UNCOMMON CENTS 51

YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION? ARE YOU IRRESOLUTE ABOUT HOW TO CONSERVE YOUR NATURAL RESOURCE, MONEY? FORGET ABOUT DISHING OUT YOUR MONEY TO PATRONIZE OVER-RATED AND OVER-PRICED STARS LIKE THE ROLLING STONES, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, MADONNA, KATE MOSS, PARIS HILTON OR BARBRA STREISAND AND INVEST IN THE U.S. STOCK MARKET. IT'S THE PERENNIAL UNDER-PRICED AND UNDER-RATED RISING STAR. THE 10 YEAR U.S. TREASURY BOND ONLY YIELDED 2% IN 2006, BUT THE U.S. STOCK MARKET MADE DOUBLE DIGIT ADVANCES. THE DJIA, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, ASCENDED 17% AND THE S & P 500, THE STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS, ROSE 14%. TO DEMONSTRATE THESE PERCENTAGES, A DISCOUNT OF 14% FROM A $100.00 CONCERT TICKET AMOUNTS TO $14.00. A BONUS OF 17% FROM YOUR WEEKLY PAYCHECK OF $400, WOULD AMOUNT TO $68.00. AN INVESTMENT OF $3000 IN ANY U.S. MUTUAL FUND IN 2006 WOULD HAVE REAPED AT LEAST A 10% OR $300.00 AWARD.

OF COURSE, A PROFIT OF $300 FROM A YEAR OF INVESTING COULD PURCHASE A MOTORIZED 4-WHEELER FOR AN 8 OR A 6 YR OLD FOR CHRISTMAS. IT COULD PURCHASE 13 MEALS AT APPLEBEES'S OR 30 AT CHILI'S OR 38 AT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE OR 19 AT RED LOBSTER. $300.00 COULD FEED 4 PERSONS DINNER AT MAGIC KINGDOM, 7 LUNCH AT EPCOT CENTER, ALMOST 3 PERSONS A MEAL AT ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE OR 2 A FEAST WHILE ONE SNACKS ON THE LEFTOVERS AT DOWNTOWN DISNEY. YOU COULD FOLLOW MANY TYPICAL AMERICANS WHOSE EGOS WOULD JUSTIFY THESE CHOICES TO BRING ON THE PLATES!

BUT - FOR YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION, FORGET THE WEIGHT LOSS DREAM FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME IN A ROW AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO GET FATTER ON STOCK MARKET GAINS. DON'T LET YOUR DISCRETIONARY INCOME EAT UP YOUR FUTURE. DISCRETIONARY INCOME IS JUST THAT, INCOME SPENT AT THE DISCRETION OF ITS INHERITOR.

HINT: WHAT KIND OF STEWARD WILL YOU BE WITH YOUR MONEY?