Steve Huppert
Columnist
Hupps440@aol.com
Money comes and goes; I have heard that my whole life. I am very familiar with the going part. It is like a disappearing act. Here today and gone tomorrow, except it is not tomorrow, it is gone in seconds. It’s hard for me to explain, it’s like magic, black magic. It’s a disappearing act, like now I have it and now I don’t, doesn’t seem fair.
You work hard to build up a little cash and then it’s gone. The only thing good about it is I am not the only one who suffers the fate of the disappearing dollar. I used to put a 20-dollar bill (Andrew Jackson) up next to my bed, so I would know what 20 dollars looked like, and could dream about owning a bunch of them.
So, for 2026, I am going to try a new tactic. It is called “keep until tomorrow what I have today.” It’s saving what you have for the future.
In 1930 Will Rogers said, “If there ever was a time to save, it’s now. When a dog gets a bone, he don’t go out and make the first payment on a bigger bone, he buries the one he’s got.” Makes sense to me.
The problem with a lot of us is we spend on things we don’t need, or we buy more than what we need. Pizza is a good example. A family bought two supreme pizzas for 35 dollars when one and a salad would be fine. Buy only one and you save 20 dollars. That tactic can apply to numerous products.
Warren Buffett, probably the world’s most lucrative investor, made lots and lots of money by doing one thing that many of us don’t do, and that is he uses his brain when supporting the economy. Call it cheap, I will call it being resourceful. You don’t need to spend everything today; that is why they have tomorrows.
Joseph Monestere says the key to improving financial health is to remember that small changes can have a significant impact on your financial future. Each day is a new opportunity to manage your money better. It will reduce your stress and prepare you for short- and long-term goals.
Nothing is wrong with creating a budget on how much you spend, save and invest, and most importantly how you handle your credit card expenses. Nothing against Amazon and VISA, but they have got enough money; they can miss a few of your dollars.
Many individuals have 50 dollars taken out of their paycheck each month. Deducting that amount, you don’t notice it’s gone. It is a great way to prepare for emergency, education and retirement.
I am always impressed with the question, “is three million enough for me to retire on?” The question is, where is the three million coming from to retire on?
Saving money is something we all need to think about. We are not like Mr. Trump, as he can make all the money he wants and spend it anyway he wants.
You can’t beat starting to save today.
