So many of us set goals like trying to become a millionaire by the age of thirty or forty. (Confession: Once upon a time, I thought that 27 was reasonable with the way the stock market was going). Some of us set a goal of being wealthy enough to take that dream vacation or buy that dream house. The problem is that those “some days” won’t become a reality unless you start putting a plan into motion right now. Unless you suddenly win the lottery, money isn’t going to fall into your pocket. Hoping for a big lottery win is no way to plan for your future, so here are some proven ways that you can start getting wealthy right now.

• Start small – Rome wasn’t built in a day and you’re not going to become independently wealthy overnight either. The best strategy is to start small, saving a few bucks here and there. It will add up over time, even if it seems like a slow way to build wealth. What you’re doing is building the foundation for your next wealth building exercises.
• Put your money to work – Once you’ve got some money put aside, don’t let it sit there and don’t bury it in the back yard. Start investigating some safe investments that will provide good returns. For example, bonds or even certificates of deposit are a great way to start seeing some extra money. High interest bearing savings accounts are another. You don’t want to sink your money into bad investments at this point (or ever) so play it safe and again, start small.
• Find your inner entrepreneur – If your job just isn’t going to help you realize your dreams of wealth, it’s time to think about adding some secondary streams of income that you can rely on. Whether you spend the money you make from your ventures or put it aside, you’ll have a lot more financial freedom. Of course, if you want to get wealthy, the key is making that money work for you.If you’ve got a talent, start using it. Open up your own small business or start your own company. Just don’t quit your day job unless your business really starts to pay off. It will take time to build it up, but you’ll eventually be able to strike out on your own and be wealthier for your trouble.
• Consider real estate – Smart investments in real estate can really pay off, especially over the long term. Read up on flipping properties or think about buying property that you will then rent out. There is a lot of money to be had in real estate and you can do quite well with the right property. Just make sure to take your time and make wise decisions to avoid ending up with a money pit.

These are four simple ways that you can start building wealth right now. You have it in you, you just need to buckle down and get down to business. Financial security doesn’t have to be a pie in the sky idea any more.