Making a million dollars is a lofty aspiration that can make you feel overwhelmed and defeated when you do not achieve it quickly. Break down your big ambitions into smaller, achievable goals that you can attack with a clear plan of action (via CNBC). Maybe you cannot set aside three months of emergency expenses immediately, but you can save a certain amount of money each month. That amount will add up so that eventually, you will make a dent in that emergency fund. Other meaningful goals include setting a budget and sticking by it and investing a certain amount of money in a year (via CNBC).