#howto# 
- Steer clear of debt. If you have debt, slash it as fast as you can—student loans, included. If Sallie Mae is living in your spare bedroom, kick her out ASAP.
- Live below your means. Just say no to things you can’t buy with cash! Overspending every month can dramatically impact your ability to save for retirement.
- Raise your standard of living slowly. This is not the time to grow leaps and bounds in houses or cars. Paid-for clunkers and small apartment rentals will do just fine while you secure your financial footing.
- If you’re married, get on the same page about money. This is one of the most important steps you can take to build wealth.
- Budget like your future depends on it—because it does. A monthly written budget assigns every dollar a specific purpose, like food, clothing, housing, bills and savings. A budget ensures you’ll have the money for the things that are important to you, like fun money and retirement savings.
- Start early. As you can see in the example above, it doesn’t take a lot of money to build a million-dollar retirement—as long as you start early! Begin by investing just $200 a month, then add to that amount as your income grows over the years. That’s a wealth-building habit that will pay off not just in dollars, but in opportunities for you down the road.
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