UNCOMMON CENTS 60

WHAT A ROUT! NOT OSU'S LOSS TO THE GATORS BUT THE FLIGHT OF MONEY, NEWLY WASTED ON A 'ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME' INCONSEQUENTIAL EXPERIENCE. CHARACTERISTICALLY, CONFIDENCE RUNS HIGH FOR OHIO STATE FANS. SIMILARLY, 82% OF AMERICANS ARE VERY OR SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MEET BASIC EXPENSES AFTER RETIREMENT. DELUSION ABOUNDS. WHY? THIS IS AMERICA, OF COURSE. SACRIFICE AND SAVING, A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, MUST BE AVOIDED BECAUSE IT WOULD CUT INTO THE LIFESTYLES OF SPOILED AMERICANS. WHAT TO DO?

THE COSTS OF GOODS SINCE 1957 HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY. EGGS AT $.45 A DOZEN NOW COST $1.26, REPRESENTING A 280% INCREASE IN PRICE. COMPUTATIONS FOR OTHER ITEMS FROM 1957 SHOW THAT MILK IS UP 329%, A HARVARD DEGREE, 395%, COFFEE, 455%, SUGAR, 463%, GAS, 973%, MIDDLE INCOMES, 930% AND A NEW HOME, A DRAMATIC, 1700%. BUT WHAT HAVE INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS INVESTED SINCE 1957? IF THEY HAD INVESTED JUST $50.00 IN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT, IT WOULD BE UP 568% TO $284.00 IN 2007. $50.00 INVESTED IN THE STOCK MARKET'S DJIA, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE OF STOCKS, WOULD BE UP 3900% TO $1952.00 TODAY.

WHAT ARE YOUR WAITING FOR? A BUCKEYE COMEBACK? 3900% OVER 50 YEARS WOULD DESTROY THE COMPETITION FOR A SMART LONG-TERM SAVINGS ACCOUNT. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE THE SUN EVENTUALLY SHINES - INTO A MUTUAL FUND OR A STOCK FUND NOW SO THAT IT CAN GROW AND GROW FOR YEARS TO COME.

HINT: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY PLAYING SILLY GAMES THAT JEOPARDIZE YOUR FUTURE SECURITY.