For a dame from Down Under, she's on top when it comes to cash, baby. Every movie Nicole Kidman makes, the Aussie actress knocks down 17,000,000 bucks. Sweet deal, if you can get it. It's more than most joes and jills see in a lifetime. Most only see about $2 million. Think I'm kidding? The average household makes over 40 Gs a year. Over a working lifetime, that's 2 million dollars. But there's making it and there's managing it. Do the smart money thing, jack, and learn how to budget money.

It doesn't matter if you make $20,000 a year or 200,000, you need to know how to handle the dough. I'm sure Kidman does all right for herself, but some of you other joes and jills need to get a clue about balancing your books. If you live on less than you make and save cash, you get ahead. If not, you fall behind. Sound simple, simon? Good, then do it. If you need help, listen to The Dave Ramsey Show once in a while, or better yet, every day.

See this one coming? I didn't (*COUGH*). Seems the Pamela Anderson-Kid Rock marriage has gone south after almost four months. No surprise, I guess ... celebrity unions usually don't outlast milk anyway. I know, I know ... it sounds like I'm picking fun at them, but I'm not, bub. I'm pointing something out; when a bub and his dame get together and tie the knot, it's for keeps.

It's sad to say, but too many times, money fights and money problems send a marriage on a one-way trip to Splitsville. That probably wasn't the case with Mrs. Baywatch and Mr. Bawitaba here, but it's important to get on the same page with your partner about things like saving money, and kids, and in-laws. When you get hitched, be sure about it. Dave Ramsey has some good advice about this. You ain't a joint venture, jack ... you are one. Do like Jerry Springer says ... take care of yourself, and each other.

If you think I misspelled the title of this blog, think again, jack. My Big Dummy hit the bulls-eye on this one ... about driving a car that you can't afford. My question is, why do we need common-sense stuff to be pointed out by a dummy? Having a car payment is bad enough, but when you make 30 grand a year and drive a boiler that costs 15,000 bucks, it's no wonder you're as broke as a couple of kneecaps after not paying protection money to Capone.

Bottom line; driving something that you have to make payments on is stupid. Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, The Dave Ramsey Show. You don't spend all day thinking about how great your set of wheels is, so don't pay for it like you do. Make a personal budget and save money so that you can pay cash for a car and walk away clean, baby.

You hear me talk about how to save money all the time. What you don't hear me giving any lip about is how cash is the end-all-be-all. It ain't, jack ... not by a long shot. But this yahoo in South Carolina didn't see it that way. Two average joes started drinking last week and made a college football bet on the South Carolina-Clemson game. When SC came out ahead 31-28, the boys started disagreeing about the payoff. It ended with one of them getting the bad end of a shotgun to the chest.

Amazing that a football game bet, or money in general, would do something like that. Money is like the password for a speakeasy, baby; you gotta be careful in how you handle it. Not just in a bet (which you should stay away from), but in your marriage, how you raise your kids, how you relate to your parents and siblings, the whole shebang. Dave Ramsey talks about that all the time. When it comes to cash, don't blow your lid.

Don't know about you ... but I like the classics. And you can't get 'em much more classic than A Charlie Brown Christmas. It could be CB and Linus going to get that dinky little tree, or Lucy being a psychiatrist and a pain in the tookus, or Snoopy entering that lights and display contest ... I never miss it, bub. A cartoon special like that doesn't come around much anymore.

You know what else is classic? Cash. Saving money was "in" before credit ever stuck its ugly head out of the snake hole, jack. Working hard and earning that extra cash never got anyone in trouble with collectors. I started saving for my holiday budget back in July, and I'm sweating Christmas about as much as an Eskimo in January. Just a little saving at a time adds up, big-time. Do that in savings for presents, retirement or pretty much anything else, just like Dave Ramsey says, and you'll win with the dough, baby.

Heidi ho, ladies and gents. Took the weekend off to spend with the family, now I'm back in business. And what do I come back to? Try scratch n' sniff credit cards. You heard me right, jack. It's the latest in stupid technology, see? Seems the plastic pushers are looking for an edge; a way to get you to keep their junk in your wallet or purse. So they invent cards that smell like coffee, or lemon, or raspberry. To me, it all smells the same ... like trouble, baby. The best credit card rate is zero ... as in no card at all.

I tell you what ... paying for stuff with cash smells sweeter than a cute dame's perfume before a big date. Saving up extra cash, which you have once you pay off debt, is the key to having peace of mind when it comes to money. You want coffee in the morning? Buy it and make it ... don't have it cost you 18 percent interest each time you pay for something. The Dave Ramsey Show talks about how much you need to deep-six your debt, so start with the stinking plastic.

Can't get enough of underdogs who turn into overdogs, bub. And did it ever happen this weekend. The Tennessee Titans pulled off a win for the ages when they came back from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the New York Giants. What's great about it is that most joes and jills had written the home team off. But the Titans were the only ones who needed to believe that they could pull off the upset win, and they did it.

