I've read 12 books about money over the past year - and 3 key pieces of advice appear nearly everywhere

2. Money won't just appear — you need a detailed plan and specific goals

"Riches do not respond to wishes. They respond only to definite plans, backed by definite desires, through constant persistence." —Napoleon Hill, author of "Think and Grow Rich"

"Self-made millionaires do not stumble into success. They are not passive beneficiaries of some incredible stroke of good luck. The journey toward success always starts with a vision."
—Thomas C. Corley, author of "Change Your Habits, Change Your Life"

"People who write down their financial goals get rich. It's a fact. Study after study has shown that writing down your goals makes it much more likely that you'll achieve them." —David Bach, author of "The Automatic Millionaire"

"The number one reason most people don't get what they want is that they don't know what they want. Rich people are totally clear that they want wealth." —T. Harv Eker, author of "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind"

3. The single most effective way to get rich is to pay yourself first — specifically, set aside at least 10% of your income

"Nothing will help you achieve wealth until you decide to pay yourself first ... [It] means just what it says. When you earn a dollar, the first person you pay is you. Most people don't do this." —David Bach, author of "The Automatic Millionaire"

"A part of all you earn is yours to keep. It should be not less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as much more as you can afford. Pay yourself first." —George S. Clason, author of "The Richest Man in Babylon"

"The average American only saves 6.5% of his or her income, which is barely keeping up with inflation. But you should save 10% at the bare minimum. ... Here's a tip: 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." —Sophia Amoruso, author of "#GIRLBOSS"

"On average, millionaires invest 20% of their household income each year. Their wealth isn't measured by the amount they make each year, but by how they've saved and invested over time." —Ramit Sethi, author of "I Will Teach You to Be Rich"

And if you're curious about the rest of my reading list, here is the full dozen:

• "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill

• "I Will Teach You to Be Rich," by Ramit Sethi

• "How Rich People Think," by Steve Siebold

• "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind," by T. Harv Eker

• "The Automatic Millionaire," by David Bach

• "Smart Couples Finish Rich," by David Bach

• "The Richest Man in Babylon," by George S. Clason

• "Change Your Habits, Change Your Life," by Thomas C. Corley

• "Rich Dad Poor Dad," by Robert Kiyosaki

• "The Index Card," by Helaine Olen and Harold Pollack

• "#GIRLBOSS," by Sophia Amoruso

• "The Way to Wealth," by Benjamin Franklin