UNCOMMON SENSE 33

HINT: THE FIRST BABY STEP IS NOT THE HARDEST, JUST THE SMARTEST.

HOW HARD IS IT TO LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS? TO TAKE THAT FIRST WOBBLY STEP TO WEALTH. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU RESOLVE TO 'PACK YOUR LUNCH.' THE LUNCH PAIL HAS NOT OUT-LIVED ITS USEFULNESS. IT HAS JUST BEEN REPLACED BY TUPPERWARE OR A PAPER BAG. WHETHER YOU LAND YOUR FIRST JOB AT SIXTEEN OR TWENTY SIX, THE DECISION TO SAVE MONEY SHOULD ACCOMPANY YOU TO THAT FIRST DAY ON THE JOB. PACK YOUR LUNCH AND PLAN YOUR DRINK. PACK WHAT YOU LIKE BUT CONSIDER USING ECONOMICAL INGREDIENTS. WHO TODAY CANNOT KEEP A PREPARATION COOL OR WARM ONE UP AT THE WORKPLACE? EVEN COLLEGE STUDENTS SHOULD BUY AND PREPARE THEIR OWN LUNCHES TO AVOID EXPENSES IN THE CAFETERIA OR LOUNGE. THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS. ONE DOES NOT PLAN FOR A GENUINE CAREER, BUT HOPES TO AVOID A FEW YEARS OF WORK. THE OTHER SERIOUSLY INTENDS TO PURSUE ACADEMIC LEARNING IN A SELECTED FIELD. NEITHER SHOULD WASTE FUNDS ON A THIRD PARTY'S FOOD PREPARATIONS WHEN SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS PREFERABLE.

NO EXCUSES (PERHAPS A RARE EXCEPTION). WHO TODAY IS DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LUNCH DURING BREAK OR WHO MUST WORK OUTDOORS FOR EIGHT OR MORE HOURS AND EAT ‘ON THE RUN’? I SAW A CLAN OF TREE-TRIMMERS LAST SUMMER LOUNGING ON A GRASSY SLOPE, SOCIALIZING AND CONSUMING THEIR PACKED LUNCHES, NOT THEIR 'TAKE-OUTS'. BLESS THEM AND MY VISION OF THEM AS LONG AS IT LASTED. PERHAPS THEY DRANK THEIR SAVINGS AWAY AFTER WORK AT A LOCAL WATERING HOLE. PERHAPS THEIR WOMEN BOUGHT $9.00 A POUND STEAKS FOR THEM TO GRILL IN THE EVENING. PERHAPS THEIR OTHER CHOICES WERE INCONSISTENT WITH A WALK DOWN THE GREEN PATH. BUT THE FACT REMAINS - THEIR EXAMPLE OF ONE OF COST EFFECTIVENESS. AN UNCONSCIOUS BABY STEP IS BETTER THAN NONE.

A WORKER ON HOLIDAY WHO HABITUALLY SELECTS A SANDWICH, COOKIE, FRUIT OR SOUP AND DRINK FOR LUNCH SHOULD FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BLOWING $5.00 OR MORE FOR FOOD WHILE SHOPPING AT THE MALL. SUCH A SELF-CONSCIOUS MUNCHER PROBABLY DOES NOT REGULARLY PATRONIZE A BUDGET-BUSTING MALL. CHECK OUT THIS MATH. TREATING YOURSELF TO A $.20 CUP OF COFFEE IN THE MORNING AS OPPOSED TO A $3.00 LATTE OR CAPPUCCINO WILL SAVE YOU $2.80 A DAY. MULTIPLY OFF 360 DAYS FOR A YEAR’S INDULGENCE AND YOU HAVE $1008 TO INVEST FOR YOUR FUTURE AND DRINK TO YOUR SELF-ESTEEM.