So, here's my question ... you feeling like an underdog? Got yourself in debt and it's weighing on you like a pair of cement shoes? News flash, buddy ... it doesn't have to be that way. The world may be counting you out, but the clock hasn't run out on you yet. Fight back and get back in the game. As soon as you create a personal budget and stick to it, you'll start winning. That's just what Dave Ramsey teaches, so get on board. Before you know it, you'll pull off your own comeback, baby.

I've gotten enough ugly ties in my time to know that, while I look good in most things, I don't look good in purple polka dots, baby. Sometimes, regifting is your best bet. But have some respect for whoever gave you the ugly duckling gift; and be careful on how you give. Write down who gave you what junk, and give it to someone who actually would use it, and who doesn't see the giver very often.

The point of regifting is not to be a cheapskate, but to be a smart money man (or dame). Dave Ramsey always talks about being practical with the dough, so look for ways to save money without being Scrooge. Could regifting be one of those ways? You betcha. But don't regift just because you're too lazy to go out and shop at Christmastime. Think about it, baby.

Attention shoppers: a one-way ticket to Crazytown awaits you this coming Friday. That's right ... get ready for Black Friday shopping. It's the day that has almost become a holiday in itself, jack. Stores across the U.S. of A. get ready for the flood of shoppers that will hit the doors early in the morning to get the best deals on Christmas gifts. The deals may be hot, but shopping on emotion is not. Be careful when you make a Black Friday list, jack.

Create a budget for Christmas and look for deals. But don't think that you can save money big-time by jumping into the good deals on one crazy day. You'll go nuts and buy everything in sight, and end up spending more than you should have. The reason it's called Black Friday is because it's when stores' bottom lines go from red to black ... which means tens of thousands of other yahoos will be pushing each other over to get those same deals. Keep your head and your wallet in check, baby. Just like Dave Ramsey says.

Don't know if anyone's heard yet, but there was a Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes wedding this weekend. Lots of question marks have been popping up over these two tying the knot. You have yours, so here's mine: how much dough did they blow on that ceremony, and who were they trying to impress?

OK, OK ... if you can afford it, you can do it. But don't put so much pomp into the wedding that you forget the marriage. That's why most Hollywood marriages today don't outlast milk. The bride and groom want to spend 2.5 million bucks on their wedding so they can say they had a nicer ceremony than the couple that got hitched last month and only spent 2 million. It's keeping up with the Joneses; Hollywood-style.

When it comes to marriage and money, the most important thing is to get on the same page with your baby, baby. Do like Dave Ramsey says and make a family budget. Get that taken care of, and your marriage will be as good as gold.

I love heroes, bub. Can't get enough of 'em. It takes a real special joe or jill to make the world a better place. Case in point: Secret Santa. Businessman Larry Stewart decided to reveal his secret superhero identity a few days ago and say that he's the man whose been going around for the last 26 years at Christmas, just handing out $100 bills to random people, who really get a kick out of having the extra cash. He found out not too long ago that he's got cancer, so he wanted to come forward.

The best thing about Stewart is that he didn't have to toot his own horn when he was dishing out the dough. He did it because it was the right thing to do. That's what makes a hero, jack. Dave Ramsey tells people what they have to do every day to be heroes. The quicker you learn how to budget money, the sooner you'll have some, and the sooner you can give to hard-luck people. Know what that makes you? That's right, baby ... a hero.

Some things are worth all the hype, some aren't. Ladies and germs, Exhibit A. Many joes and jills are hyping up the Ohio State-Michigan game tomorrow as the greatest thing to happen to football since the cleat was invented. The Game. Number 1 vs. Number 2. A conference championship and national title game berth on the line. I'm all about college football, bub ... but I just hope it doesn't turn into a 47-0 blowout. I've seen too many "Game of the Century" picks that turned out to be more bloated than a 300 lb. uncle after Thanksgiving dinner.

Something that is worth all the hype is a debt-free life. Dave Ramsey talks about it all the time. Getting out of debt and saving so you can retire rich with no payments is worth the hype and then some, baby. Make it happen, and the final score will read: You - 1 (Won) and debt - zero. Do the math.

The word coming from the boys in Washington is that they want to raise the national minimum wage to $7.25. Well, that's fine and dandy, but it won't mean jack if people don't know how to handle the extra cash. The key to wealth building is something that Dave Ramsey has been preaching about from day one. It ain't so much about the current minimum wage ... it ain't about what you're bringing in as it is how you spend it.

Making a personal budget and knowing how to spend your dough is what gets you ahead in life and money. It's just a matter of telling your moolah what to do-la. I've seen joes and jills who make 30,000 bucks a year and have paid-for cars, money in the bank and funding for retirement and college. On the flip side, I've seen people knocking down $200K a year and couldn't budget their way out of a paper bag; and it shows, baby. Be smart, create a budget and you'll win big-time ... at the minimum.

