Haven't posted in here before, but I'm picking this up tomorrow and I am about to BUST!

[Honeycombe8]

41. Don't feel bad.

If you're young, keep plugging away, working hard, being a good employee. Put aside a little money regularly...hopefully in a retirement account.

Then when you can afford a car...DON'T BUY ONE, ESP A PRICEY OR SPORTY ONE. Or buy a budget car. Buy only what you need, and put the rest in your retirement account. Read a few investment books (even if you don't understand them,you will learn a thing or two by osmosis).

Then when you're older and nearing retirement age, you will smile when you look at the amount in your retirement account, and will be very glad you didn't spend that money years ago on a sport car. Not that there's anything wrong with a pricey car. But for someone who may not be able to have both a good retirement account and fancy cars, go with the retirement account. (Heretic seems as if he can have both.)

Really. Take it from a workin' gal, who used to be very poor. I worked hard, learned a vocation, moved away to find a good job, saved, saved, saved more. Went with a job that had a good contribution to my 401k. Worked a lot of O.T. Then....I retired early. You wouldn't believe how many of my coworkers resented me for it. Envious, I guess. But I sacrificed for it. I now have THREE investment accounts. (There was a time when I had to push my car to get it started in the morning to go to work. And didn't have $5 left after paying the bills and groceries.) If I can do it, as an underpaid female, YOU can do it. But you will have to forego some pricey luxuries. (I STILL don't have a smartphone! And won't get one.)