You want to build yourself a fortune? Well, we all need to start somewhere and saving your money should at least be a part of the equation. You don´t grow rich overnight. It is a process, playing out over several years. While we do not claim that thrifty habits will make you rich, they are likely to get you nearer to your goals. We will all encounter marvellous opportunities during our lifetimes, opportunities that have the potential of making us rich. The question is: will we have the means and determination to capitalize on these opportunities. While saving might not get you rich, it might just be the ticket that allows you to follow a path to wealth, when that path presents itself. So without further ado here are som time-tested strategies for saving pennies and dollars, and giving yourself the neccessary ammunition to chase your dream once it presents itself.

If you´re paying higher interest than you are receiving in your CD account, pay down your mortgages and other debt.

1.  Wait for sales. You´re dying to get you´re hands on that dress or suit you´ve been dreaming about? Ask around about upcoming sales.
2.  Don´t ever go shopping when you´re hungry. You will just come back with a lot of stuff you don´t really need.
3.  Go wholesale. Don´t buy groceries in small quantities. Buy in bulk and use your refrigerator.
4.  Plan your travelling ahead. Travel costs typically go up if you have your back against the wall, and are pressed to book a trip.
5.  Make list of what you need. This goes for both groceries as well as clothes. Don´t buy because you love to shop. Buy because you truly need the item.
6.  Bring your own breakfast and lunch. It doesn´t take that long- really. The food will be healthier and cheaper.
7.  Don´t eat out as much. Once again, making it yourself can be both healthier and cheaper. Save the fancy restaurants for special occassions.
8.  Always pay in cash. Do not use credit cards.
9.  Be aware of the seasonal effects. A winter jacket is often a bargain during summer time.

Does it sound boring and tedious. Well, nobody said getting rich would be a walk in the park. Stick with these principles for a while and you will be amazed at how much you will be able to put aside for those moments in life when you get an opportunity to grab your future by the balls and realize your true potential. Becoming rich is more about attitude than anything else, but very often you will find that some spare cash stacked away is a powerful ally in your quest for greatness.

The last couple of year´s of financial crisis and the European debt crisis seems to have left the rich of the world unaffected. In it´s latest report, Citibank uncovers some new interesting statistics regarding the world´s centa-millionaires. It seems like the group of people who are worth more than $ 100 million is expanding globally at a very fast pace. During the last five years their numbers have grown by a whopping 29 %, and their combined total net asset values are a respectable $ 39 900 billion. The average net asset value of an individual from this group is in the neighbourhood of $ 617 million.

In China the symbol for crisis is basically the same as the symbol for opportunity. And considering that the world has had a number of years where the world economy has been in a contionuous crisis, the opportunities have been abundant for those shrewd enough to exploit them. It seems Asia, and CHina in particular, have been able to do just that. During the last 5 years the number of centa-millionaires have grown by 8 000 people in South-East Asia, making the total for this expansive region 18 000 individuals. Western Europe sports 14 000 centa-millionaires and the US has 17 000 members in this exclusive club, and most analysts believe that the gap between the asian region and the rest of the world will widen considerably over the next 5 years. The economical tide of the world is shifting, the trend is clear; asian countries will control a larger part of the world´s wealth and resources in the future and the number of centa-millionaires will grow by another 37 % in the coming five years, and this exclusive club will reach a breathtaking 86 000 individuals by the year of 2016.