Friday, March 16, 2007

How to Not Be Poor

A lot of people complain about not having any money, but they don't do anything to change their lifestyle and rectify the situation. That said, here are some simple things that add up to lots of extra money:

Save up for a car. DO NOT take out a loan for a depreciating asset. It's basic economics. Not only are you paying interest, but the car itself is losing value at a much faster rate than you are paying it off. This is a biggie. Think of what you could do with the extra $300 a month you don't have to put towards a car payment.

Stop eating out. Dinner out for 2 with drinks costs $40-50. Do this once a week, and you're out more than $200 a month. Go to the store, buy a 12-pack, get some steaks, go home and grill. Total cost: $15-20.

Don't worry about school loans. You're paying, what, like 3% on your school loan? Pay only the minimum! You can MAKE more than 3% on your money in a high-yield savings account...put your money there.

Buy a house. Right now, it's a buyer's market. Buy a house that you can afford (payments less than 30% of your monthly income). First-time home buyers can usually get superb financing deals. This is the best investment you can make. Even when the stock market falls, real estate continues to go up. Renting is a waste of money. Better yet, buy my house!

Get a new job. An extra $1/hour is not a raise. Find a new job every couple years to keep your income growing.

There. Go forth and prosper.

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