9 lifestyle changes to make if you want to earn more money in 2017
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When it comes to earning more money and growing your wealth, sometimes all it takes is establishing smart habits and making small lifestyle changes.
"Success is a learnable skill," writes T. Harv Eker in his book "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind." "If you want to be a great golfer, you can learn how to do it. If you want to be a great piano player, you can learn how to do it ... If you want to be rich, you can learn how to do it."
If you want to learn how to get rich — how to grow and master your money — consider these nine lifestyle changes:
Previous reporting by Kathleen Elkins.
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Start hanging out with people you admire
Andrew Carnegie, who started with nothing before becoming the richest man in the country, credits all of his riches to one principle: the Master Mind.
The idea is that you surround yourself with talented people who share your vision because the alignment of several smart and creative minds is exponentially more powerful than just one.
Plus, we become like the people we associate with, which is why the rich tend to associate with others who are rich.
"In most cases, your net worth mirrors the level of your closest friends," explains self-made millionaire and author Steve Siebold. "Exposure to people who are more successful than you are has the potential to expand your thinking and catapult your income. The reality is, millionaires think differently from the middle class about money, and there's much to be gained by being in their presence."
Put your money to work
One of the most effective ways to earn more money is to invest it, and start as early as possible.
"The more you put in today, the much more you'll have later down the road because of the time value of money and the growth on investment returns," Michael Solari, a certified financial planner with Solari Financial Management, told Business Insider.
The simplest starting point is to invest in your employer's 401(k) plan. Next, consider contributing money toward a Roth IRA or traditional IRA, individual retirement accounts with different contribution limits and tax structures.
Another great option is to put any savings in a low-cost target date fund, a diversified retirement account that invests your money into a combination of stocks, bonds, and alternative assets. Though the market is impossible to predict, you're still going to get a better return on the money there than you would in a plain old savings account, with little to no work required.
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Get a part-time job
If you want to earn more, a simple solution is to work more — and you'll get a lot more out of a second job than extra income.
You'll grow your skill set by working in a different field, put your brain to work in a different context, and expand your network. Plus, it's a great opportunity to monetize a specific interest of yours — such as photography, music, tutoring, or coaching — or turn your passion into a side hustle.
Check out high-paying jobs you can do on the side and read about how to start a side-hustle from a woman who earned up to $4,000 a month on the side.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider