overnight) — but no, they actually put in a lot of work and effort!
Although I knew that would never be me, I took the plunge and started one anyway because it’s really cheap to start one.
I just thought it would be nice to start a blog to earn some extra money, so I didn’t have high expectations when I first started. I was just focused on learning and taking things one step at a time.
While working a full-time job, I created this blog and was really shocked that I made $5,000 per month within my first year starting from scratch (in EXTRA money on top of my full-time job).
After that, I couldn’t believe that I was able to make my first $120,000 annual income as a full-time blogger in my second year of blogging — I promise you that I had no experience whatsoever!
YOU CAN START A BLOG AND MAKE MONEY TOO! 💵
Now, I’m not saying that to make you think that starting a blog is easy and that you’re going to see results overnight!
This may not be for everyone and I admit it’s NOT easy, but I really believe that you can earn a good income if you are excited to learn and put in consistent effort. This applies to anything you do in life!
With that said, starting this blog gave our net worth an additional push by a good five-figures. You can check out my blogging journey and blog income reports here to see whether this side hustle may spark your interest.
👉 You can create your own blog by following my easy step-by-step blogging tutorial. You can start your blog for as low as $2.95 per month plus get a FREE domain name when you sign up through my tutorial.
7. Take advantage of free money
I have a page where I list out the resources I use to get free money!
At the beginning of that page, I mention the small but quick wins you can take advantage of today—they are fun ways to get free money and gift cards that can go towards your monthly savings and or extra spending.
Near the end of that post, I put emphasis on the bigger wins that allow you to save more so you can work towards your goal of becoming a millionaire sooner.
The ultimate goal is to save more so you can invest more and see that number compound exponentially over time!
8. Invest your money and watch your savings grow on autopilot
Growing up, I learned that my parents had close to nothing in their savings accounts because they did not invest.
They just kept telling each other about how poor we were and that they had no money to invest.
Not to mention, the thought of investing seemed complicated and for the elite only, so they never even bothered with it.
Watching them handle their finances as a child throughout my 20s was a real-life lesson for me.
If this janitor was able to secretly become a self-made millionaire, then what makes us so different?
Let’s look closely at how you can become a millionaire by investing both your earnings and savings!
How to become a millionaire by investing
Now, you’re probably asking, “How much do I need to invest to be a millionaire?” or “How can I invest to be a millionaire?”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to those questions because it will depend on a lot of factors such as your:
– earnings and savings rate (of course, the higher, the better).
– return on your investments (this will ultimately depend on your risk tolerance).
– time (the younger you start, the better).
– a bit of luck (yes, we all need some luck, but remember that luck doesn’t come if you don’t take action).
Notice that YOU are in control of 3 out of the 4 factors I mentioned above.
Increase both your earnings and savings to become a millionaire faster:
For one, how much you earn and save will depend on how much effort you’re willing to put in. Are you the person who takes action or the person who complains while hoping something magical will happen? You’re in control, and that’s ultimately up to you!
You have more time to become a millionaire when you start early
Just as the early bird catches the worm, the same goes for saving money! You will have more opportunities to save, earn, and invest if you start saving early.
For those who are in their 20s, learning how to be a millionaire by 30 is still possible. Even smaller contributions made as early as possible in your 20s can snowball into bigger wealth over time but remember that only small contributions aren’t enough. You have to maximize your earning potential and make smart financial decisions consistently.
Even if you’re past your 20s and 30s, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s never too late to start building wealth. While starting early gives you a lot of advantages, consistent saving and investing at any age can still lead to financial success and eventual millionaire status.
After all, the best time to start was yesterday, but the second best time to start is today!
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” — An inspiring Chinese proverb
Rate of return vs. risk
How fast your investments grow is out of your control (and that is based on a bit of luck), however, you do have control over how much risk you’re willing to take.
I must say that as you become older, you probably don’t want to take on too much risk.
Higher returns do tend to come with higher risks, but like I always say, nothing in life is ever 100% guaranteed! It’s always better to educate yourself and do your due diligence before taking any risks.
How can I invest to be a millionaire?
Now that you understand those four factors, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to save and earn more so you can invest and compound those savings!
Today, my savings are growing because of the magic of compound interest. TRUST ME, this weapon is going to be your long-term bestie!
It totally shocks me but when I look at my accounts, most of my net worth is a result of compound returns from investing.
You won’t get rich quickly investing in an index fund, but if you’re patient, the growth can become substantial in the long run.
Most of my savings are invested in low-cost ETFs that most personal finance experts recommend.
Higher-risk investments
I don’t consider myself 100% conservative, but at the same time, I’m not an excessive risk-taker. I like to keep a good balance.
Although I’m a fan of the buy-and-hold approach with index funds, I won’t deny the fact that a portion of our savings grew faster because of a few higher-risk stocks and investments.
I like to have a dedicated “fun account” where I allow myself to purchase higher-risk investments or high-growth stocks that most people would deem risky.
On top of that, buying into real estate properties helped too.
Call it lucky, but again, luck doesn’t come if you don’t take the chance.
This “riskier” approach has personally worked out well for us, but by no means am I saying you should follow it.
But really, the younger you are, the more risks you could afford because time is on your side.
Everyone has a different level of risk tolerance. Invest in what you’re comfortable with, and don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
How to become a millionaire from nothing (by investing)
Now, let’s take a look at the math behind investing to become a self-made millionaire.
I’m going to give you a realistic example of how becoming a self-made millionaire can work for most people like you.
Let’s assume the following millionaire scenario:
You were goofing around after graduation and didn’t really care about saving or investing because you know… life is all about YOLO!
Anyway, you don’t know what hit you in the head, but when you turned 28, you realized that you need to start saving. Or, maybe you were curious to know how to become a millionaire with no money and without winning the lottery. I know this question has crossed your mind at least once, “How can I become a millionaire with no money?” As surprising as it sounds, it can be done.
This example assumes the following inputs (but you can always download my free millionaire calculator here to tweak these inputs based on your situation):
- Your current age: 28
- Initial investment: $0 (you are debt-free and have no assets)
- Yearly savings: $18,000
- Expected return on your investments: 7%
Based on the inputs, the spreadsheet results tell me that you’ll become a millionaire by 50—you’ll have $1,029,180 (see chart below).
If you scroll down, you’ll see that you could potentially hit your second million dollars in another 9 years before you hit 60! And that’s assuming you can stop saving starting at age 55!
Do you see the magic power of compound interest? That can really work in your favor if you’re willing to put in the effort to save diligently and find ways to increase your income.
Age | Investment | Annual Savings | Expected Return | Returns in Dollars | Investment Balance |
28 | $0 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $1,260 | $19,260 |
29 | $19,260 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $2,608 | $39,868 |
30 | $39,868 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $4,051 | $61,919 |
31 | $61,919 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $5,594 | $85,513 |
32 | $85,513 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $7,246 | $110,759 |
33 | $110,759 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $9,013 | $137,772 |
34 | $137,772 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $10,904 | $166,676 |
35 | $166,676 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $12,927 | $197,604 |
36 | $197,604 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $15,092 | $230,696 |
37 | $230,696 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $17,409 | $266,105 |
38 | $266,105 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $19,887 | $303,992 |
39 | $303,992 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $22,539 | $344,532 |
40 | $344,532 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $25,377 | $387,909 |
41 | $387,909 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $28,414 | $434,322 |
42 | $434,322 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $31,663 | $483,985 |
43 | $483,985 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $35,139 | $537,124 |
44 | $537,124 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $38,859 | $593,983 |
45 | $593,983 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $42,839 | $654,821 |
46 | $654,821 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $47,097 | $719,919 |
47 | $719,919 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $51,654 | $789,573 |
48 | $789,573 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $56,530 | $864,103 |
49 | $864,103 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $61,747 | $943,851 |
50 | $943,851 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $67,330 | $1,029,180 |
51 | $1,029,180 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $73,303 | $1,120,483 |
52 | $1,120,483 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $79,694 | $1,218,176 |
53 | $1,218,176 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $86,532 | $1,322,709 |
54 | $1,322,709 | $18,000 | 7.00% | $93,850 | $1,434,558 |
55 | $1,434,558 | $0 | 7.00% | $100,419 | $1,534,978 |
56 | $1,534,978 | $0 | 7.00% | $107,448 | $1,642,426 |
57 | $1,642,426 | $0 | 7.00% | $114,970 | $1,757,396 |
58 | $1,757,396 | $0 | 7.00% | $123,018 | $1,880,413 |
59 | $1,880,413 | $0 | 7.00% | $131,629 | $2,012,042 |
“Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it. He who doesn’t pays it.” — Albert Einstein
Why become a millionaire?
