UNCOMMON CENTS 54

A POET, JOHN KEATS, WHOSE CREATIVE GIFTS WERE UNFORTUNATELY CUT SHORT, KNEW THAT "THERE IS NOT A FIERCER HELL THAN FAILURE IN A GREAT OBJECT." THE OBJECT COULD BE A WAR; THE UNREALIZED GOAL MIGHT BE FINANCIAL SECURITY. LOSING THE BATTLE FOR SELF-RELIANCE COULD BE IGNOMINIOUS. IN DEED, INDULGING IN A SLICE OF DESSERT FROM THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY WILL SET YOU BACK $5.00 TO $7.00. FOR A BRIEF, SHINING MOMENT OF CONFECTIONARY DELIGHT YOU MIGHT BE SACRIFICING SOLVENCY IN YOUR FUTURE. IS THIS SMART? LIKEWISE, PATRONIZING SPECIALTY STORES AS AN EXPENSIVE PASTIME AT UPSCALE MALLS, WON'T ALLOW YOU TO INVEST MONEY UNLESS YOU HAVE EXCESS MONEY TO BURN. WHO DOES? A BASEBALL STAR EARNING $120 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A 5 YEAR CONTRACT? YES. THOUSANDS OF BASEBALL FANS SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO ATTEND MAJOR LEAGUE GAMES? NO.

AMERICANS UNDER 50 NEED ONLY CONTRIBUTE $4000 A YEAR TO MAX OUT THEIR IRA PLAN. SHOULDN'T YOU ALLOCATE THIS SMALL BIT AS INSURANCE FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT HELP NOW OR IN RETIREMENT? DON'T ALLOW A PIECE OF CAKE TO ROB YOU AT THE RATE OF $5.00 FOR 5 TASTY MINUTES. CREAM CHEESE COSTS $.79 FOR 8 OUNCES. TWO EGGS ARE 16 CENTS. WHAT CAN A FEW DASHES OF VANILLA, CHOCOLATE, STRAWBERRY, EGG NOG OR A SELECTED FLAVORING COST? A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMB CRUST COSTS $.89. ASSEMBLED AND BAKED, AN ENTIRE 12 INCH CHEESECAKE WILL NEVER APPROXIMATE THE COST OF ONE SLICE FROM THE RETAIL FACTORY. THEN THERE'S THE SATISFACTION OF DOING IT YOURSELF. GET SMART. GET BAKING IF THIS DESSERT IS YOUR DOWNFALL.

HINT: SPONSOR YOUR OWN RICH AND CREAMY EXPERIENCE F GENEROUS LEFTOVERS IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT BY FINDING
WAYS OF CUTTING BACK ON SPENDING.