Nothing Stylish About Being Broke!

I keep seeing interviews with "experts" re the part of the Stimulus Package where it is suggested that no executive of a company being bailed out shall receive employment compensation of more than $500,000 per annum.

Additionally, I keep hearing the comeback, "Well, if you want good people, you have to pay them!"

Hello? Is this some sort of "blond joke"?

Don't they get it? If there were more "good people" running the companies, less would need us - that's you and me - to bail them out!

What part of broke do these people not understand?

I've talked about all the mansions and luxury cars before. It is no secret that America is over-mortgaged and maxed out!

Let me share a fabulous concept about spending money. When we were kids, parents used to tell us, "Here's your allowance and remember: when it's gone, it's gone!"

Some time - oh, maybe in the 50s - credit cards came along and we all know that was the fall of the empire.

We have heard all the comments about credit cards and how handy they are. A debit card is handy. Yup, the money is taken out of your bank account right away. Makes perfect sense. It doesn't keep coming back every month with accrued interest.

You want to know what is handy? A wallet with some coins in the one part, small bills in another and twenties in another. (Some people know that I take pleasure in counting out the exact change.)

There is just something about counting out the cash and paying. Transaction complete.

Let me tell you, if you simply pay all your accounts online and give yourself some cash for smaller items, you are coming close to sanity. Using a debit card for groceries and large drug store purchases is fine, as long as that money is right there waiting to be removed from your account.

Purchasing something for twenty dollars or less and using a credit card . . . how did that start?

When two of you go to lunch, you can pay cash. Sure you can! Your guest knows how much things cost, because it was printed right there on the menu. Are you afraid the other person will see you are a cheap tipper? Oh . . . well, 15 - 20 percent should be fine. (Is there a possibility that some people cannot figure out the tip? Shame, shame. Take 10% and double it.)

So, could it possibly be pride that gets in the way of us having a peaceful relationship with money?

If you want to enjoy some one's company at lunch and you don't want to spend a lot, there are two things you can do. You can suggest going "Dutch" (splitting the bill) or a trip to Subway.

There is nothing stylish about being broke, but eating at Subway or Quiznos can be lots of fun.

What would Forest Gump Do? There was a fellow with very few worries! The line "Stupid is as stupid does" might fit! Who wants to be stylish and broke?