Monday, February 14, 2011

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

You don't have to go on a game show to be a millionaire.

Here's the deal, in Reader's Digest format.

If you make an average of $50,000 a year for your career, and work for 45 years, if you can put aside a paltry 10% of your salary (some people tithe that much!) at a paltry 5% interest rate, you will have over $800,000 by the time you retire.

And you buy a modest $150,000 house, pay off the mortgage over 30 years, even at a paltry appreciation of 2%, it will be worth over $250,000 by the time you retire.

Voila.  You're a Millionaire.

But, you have to save, not spend.

And you have to pay down that mortgage, not borrow against your house over and over again.

You have to choose to be a Millionaire.

Now, you say, well, I only make half that amount and my house is worth only $75,000.

Well, then you can at least become a half-millionaire, right?  Still not too shabby!

But, you say, I'm 40 years old!

Well, you still have 25 years to figure this out.

People whine and bitch and moan about how bad they have it in this country.  But the truth is, anyone can choose to be financially independent - but few actually do.

You don't feel sorry for me for all the money I squandered over the years on utter crap and junk, do you?

So why should I feel sorry for you?

End of story!