If you read the post about rule # 1 for becoming wealthy, it says that rule # 3 is Save Early, Save Often.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am FRUGAL.  That is the polite way of saying I am CHEAP. But it’s true, and I enjoy the title. So how do you be FRUGAL.  Well it is very simple.  IF YOU DON’T NEED IT, DON’T BUY IT!!! If you need it, wait for it to go on Sale, or find it on Market Place.

I was invited to a financial seminar the other night, about what to do, and expect, regarding money, in 2026.  It was presented by a BLUE CHIP investor.  They were right about a lot of things, but said some things I don’t agree with.  His opinion was, that 2026 would be a year of uncertainty.  I think that will be the case until Trump is no longer president.  He also felt that interest rates will rise at the end of 2026 beginning of 2027.  So what should we do in the face of this uncertainty and potential interest increase? His suggestion: “Only buy what you really NEED, and pay down DEBT.

That plays into wealth accumulation rule # 3.  Save (don’t buy stuff) at every opportunity.  This can be as difficult as actually putting cash into investments and savings.  I will give you a personal example.  I love Chocolate bars.  When I was a kid, chocolate bars were 10 cents. (NO TAX.)  If you took the time to collect 5 pop bottles (deposit was 2 cents), you could trade those for a chocolate bar.  Back then bottles were hard to find, but not as hard as finding a dime. I swore that when I got older, and had a job, I would buy a chocolate bar when ever I wanted one.  Fast forward to today.  I very seldom buy a chocolate bar.  Why?  They are too darn expensive.  Paying $2.50 to $3.00 (Plus TAX) for a smaller bar than when I was a kid, is too much money.  It is darn hard to go to the cash at the gas station, surrounded by all those delicious sweet smelling bars, and not buy one. I may really WANT one, but I DON’T NEED one.

I have a friend who is always saying how broke he is.  I was at his place early in the morning and had missed my coffee.  “Not a problem!” he says. ” I’m just heading into the Timmies, I’ll just pick up another coffee for you.”  So he did.  When he got back I thanked him, and said he didn’t have to go to all that trouble and expense.  His answer took me by surprise.  “No problem. I do that almost every morning.”  I choked on my coffee.  “Not really” I said.  “You mean you drive over 15 Kilometers one way and buy coffees almost every day??!!”  “Wouldn’t it be cheaper and faster to brew the coffee here??  The cost of the gas, wear and tear on the car, the time.  No wonder you’re always broke.!!”  I couldn’t help it.  Every cheap bone in my body ached.  What a waste of money.

Another very serious problem today is how we are constantly bombarded with advertising.  There is almost no getting away from it.  Advertising has only on function.  GETTING YOU TO SPEND MONEY.  Even the banks are guilty.  Check out the number of adds that talk about saving as opposed to those that are persuading you to spend money.  Credit card and Insurance adds are pushing you to spend money.  No matter where you go, no matter what your doing there is advertising.

Rule 3 is more about NOT SPENDING than putting actual dollars into a savings account.  Here is a challenge.  If you think you don’t have any money to save, track where your money goes.  How much did you spend this week on things you wanted, but didn’t need??