The money-making secrets that rich people swear by

Don't invest in anything unless you are prepared to put at least 10 per cent of your net worth into it. Photo / 123RF

Millionaires may be a rare breed but their secrets to abundant wealth are actually a lot more straightforward than you might think.

Money expert Alan Andrews of Kis Finance has revealed to the Daily Mail the simple rules that rich people swear by for making - and maintaining - their wealth.

From how you invest to ensuring you charge your friends for your time, he shares the ultimate money-making secrets - and how the rich have used them to their advantage.

Avoid becoming a busy fool: It is very easy to become very busy doing things that are a huge drain on time but have little or no end value. For example, taking on too many projects that are unlikely to come to anything.

Invest wisely: Don't invest in anything unless you are prepared to put at least 10 per cent of your net worth into it: Some people invest in lots of little things with the belief that it might be a good investment, but when it comes down to it are not that sure.

If you are not confident enough to be prepared to invest 10 per cent of your net worth into it, then avoid it. So before investing a little into something, don't ask yourself can you afford to lose this small amount, ask if this is something you would actually be prepared to invest 10 per cent of your net worth into.

As Warren Buffet says: "Only invest in companies that can be run by a monkey, because one day it probably will be. You can't do a good deal with a bad person."

Save, save, save: Multi-millionaire Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal, says the key to making money is saving it wisely.

As she explained in her autobiography #GirlBoss, the more time you spend saving, the more money you'll make.

She said: "Treat your savings account like just another bill. It has to be paid every month, or there are consequences. If you have direct deposit, have a portion of your paycheck automatically diverted into a savings account.

"Once it's in there, forget about it. You never saw it anyway. It's an emergency fund only (and vacations are not emergencies)."

Know the value of your time: Whilst it's important to help our friends, rich people know the value of their time. Indeed, as Kim Garst, founder and CEO of Boom! Social says, explains, you should value what you know and start charging for it.

So, if you are skilled in a certain area, charge people for it - and they will actually be willing to pay.