Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? You do. Here are some simple, cash-wise strategies to help you turn your dream into a reality.

So your business is the stuff of dreams. You're bringing inthe cash by the truckload and it doesn't look like it'sgoing to let up anytime soon. You're on your way to becoming amillionaire. Or are you?

You are, but only if you know the other secret tosuccess: After you earn the money, you've got to learn how totake care of it.

How many times have you heard about celebrities who mademillions--then lost it all to foolish money management decisions?Unfortunately, there are plenty of entrepreneurs who do the samething.

But you're smarter than that, right? Sure, you're goingto have some fun with the money you're earning now. But youalso want to plan ahead so there will be some left for later.That's exactly what these teens have done.

On a Mission
Chris Stallman, 19, was on a mission when he started an investmenteducation Web site with his friend Dan Bassett back in 1999. Thesite, which kicked off as YoungMonthly.com, has since hooked upwith PatientInvestor.com to become www.teenanalyst.com. "I'm a young investor,and I remember how hard it was to get started in the stock market,because most of the information is written for people twice [myage]," says Stallman. "I decided to fill the void byteaching other young people to invest in a way that they can easilyread and understand."

Stallman receives income not only from his Chicago-basedInternet company, but also from the dozens of articles he'swritten for investment Web sites. He socks away about one-fourth ofwhat he earns each month into stocks and mutual funds.

He's already seen some of the results in favorite stockslike Dell Computer. "I love their computers. My dad owned one,so I decided to invest in something I knew," Stallmanexplains. "It turned out to be a good investment, because Isold it four months later at 100 percent profit. So I doubled mymoney in that stock. Afterwards, I was able to increase the numberof stocks in my portfolio." Since Stallman started investingat age 14, he has averaged an 18 percent return.

A Little Goes a LongWay
But my business hasn't hit the big time yet, you say. Youdon't have any extra money to be investing.or do you? Youmight be surprised to learn just how little of that green stuff ittakes now to become filthy rich later.

Dan Olson, 21, of Dublin, Ohio, landed his first job as a golfcaddy at age 10, and he has been saving part of his earnings eversince. "Investing seemed like a good way to make money over aperiod of time," he says. Olson realized he'd made a goodcall when the original $2,500 that he invested in stocks and mutualfunds tripled in value.

Olson is on the right track, and he's going to keep ongoing. He plunks $2,000 a year into his Roth IRA, something heplans to do from now until retirement. (For more on IRAs, see"Next Step.") That's about $167 a month, but you canstill make great strides with a lot less. Invest $20 a weekbeginning at age 18, and you'll hit $1 million by age 65 (at 10percent interest).

Because of compound interest, investing works a little likemagic. You know how quickly a leftover balance on a credit card cangrow out of control? That's due to the effects of compoundinterest--the credit card company charges you interest on theinterest your account is accumulating. It's the same withinvesting, only this time, compound interest works in yourfavor.

Want to see for yourself? Follow this link to a compound interest calculator: Fill in howmuch you think you can afford to invest and the interest rate youthink you'll earn on your money. (Hint: the stock marketaverages a 12 percent return over the long term.) You may besurprised at how far a few dollars invested today can take you inthe future.

Get a Plan
Eighteen-year-old Martin Thompson of Englewood, Colorado, knew atan early age that he would need to get creative about paying forcollege. For years he saved birthday money and whatever he earnedmowing lawns so he could invest in the stock market. Thompson'shard work and commitment to a goal paid off. Along with his sister,he purchased stock in a cable company at $19 a share, then watchedit rise to $42 a share.

Investing for your future can't be an afterthought. And itcan't be the last thing on your list--something you'll doafter you pay your car insurance and set a little aside for themovies this Saturday night. If that's the case, it'll neverhappen. There will always be something else to spend your moneyon.

Investing, like any worthy goal in your life, calls for a plan.You will probably have some intermediate goals along the way, too,such as college, your first house, maybe even a college fund foryour kids. Go back to the compound interest calculator and figureout what it would take to achieve each of your goals. Then sit downwith your budget and figure out where you can squeeze out a fewextra bucks. A few bag lunches now can make all the differencelater.

Stick to It
Stallman's words of wisdom for young investors? Avoid daytrading, get-rich-quick schemes and short-term trading. "Ithink a long-term perspective is the way to go. Set goals for yourfuture, and invest accordingly," he advises. "I thinkmutual funds are best unless you know quite a bit aboutstocks." If you don't have a lot of time to researchstocks, a mutual fund makes it possible to turn your money over toa professional investment manager.

Investment education resources, like Stallman's Web site,abound. The best advice? Keep learning, and stay focused."[Don't] get caught up in the hype and worry about yourstocks too much," says Stallman. "If you do, thenyou're going to make bad decisions. If a stock drops 10 percentin one day, and you immediately sell it because you got nervous,when you look back you usually see you should have held on toit."

Coming from someone who has been featured in The Wall StreetJournal and has appeared on CNN, CBS MarketWatch and thenationally-syndicated radio show Jim Jorgen$sen on Money, itseems like sound advice.