If you haven’t been impacted by the economic recession, consider yourself lucky. Most of us have had to tighten our purse strings at some point or another, and nowadays it seems like everyone is looking for a way to save some cash. The good news? Dragon year brings the opportunity for business to boom and huge advances to be made in the financial realms. And yes. This includes your money situation. Here are 5 ways to take advantage of Dragon year and make some extra moola:

Go big. You’ve heard it before and we’ll say it again: Dragon year is all about taking risks. Invest your time into that venture. Take the leap on starting a new career. Big risks can pay off, but you have to aim high. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone a bit.

Show leadership. The way to snag that promotion at work this year? Show that you’re a leader. Step up to the plate and be willing to direct the game. Take more initiative at work. Don’t wait for others to tell you what to do. Anticipate it; and then do it.

Be entrepreneurial. There are so many ways to make money on your own these days. Set up a side business doing something you love. Whether it’s personal shopping, freelance writing, or fixing cars, there’s always a way to earn cash as an entrepreneur. Want to really step things up? Build a website, print some business cards, and vow to reach a monetary goal by the end of the year.

Be true to yourself. One thing you won’t get away with in Dragon year? Lying. Especially to yourself. You can’t advance your career if you hate what you’re doing. You also won’t make more money if your heart’s not truly in it. Find your passion. When you align yourself with what you really want, the cash will flow.

Spend to earn. Invest, baby. Get a new laptop so you can start that business. Rent out an office. Hire a personal assistant. You need to spend money to make money, so put your dollars toward something worthwhile. The payoff is going to be worth it.

And make sure you check out your Year of the Dragon forecast! There’s more money tips to keep you on track the entire year.