NEGATIVE SAVINGS SHOCKER

I was recently appalled by a statistic I came across stating that in 2005 the American personal savings rate averaged -0.5%. We have gotten so used to living above our means that we have reached a savings low that hasn't been matched since the DEPRESSION!

Spending more than you bring in is nothing but a recipe for disaster. I know it's a challenge to live within your means but it's a bigger challenge to live under a growing pile of debt.

As Thomas Fuller said, ''Debt is the worst kind of poverty.'' If you're living in the red, you're in pretty bad shape and any money you make isn't really yours, it's your debtors! But there is hope if you can discipline yourself and figure out what method works best for you. Then you can not only be debt free but you can also begin to grow savings and do your part to increase this nation's embarrassing savings rate.