Must-Read: Money Tips

There’s a lot of people out there who believe that money isn’t all that important. That money is simply a distraction, that you really need to be fulfilled in a way that is more than just about how much you make in order to actually lead a great and fun life. And that’s true to a certain extent. If your entire existence is just about how many zeros are at the end of your bank account, then odds are you will not be happy. But there’s a happy medium there. Because if you DO have money, and are able to use that money on what you want — whether that’s a vacation, or a new stereo or something, or dates, or actually going out and having fun, or hell, just giving your money away to charity — then that WILL make you happy.

The trick, then, is making sure that your money is actually there for you to use. So today we’re heading on over to Men’s Health where they have a few tips on how to make more money just by simply tweaking small things in your life. For instance:

Take a Salary Cut

The cash you don’t see every month can only help you. “Our younger clients not only are not maxing out their 401(k)s,” says Scott Kahan, a certified financial planner in New York City, “but they’re not taking advantage of their employers’ matching funds?that’s free money.” The tax benefits amount to free money as well: Every $1,000 you contribute saves $300 in taxes. Don’t put less than 10 percent of your salary into your retirement plan each month. Because of the tax benefits, your take-home pay will drop by only 7 percent. That seems like a lot, but trust us, you’ll never miss it. And in 10 years, you’ll be giddy every time your 401(k) statement arrives. Oh, if you’re under 30, put all your money in stocks. At 30, start drizzling in cash, bonds, and other safe investments.

So head on over to the above link and check out the rest of the tips.