Before you discover how you can become a millionaire at any age, you might want to first ask yourself why you want to become a millionaire.
Why do you want to become a millionaire by 20, 30, 40, etc.?
It’s important to know your ultimate why because that “why” should be a dream that motivates you. Your reason may be different from mine, but just knowing your why will make it easier to set realistic goals that are achievable within a certain time.
As I said earlier, I never thought about becoming a millionaire by a certain age. Sometimes I think this is a good thing because enjoying your life’s moment and progress makes things less stressful.
Honestly, my partner and I were just living and trying to enjoy life while socking away some savings into our investment accounts. I admit we got a bit lucky at times, but luck won’t come by if you don’t put in the effort to get what you want.
TLDR: Summary on how to become a millionaire in your 30s (or at any age)
Phew! We made it to the end!
Let’s do a quick recap on how you increase your chances of becoming a millionaire by 30 or any age.
First of all, we know that $1,000,000 isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still considered a lot of money to the 60% of Americans who are struggling, living paycheck to paycheck.
I mentioned that you don’t have to be well-educated, privileged, or born rich to achieve millionaire status.
To avoid financial distress and reach your financial goals sooner, you’ll want to follow these tips.
1. Change your poor mindset to a millionaire (or even billionaire) mindset – How you think and perceive things will prompt you to act upon your views. Plus, it’s okay to shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. 🙂
2. Increase your savings rate by earning more and saving more – Increasing your income can definitely give you more opportunities to become a millionaire faster. It may allow you to save more without having to scrimp and sacrifice the lifestyle you want.
3. Avoid lifestyle inflation – While you may want to enjoy life, it’s also important to be cautious of lifestyle inflation. Ask yourself whether you’re truly happy, or if you’re just trying to keep up with social media and your peers. It’s crazy to say this, but we hear this quote quite often: “We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” So, it’s important to start living for yourself and not others.
4. Prioritize your spending – Again, avoiding lifestyle inflation doesn’t mean to scrimp on your guilty pleasures. Make sure your basic needs are met first before moving on to wants that make your life more enjoyable. As long as you don’t let lifestyle inflation take control, it’s absolutely okay to splurge on things that make you happy. Just make sure you can truly afford it.
5. Create a budget that works – You don’t have to follow this so closely, but it allows you to see exactly what you’re buying and how much you’re spending. This may help you prioritize your spending better.
6. Invest to become a millionaire faster – This could be stocks, real estate, your business, etc. The younger you are, the more time you have. Not to mention, the more risks you can afford to take! So, start as soon as you can! But of course, even if you’re past your 20s, 30s, or even 40s, it’s never too late. The best time was yesterday, but the second best time is today!
7. Increase your income – Whether it’s through your job salary or finding creative ways to make money fast (maybe even both), increasing your earnings can go a long way!
8. Take advantage of free money resources – This may be a fun way to increase your savings. It may also be a clever way to look for resources and hacks that can make a huge difference to your savings.
It’s also important to know your “why”.
Why do you want to become a millionaire? By knowing your ultimate “why,” you’re more likely to stay motivated and achieve your financial goals.
Also, don’t forget to enjoy your million-dollar journey — it’s not always about achieving your “end goal”. Instead, view it as a learning opportunity and enjoy each moment. That means not dwelling on your past mistakes (you should view them as lessons learned instead) and not worrying too much about the future.
It’s important to plan for the future, but don’t get too caught up to the point that you forget to live in the moment.
The key to living a good life is to maintain a good balance while enjoying your present — you’ll just never know when your life will come to an end. By then, what would a millionaire status be worth to you?
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Are you new to my blog?
If you follow me, you’ll know that I’m all about saving money and making money.
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American Consumer Opinion (ACOP): This company has over 6 million members who get paid to answer surveys online. I use this free resource as a fun way to earn a little extra cash. Each survey is easy and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
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Drop: My fiancé and I use this FREE Drop app to rack up cash rewards on our everyday purchases. I love how this app allows us to combine their offers with other cash back rewards and store promos. That’s how we get the most cash back! 😉
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Ebates: You get FREE cash just for shopping at over 2,000 of your favorite stores. This includes Walmart, Macy’s, Apple, Kohl’s, Target, eBay, and so many more! I use Ebates to save over a few hundred dollars per year just for shopping for the things I normally buy.
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Related post: To learn more, read my full review and tutorial on how to use Ebates here. You will LOVE Ebates! ❤
Don’t forget to pin and share this post and follow me on Pinterest! 🙂
Melanie Tin
Great articles! love it. Here are some other way to become a Millionaire that so many people has change their life for this and it even change my life for this too. so why not give it a try and see many people has become successful of becoming a Millionaire!
Amanda
Great tips on making money, thanks for sharing such an amazing view.
That was motivational for me.
panda
Thanks Amanda! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Sanjay Lobo
Nice post
Kari
Hi Ling. That’s a great comprehensive article! I’m beginning to think that spending with intention is good, but earning more is where it’s at. The maximum limit to saving is your after-tax income – and that’s only if you spend nothing at all. Not feasible. But earning potential is limitless! And diversifying income is important – job, side hustle, real estate, stock/index investments…
panda
Hi Kari!
It’s nice to hear from you! I hope you’re doing well!
Yes, earning more definitely helps by a lot! I used to get intimidated by going out there to make more money, but I eventually let go of that fear and just did it! Being able to save that extra money and invest is one of the best feelings because, over time, that money really starts working for you! 😀
Thank you for dropping by!
Sayan Samanta
You rock man. Superb Article. Thank you for sharing.
panda
Hey Sayan,
I’m glad you enjoyed the article!
Thanks for dropping by! 😊
James
This was a very inspiring article! Great achievement, panda! I’m working on my goals to to save my first million in net worth! Seems the case that real estate is everyone’s preference today and some got lucky but it has been becoming insanely expensive for all of us.
panda
Thank you, James!
I’m happy to hear you find this post inspiring! Go out there and get your first million!
Yes, many people got lucky with real estate and became instant millionaires but we can say that for a lot of things. Everyone will always say so and so got lucky from this and that.
Many years ago, I caught myself saying people got lucky by doing this or that… I realized that saying other people got lucky wasn’t going to get me anywhere, so I had to go out there and try my best to chase my luck. If I don’t, luck would be a 0% chance. It will definitely NEVER come if I don’t take any action or try.
Thank you for dropping by! Best wishes to you on saving your first $1,000,000! You got this! 🙂
Victor
Yeah you got this! 👈
Jen
Whoa!
Such a long but really informative post and I enjoyed reading every bit of it. Thanks ao much for putting this together as my husband and I just paid off all our debt and we are looking to start saving and maybe look into investing.
You are doing so amazing and I wish I can be where you are! I cannot tell you how hyped i’m feeling about this, my husband and I can’t wait to build and secure our financial future!!!!!!
Thanks so much for writing about your experience and teaching us. I really want to read more from your blog so please share!
Jen
panda
Hi Jen,
That’s great that you and your husband paid off your debts — it’s a huge accomplishment so congrats!
YES, I always encourage to get started with investing as soon as possible — the earlier the better.
Thank you for dropping by. I wish you and your husband the best. I’m glad that you’re looking forward to reading my blog posts. 🙂
Azar
Ling,…. Its just a amazing longggg search,… Great experimented,…Nice post.. Happy to read.. millionaire ling… Keep uploading waiting for nxt post…
panda
Aw thank you! 🙂
Jonathan @ Mr. Centsible
Whew, thanks for the warning about the post length in the beginning. Otherwise I would’ve been wondering “WHEN WILL THIS END!?!?” the whole time. Very extensive article with great advice!
panda
Hi Jonathan!
Haha, yes it’s definitely as long post on ways to build wealth.
I thought if I’m going to write about how to become a millionaire, it should be long and informative since it’s hard to talk about in a few paragraphs.
But thank goodness there’s a TLDR summary! 😁
Thank you for dropping by! 😊
Lucas Harper
I already tried a lot of money making methods in the past months but meeting FINANCEWEBSERVICE @ GMAIL COM has been a blessing to my life. They helped me clear my creditcard debts, boost my credit score and even did some money transfer hacks for me without any problem. This is the only one that actually really worked for me and they also help with other finance jobs