UNCOMMON CENTS 39

K.I.S.S. "BRILLIANTLY SIMPLE," IT WILL "MAKE HER HAPPY," - A BIRD, A PLANE? NO, A H/W COLOR PRINTER AS ADVERTISED. PREFERABLY THE FIRST ANSWER TO "MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY" SHOULD BE THE PERSONAL GIFT OF A 401K, AN IRA OR PERHAPS A 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN, A GIFT TO WHICH YOU KEEP ON GIVING. BUT WHICH GIFT OPTIONS FILL THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN? DOES THE HEWLETT PRINTER SHOW HOW YOU ARE PAYING YOURSELF FIRST? DOES IT REFLECT A CASH PURCHASE? IS IT NEEDLESS, REPRESENTING AN UNNECESSARY DEBT? REMEMBER THE PRICE OF CARTRIDGES EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF LOW END PRINTERS. EVEN THE TOUTED 'FOREVER DIAMOND', AS A SECOND SPARKLING, PRECIOUS GEM PURCHASE, SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AS A WISE CHOICE. AT CHRISTMAS, BORROWING MONEY STILL MEANS LOSING MONEY TO INTEREST RATES OR ADMINISTRATION FEES. GIFT-GIVING SHOULD FLOW GOODNESS SECURED FROM A SURPLUS AFTER YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL NEEDS HAVE BEEN MET. FOR EXAMPLE, $40.00 PER GIFT MIGHT SERVE YOU BETTER AT $25.00 A GIFT. BOLD ADVICE FROM HESIOD, 700 B.C., HOLDS TRUE: "IF YOU LAY UP A LITTLE UPON A LITTLE (MONEY), OFTEN, SOON THIS EVEN BECOMES GREAT." NO SEASON EXCUSES SPENDING BEYOND ONE'S CONSTRAINTS OR NEGLECTING TO 'LAY UP A LITTLE.'