| I've heard many people tell me that it is impossible for | | | | as happy with a generic non-dairy creamer that I can |
| them to save money because they do not have any | | | | get at a Dollar Store. It only costs a buck and lasts a |
| money to save after paying the cost of living. While | | | | month. This saves me on the 2.00 or 3.00 I am likely to |
| this may seem true to most (or may even be true for | | | | spend a week on milk. Now you're thinking, "But |
| some of us), the point is this: most people can save | | | | Richard, it's only a few dollars a week?" |
| money. Here are a few examples where it is possible | | | | 6 Rule #3: Abandon the expression, "It's only a few |
| to save on an extremely limited income and | | | | dollars..." Remember that every penny counts. I know |
| possibly...over time grow quite rich | | | | you don't think that it will help you, but I've a friend who |
| 1 Think for example of a family of two who have a | | | | amassed in the millions this philosophy. She simply said, |
| limited income but somehow manage each week to | | | | "If I only have ten, I don't spend eleven." |
| treat themselves to soda, cupcakes and chips each | | | | If you have a high rent, try to get a cheaper rent, or |
| week. If you took the money they spent on the soda | | | | take on a tenant and charge them for a furnished |
| and the cakes and the chips and calculated how much | | | | room, and then rent them the place for the majority of |
| it came out to and then calculated that in a fund that | | | | the rent. You will need to cut your costs down to the |
| paid about 5% over a thirty year period, you would | | | | bare bone. |
| come out with a sum somewhere in the neighborhood | | | | Don't buy anything that you can't borrow from a friend, |
| of millions of dollars. | | | | like a camera, or a car, or a sweater, etc. Learn to |
| Now you say, "that's impossible." But this isn't so. As an | | | | drink water instead of expensive cola (and any cola is |
| ancestor of mine frequently mentioned how "A penny | | | | expensive on this budget). |
| saved was a penny earned." I think what he was | | | | Buy meat from the supermarket just as it's about to |
| talking about was that interest on interest causes | | | | turn. I used to do this at an A&P that was on 14th |
| money to grow at a much more rapid pace. While I | | | | Street in Manhattan. Every thursday they would mark |
| am sure that the daily consumption of a cupcake | | | | down the meat. I would buy a bunch of it and then |
| would cause considerable growth, I don't think it's the | | | | freeze it. I never got sick from this meat and I paid |
| kind of growth that can support you in your old age | | | | literally pennies on the dollars for it. |
| 2 In order to begin any serious wealth-growth plan we | | | | There are so many ways to save money. Learn to |
| must first change the way we think about spending. | | | | shop at a dollar store. You can get so many of the |
| We live in a world in which ad agencies are paid | | | | cleaning and paper products you buy at the |
| considerable sums of money to make the public buy | | | | supermarket for much much less. |
| products they do not want or need, by creating a false | | | | In terms of clothing, you can go to "seconds shops." |
| sense of need. This is done in many ways, some of | | | | We've a bunch in Manhattan down on Warren street |
| which are very familiar to us all. For example, I see a | | | | where second clothing is subsidized. You can buy a |
| handsome young man, in great clothes with a shiny | | | | white linen shirt for less than a dollar and jeans as well. |
| new car and what comes with that, the equally | | | | The trick is that you really and truly have to examine |
| fabulous girlfriend. Therefore, I deduce that if I have | | | | the merchandise. It is usually sold in bins in a |
| that car and those clothes I will get that girl. And they | | | | warehouse type environment. |
| all LOOK happy. So I think, perhaps even just on a | | | | Learn to shop second hand shops. So many of the |
| subliminal level, that I will be happy if I get that car and | | | | things which would cost you hundreds of dollars can |
| those clothes and that girl. | | | | cost you less than ten. |
| But shortly after buying the car and the clothes, and | | | | 8 And then, once you have a sizable amount (500.00 |
| maybe even dating the girl, I realize that this is indeed | | | | or more), open up a savings account with a company |
