To be successful with money, there are a lot of good rules out there to live by. Some of them are harder than others to follow, according to the attitudes about money you've been raised around. If you're willing to change and sacrifice short-term however, the long-term rewards are worth it.

The following are rules I've learned from people I consider financially successful:

1) Keep Your Outgoing Expenses Less Than Your Income

Doing this allows you to accomplish goals with money you can't do otherwise, such as saving for retirement or paying off your home. Most people aren't insanely out of control with their money, but I compare it to having a small leak in a boat compared to a large one. Eventually they're both going to sink you if you don't change. Putting yourself on a realistic budget can help you solve this problem.

2) Pay Off Debt if You Have It

Like a lot of people in Generation Y, I used to think I needed credit to have a good life. It's actually been quite the opposite, with our lifestyle getting better and better with each thing my husband and I have paid off. It takes time and some delayed gratification, but I'm glad we're doing it.

3) Taking the Time to Learn and Think Will Increase Your Income

I've read a lot of business and success books, and a trend I've noticed is that most normal people who've become financially wealthy aren't afraid to learn as adults. They also may be just a busy as most people, but they take the time to think of new ideas of doing things. They also take the time to investigate possible investments, making better decisions after doing the background research.

4) Money is a Tool, and Not Inherently Good or Evil

Just because a person is rich doesn't mean they're greedy. One of the biggest reasons I wanted to get out of a poverty mentality is that being poor limits your time and financial ability to help other people. Having money just amplifies who you really are, so it's important to develop a good character as you're developing your income.

5) Money is Not Just About Material Possession, But Getting Your Time Back

In building up my writing career and other online businesses, I've gotten a taste of what it's like to really have personal and economic freedom in America. Time and freedom have more appeal to me than material possessions, but both require stable finances.

Success in life takes work that many people try to convince themselves is not worth doing. If you want a better life however, you just have to make a decision for yourself that you'll do what it takes. It may take a few years, and you'll likely have to learn from mistakes along the way. It pays off however, both financially and just the person you become in the process.