UNCOMMON CENTS 37

LIFE IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED NOW THAN WHEN CONAN THE BARBARIAN ESPOUSED THE THOUGHT THAT "I LIVE, I BURN WITH LIFE, I LOVE, I SLAY, AND AM CONTENT." TODAY IF YOU DO NOT SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO RETIRE, WHAT WILL YOU DO? CONTINUE TO WORK? COMMENCE TO GRIPE MALCONTENT? IF RICH, YOU MIGHT ENJOY LIFE THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF ART, BOOKS, HOUSES, VACATIONS OR HOT CARS, BUT FIRST YOU MUST K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID) LIKE CONAN. SAVE FOR YOUR FUTURE. HERE ARE THREE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUNG ADULTS CROUCHED AT THE STARTING LINE OF THE RACEWAY TO WEALTH.

1. AN EQUIVALENT TO PAYING CASH FOR ALL GOODS AND SERVICES IS THE DEBIT CARD. WITH IT, ONLY FUNDS ALREADY IN THE BANK CAN BE REMOVED WHEN REQUESTED. NO INTEREST OR FINANCING IS INVOLVED. WHEN CREDIT CARD APPLICATIONS FLOOD YOUR MAIL, FILE THEM INTO THE CIRCULAR FILE (TRASH). CREDIT CARDS ARE ONLY USEFUL IF PAID OFF EACH MONTH, BUT FOR NEOPHYTES AT INDEPENDENT LIVING, THIS TEMPTATION SHOULD BE REPELLED.

2. IF COLLEGE IS FOR YOU AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, TRY TO SECURE SCHOLARSHIPS OR GRANTS BASED ON YOUR ACADEMIC RECORD. THIS IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GAIN THE MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM YOUR EDUCATION THROUGH GOOD GRADES EARNED BY HARD STUDY. WHETHER OR NOT FREE MONEY IS OBTAINED, YOU STILL PROBABLY WILL NEED TO TAKE OUT A STUDENT LOAN. CONSIDER THE MOST ECONOMICAL AND ETHICAL OPTION WHEN CHOOSING A COLLEGE; ONE THAT WHICH DOES NOT WASTE EGO OR MONEY. FIRST CHOOSE A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS OPPOSED TO A STATE UNIVERSITY OR IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL. IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY YET AFFORD YOU THE SAME EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. EDUCATION, PER SE, IS SELF EDUCATION NOT THE PERCEPTION OF AN IMPOSED TOP DOWN GIFT FROM ELITE PROFESSORS. ALSO, DO NOT TAKE OUT MORE IN STUDENT LOANS THAN THE JOB YOU HOPE TO ACQUIRE AFTER GRADUATION ALLOWS YOU TO REPAY WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. FOR EXAMPLE $50,000 IN LOANS UPON RECEIPT OF A DEGREE REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY $50,000 AS A YEARLY SALARY. I GRANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SCHEDULE FOR RE-PAYMENT FIGURES 20 OR 30 YEARS, BUT THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO PAYBACK THE LOANS DOES NOT EXTEND AD INFINITUM NOR CAN IT BE EXCUSED IF YOU SQUANDER INCOME ON LUXURIES AFTER EMPLOYMENT INSTEAD OF MAKING TIMELY RE-PAYMENTS OF A STUDENT LOAN. UPON RETIREMENT, STUDENT LOANS SHOULD NOT BE OUTSTANDING.

3. TO LAND YOUR FIRST JOB, SOME FINANCIAL HELP AND TRANSPORTATION MAY BE REQUIRED EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE A PART-TIME JOB. PERHAPS YOU COUNT ON FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO FACILITATE YOUR SEARCH. IF SOME ASSISTANCE IS LENT TO YOU LIKE A CAR OR CASH, PAY BACK THE DONORS ON A TIMELY BASIS FROM THE FIRST INCOME YOU RECEIVE.

HINT: TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE TO THE GOAL OF BEING DEBT FREE. HOW SOON DO YOU CHOOSE TO BE FREE AT LAST?