| not fulfilling my expectations for happiness. Then I'm on | | | | like ING and leave it there. Do not look at the bank |
| to the next thing that will make me happy. | | | | account. Do not say to yourself, "I have this now." Let it |
| Rule #1: The best things in life, aren't things. | | | | go. Forget about it. |
| Rule #2: Money can't buy you happiness. But it can | | | | I encourage everyone to get a job with good health |
| lead you there and secure your future. | | | | insurance. This is the one sure fire way to deplete the |
| 3 What I am talking about here is probably extremely | | | | savings account. |
| bad for the economy..if the nation would embrace it | | | | If you must go out for social events, go to free |
| overall. But let us face it, that's never going to happen. | | | | lectures or music concerts in the park or local hall. You |
| The closest we've ever seen people shunning the | | | | have to change your thinking. |
| materialistic was back in the 60's and now those tree | | | | 9 I encourage you to stay away from television or |
| hugging flower children have become yuppies with two | | | | magazines. These are the places where the subliminal |
| car garages and memberships at the club. Funny how | | | | messages to spend are sent. |
| things change, isn't it. | | | | Discover your local library. You can rent films from |
| But what we need now to do is to focus on you and | | | | there for free, and if you go to the salvation army you |
| changing the way you think about money. | | | | might be able to pick up an old VHS player. I got a |
| Before you spend another dollar you have to ask | | | | new one there for 14.00 and now I can watch the |
| yourself if you absolutely need this item to survive. I'm | | | | library films for Free! |
| not talking about a new pair of shoes. If you have a | | | | Start reading. The world is full of wonderful books. You |
| good pair of solid leather shoes, then that's all you | | | | can get these from the library or very cheaply at "bag |
| need. Get something classic, always stay with the | | | | full of book" sales. |
| classic as it rarely goes out of style... | | | | 10 Develop hobbies which make money and add that |
| Get style out of your vocabulary. Stick to classic or | | | | to your account. I started picking up shirts I would find |
| develop your own style. If you follow trends you will | | | | by doing a search on ebay for vintage shirts, and then |
| always always always find yourself pocket poor. | | | | go to thrift stores and garage sales to try and find |
| 4 Saving begins at the simplest levels. You have to | | | | them. It was a fun outing for the entire family and I |
| save in little ways. Remember that out of a tiny acorn | | | | discovered that certain Hawaiian shirts that sell for |
| a large oak tree will grow. Let that be your mantra, | | | | 99.00 or more, as well as Levis jeans and Izod |
| because your savings will grow into a mighty oak | | | | Lacostes. That will then add to your fortune. |
| which will keep you comfortable in those golden years | | | | If you do as I direct you, you will have quite a bit of |
| ahead. | | | | money in the long run. Stop being so generous with |
| You want to change what you eat, how you live, the | | | | your family and friends. Realize that time with you |
| cleaning products you buy. Where can you save? | | | | should mean more than time with your pocketbook. |
| Think of changing your thinking so that the way you | | | | And if they don't think so, at least your friends, then |
| spend becomes the way you save. | | | | they really aren't friends at all. |
| Turn the curse of spending into the reverse of | | | | Do not spend money unnecessarily. Remember that |
| spending. | | | | the life you save will be your own. As Tennessee |
| 5 They say you should "pay yourself first which | | | | Williams has said in, "Cat on a Hot tin roof," "You can |
| means setting aside some funds -usually a percentage | | | | be young and poor, but you can't be old and poor." |
| to go into a savings account. But the truth is, in order to | | | | Save now. Save yourself, before it's too late, and |
| amass that fortune you need to spend yourself first, | | | | baby, it's later than you think. |
| meaning, you will only spend what you need to survive. | | | | You have the ability to make these changes. Start |
| For example, I like to have milk in my coffee. Now milk | | | | dressing in black. You can wear quite a bit of it and it |
| is expensive. But I have determined that I can be just | | | | rarely goes out of style. |