There's more in managing than making

This little pearl of wisdom is from Nannie, my grandmother. You know, the best way to learn about how to make your bucks go further is to talk to someone who lived through the Depression (btw, we're in one now in case you haven't noticed. It's simple....I look at my checkbook and I get depressed). She could squeeze a penny till Lincoln cried. She and Pop, my grandfather, never owed a penny of debt to anyone. They had a simple philosophy-if you can't pay cash for it, you can't afford it.

Now people seem to love living beyond their means, although the new economy has put a bit of a bite in that. Wonder why there are so many foreclosed homes in nice neighborhoods? Half-built neighborhoods where the builder went belly-up, leaving behind a skeleton of half-built homes? People upside-down with their mortgages, one paycheck away from the poor house? It's the same principle of why some of these millionaire athletes can't live on $10 million a year. I'm sorry, if you can't manage your money any better than that, and you go bankrupt when you're making those kind of bucks, I don't feel sorry for you. You got what ya deserved for being such a dumb ass. Here's a hint....just because you have $10 million, you don't go out and spend $11 million on a house, car, and airplane and then whine when the repo man comes and takes it all back.

Since I work hard for my money, I'd rather manage it better than have to go work even more. So I'm going to go cut out a few coupons and make a grocery list. Just remember, before you splurge on those hot new shoes that are going to kill your feet and give you bunions, just how hard did you have to work at a job you may not exactly love to pay for them?? Are they worth the workplace politics, office drama, and Atilla the Hun boss you deal with to earn the bucks to buy them?

Want to retire rich?

My best advice is it's NEVER too early to start saving! Forget about waiting till you graduate college and get a good job (good luck in this market!) and make enough $$$ so that you can actually afford to participate in whatever paltry retirement plan is available. Unless you want to live out your elder years living naked under a bridge, you better start saving up when you're about six or so. No joke. All that money you get for your birthday, Christmas, doing chores or whatever, save it for Pete's sake!! No excuses. After all, you are hardly paying the electric bill or buying groceries when you're not even old enough to drive.

Now that I've determined I will never be able to afford retirement, I have to decide if I want to work till I'm 92 (the average age at which the women in my family tend to live to) or just jump off a bridge tomorrow, LOL. I've always said I'm always the brokest the day before payday. Must go cut out some coupons now so I can buy groceries this week.

Now go save some money!!

Is fat free making us fat???

Just couldn't help but notice as I once again passed the Shrine of Krispy Kreme....have ya'll noticed since all the food manufacturers came out with fat-free food, that our fannies are getting larger and larger? Adds new meaning to the phrase "full moon." Of course, it could be that taking out the fat requires adding a boatload of sugar to make it taste decent. And fat helps make you feel full.....so if you eat only fat-free stuff, you'll never feel full.

Just something to ponder.

You Can't Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow's Ear....

but you sure can work with what raw materials you already have!!  Thank you, Aunt Rene, for one of my favorite sayings of all times. I plan next week to order the new Firm Express workout I saw on tv. I was a fan of the The Firm waaay back in the day (think VHS and the late 80's). Killer workouts with weights and aerobics mixed. Yes, they kicked your tail, but you could tell you had done a great workout.

Face it, after 40 (or even 30) you just can't eat Krispy Kremes and stay thin forever. Every year, it gets harder and harder. No matter what, your metabolism WILL betray you at some point, unless you get one of those terrible wasting diseases. I'd rather be 10 pounds overweight and healthy, thank you.

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Welcome to Diva W.O.W, AKA Words of Wisdom! I'm a Southern Diva, sharing my words of wisdom with you. Although many of my WOWs come from experience, I make no claims or guarantees as to the accuracy, safety, effectiveness, or validity of any wisdom shared here. I can only guarantee that the WOWs shared come straight from the heart of experience and that no animals were harmed in the making. Other than the (hopefully) occasional laugh, the use of this site does not guarantee a better job, more friends, a richer life, or fewer wrinkles.

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