Every money site seems to have its golden rules for becoming rich. The trouble is, most of the rules require you to have a bundle of money in the first place! Rich is a relative term, after all, and a few thousand dollars is pin money to some, a fortune to others.

CNN Money has 25 Rules to Grow Rich By and my criticism applies to most of them. But seven of them make a lot of sense, no matter how much you’re starting with:

1. For return on investment, the best home renovation is to upgrade an old bathroom. Kitchens come in second.

5. Never hire a roofer, driveway paver or chimney sweep who is going door to door.

17. The best credit card is a no-fee rewards card that you pay in full every month. But if you carry a balance, high-interest rates will wipe out the benefits.

19. Anyone who calls or e-mails you asking for your Social Security number or information about your bank or credit card account is a scam artist.

20. The best way to save money on a car is to buy a late-model used car and drive it until it’s junk. A car loses 30% of its value in the first year. (A much debated one, this – the problem is that there is something so enjoyable about that new car smell!)

22. Resist the urge to buy the latest computer or other gadget as soon as it comes out. Wait three months and the price will be lower.

25. When you shop for electronics, don’t pay for an extended warranty. One exception: It’s a laptop and the warranty is from the manufacturer.

Of course, it would be nice to be able to go for them all…