Rule #1: Buy stuff that appreciates, avoid stuff that don't

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Stretch your budget when buying a house (real estate) or other things that appreciate*.  Shrink it when buying stuff that depreciates like cars and TVs.  This is called the get wealthy slow method - it's simple and it works.  Btw, if you're wondering about the get rich quick method, it doesn't work 97% of the time or it's illegal or both.

* - Things that appreciate (besides real estate) are stocks, fine art and antiquities.  In other words, for most of us, the only thing that a) we'll enjoy and b) will appreciate is a home.