UNCOMMON CENTS 62

68,000 CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES CONTROL 500 BILLION IN ASSETS AND ISSUE 34 BILLION IN GRANTS EACH YEAR. WHAT ARE YOU DONATING TO YOURSELF? EVEN THE EXPERTS IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIRST BECOME 'DEBT FREE' IN ORDER TO PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE. AMERICAN FAMILIES CARRY ABOUT $9,000 IN CREDIT CARD DEBT ALONE. WITH THIS OUTLAY HOW CAN AMERICAN WORKERS SAVE 15% OF THEIR SALARIES - $4500 A YEAR ON AN INCOME OF $30,000 ), AS ANALYSTS SUGGEST? DATA SHOWS THAT SAVINGS ARE IN NEGATIVE TERRITORY. IT IS TEMPTING TO SET ASIDE OUR INDIVIDUAL BURDENS OF FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROFLIGATE SPENDING HABITS. SOME SHOW CALLED POKER.NET PLAYS ON THE TELEVISION 24/7 AT THE SAME TIME THAT CASINOS ACROSS AMERICA AND IN CANADA DO LAND OFFICE BUSINESS AS THEY TEMPT GAMBLERS TO ‘BLOW’ BIG BUCKS . WE CANNOT ALL BECOME RICH AND FAMOUS ATHLETES, ENTERTAINERS, POLITICIANS, HEDGE FUND MANAGERS, CEO'S, INVESTMENT BANKERS, SILICON VALLEY ENTREPRENEURS OR LOTTERY WINNERS.

WHAT TO DO? MY EXPERT ADVICE BEGINS WITH PAYING YOURSELF FIRST. PAYING CASH. ELIMINATING DEBT. SUCH ADVICE IS USELESS, HOWEVER, TO THOSE AMERICANS WHO SPEND EVERY CENT OF INCOME INCLUDING THE YEARLY BOON OF THE INCOME TAX REFUND. ADVANCE PAYOFFS ALREADY ARE ENTICING CITIZENS TO OBTAIN THEIR 'RAPID REFUND.' WHEN WILL A CERTAIN AND PREDICTABLE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION LEARN? NEVER - UNLESS OR UNTIL SOME PENALTY FOR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY ENSUES. OR A BELIEF IN THE SENSIBLE THING TRIUMPHS OVER WHAT'S LEGAL AND FUN. MEANWHILE, EITHER THE DREAM OF GETTING RICH QUICK OR THE LOST HOPE OF NEVER GETTING AHEAD WILL PREVENT AMERICANS FROM PRUDENTLY BUILDING FUTURE WEALTH ONE DAY AT A TIME.

HINT: A WINNING HAND IN POKER - AND IN LIFE- WOULD BE TO HOLD ONTO YOUR CASH AND INVEST IT IN YOUR FUTURE.