UNCOMMON CENTS 63

HOW DO YOU GET RICH? YOU COULD TRANSMIGRATE INTO AN OVER-PRICED AND OVER-RATED DAVID BECKHAM WHO JUST PULLED DOWN A DEAL FOR $250,000,000 OVER 5 YEARS TO PLAY SOCCER IN THE U.S. IMPOSSIBLE YOU SAY? OR IS IT JUST AS IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER THE $26.00 EACH WEEK PAID OUT AT THE RATE OF 15% TO A CREDIT CARD COMPANY ON A BALANCE OF $9000.00 FOR A YEAR?

IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE, HOWEVER, TO START SAVING 15% OF YOUR INCOME EACH MONTH AND TO RE-CONSIDER UNNECESSARY SPENDING. ON MY RECENT SHOPPING EXCURSIONS I WITNESSED WASTE OF MONEY GALORE. A DOG KENNEL FOR $219.00 - UNNECESSARY WHEN MAN'S BEST FRIEND SHOULD BE HOUSED WITH YOU. AN 8 LB. BAG OF IAMS DOG FOOD FOR $9.99 - UNNECESSARY WHEN A NUTRITIONALLY COMPLETE REPLACEMENT COULD FEED FIDO WITH A 15 LB. BAG FOR $5.00. A $1.18 BOTTLE OF MOUNTAIN DEW SNATCHED FROM A COOLER AND BOUGHT BY AN OVERWEIGHT YOUNG GIRL - UNNECESSARY IF SHE NEEDED LIQUID REPLENISHMENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SATISFIED BY A TRIP TO ONE OF 3 FOUNTAINS NEARBY SPOUTING H20. A BASIC CARTON OF CIGARETTES FOR $33.99 - AS UNNECESSARY AS THE BOX OF NICARETTE CHEWING GUMS FOR $34.00 IF A PERSON MADE THE SENSIBLE DECISION TO FOREGO PEER APPROVAL, REJECT CIGARETTES AND OPT FOR PERSONAL SELF-ESTEEM. AN OUTLAY OF $19.99 AT AMAZON.COM FOR A NEW BOOK - UNNECESSARY FOR A PERIOD OF A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS UNTIL THE SAME READING IS AVAILABLE FREE FROM A LOCAL LIBRARY. A $9.99 MOVIE DVD - UNNECESSARY FOR A NIGHT'S RELAXATION WHEN LIBRARY SELECTIONS ARE FREE. A $9.00 TANNING SESSION - UNNECESSARY. RATHER PRUDENCE SUGGESTS YOU NOT PASS UP THE FRESH TOMATOES IN THE PRODUCE SECTION BECAUSE THEY FOSTER THAT INNER GLOW.

HINT: A TRIP TO A DISCOUNT FOODS MART WILL PUT EXTRA CASH INTO YOUR POCKET THAT A TRIP TO THE 7-11, CONVENIENCE OR DRIVE-THRU STORE TAKES AWAY. RESIST THAT INNER 'THIEF' TRYING TO STEAL YOUR PURSE. YOU CAN RECOVER THAT $26.00 PER WEEK.