It's no secret that when a bub and his dame work together for a good cause, things are gonna get done and get done right. A great example was last night on Dancing with the Stars. Check out 2006 dancing season star Emmitt Smith and his twinkle-toed partner Cheryl Burke. They worked hard for weeks on end, got in sync ... next thing you know, they're taking a ride on the winning train as dancing champions, baby.

The same thing can help you win with money. Get together with your spouse and get on the same page about spending and saving. Once you get to talking about the dough, you'll get in sync. Before you know it, you'll be deep-sixing your debt, big-time. So how do you do that? By creating a budget and getting out of debt. For more info, listen to The Dave Ramsey Show. Simple, simon.

Here's a Play Station 3 news flash, jack ... joes and jills everywhere are lining the block, waiting to get a piece of the action with the new video game system. Problem is, lots of them will want to Ebay the sucker ... and yahoos online will pay thousands of bucks for a $600 system! I know, I don't get it either, bub ... it's bad math.

Nothing is worth paying more than you have to. You wouldn't go to buy a $5,000 car and hand the owner 15 grand, so don't do it with video games. Don't get me wrong ... they can be fun. I've played some Super Mario Bros. in my day. But there's a right way to shop. Just like Dave Ramsey says, look for the deals. If you're gonna blow perfectly good dough on something like that, then make it part of your personal budget. If you can get something used, do it ... it's less pricey. Don't buy overpriced stuff and then end up asking yourself 'Where is the cash?' Get it?

You heard me say it before ... the only good credit card is one that's cut into little bitty pieces, jack. Not having a card is also the best way to prevent identity theft, since it's one less thing with your name splashed all over it. If you use plastic long enough, it'll come back to bite you in the can. Now with this new and "improved" credit card, even if you don't use it, you can still become an identity theft victim. Just one more reason, in a long list of them, to give credit cards the axe.

The plastic companies all have the same pitch when it comes to using their cards. They talk about the convenience, protection, and freedom. Here's a clue for those yahoos ... creating a budget will lead to big-time dough. Cash is accepted everywhere, helps to keep you safe when life happens, and no minimum payment to go with it. How's that for convenience, protection, and freedom?

Plasectomies are done on the Dave Ramsey show for a reason. Credit cards are the worst thing to happen to finances since the stock market crash of '29, baby. Saving money won't get you into trouble with collectors. Simple, simon ... now do it.

Here's the recipe for a big-time trouble sandwich, jack. Take the IRS, mix in debt collectors and sprinkle in a dash of dough that you owe, and voila! Think I'm kidding? Ever since September, Uncle Sam has started to use private debt collection companies to get people who owe money to the IRS to cough up the cash. In return, the collectors get a 25 percent cut. Just another reason to always pay what you owe and don't get behind.

Dave Ramsey always tells you to arrange what's deducted from your paycheck so that when D-day comes calling in April, you don't owe anything to anyone, and nothing is owed to you. Don't have another reason to be in debt. The IRS and creditors will chase you to the ends of the earth if you owe them extra cash, so don't get that monkey on your back, baby.

Nothing ticks me off more than someone acting like a jerk. Like him or not, Texas Tech men's basketball coach Bobby Knight fits that profile to a T. There's coaching, and then there is throwing chairs onto the court, head-butting players and slapping players in the face.

The man can coach B-ball with the best of them; just ask any Hoosier fan. The problem is, 50 years from now, Knight will be just as remembered for his hot head as for being a head coach. If you want to be known for something, make it big-time and worthwhile. Have joes and jills remember you because you looked out for the little man and made this world a better place.

When Dave Ramsey talks about saving money on his show, this is the big reason why, baby. The more dough you have, the more you can give away. You can give a lot more cash if you are out of debt. I get a kick out of it everyday. Christmas is coming up soon, so don't be a Scrooge. Find someone needy and help them out. How do you like them apples, jack?

Everyone ready for the newest James Bond movie coming out this Friday? I'm still a sucker for Sean Connery myself, but Daniel Craig is the leading man now. We'll see how he does. Regardless of who stars in the franchise's newest moving picture, one part in each movie scares the living daylights out of me.

It ain't where the sinister villain reveals his hokey plan for world domination. It's when Q rolls out the newest Bond-mobile. Not that JB would be stupid enough to get a car loan payment, but anytime someone isn't super-rich and takes a brand-new boiler out for a test drive, it gives me the chills. Show me a joe or jill who doesn't want to save money and pay cash for a car, and I'll show you someone for whom the world is not enough.

Diamonds may be forever, but cars come and go. That's what makes it such a bad idea to have a car loan. If you buy a brand new set of wheels, it will drop in value like a bag of rocks. All the while, you're making big-time payments on it. You only live once, baby ... so live smart. Stay away from car loans, just like Dave Ramsey says.

Everybody likes it when the underdogs win (unless you're the overdog). Thing is, when you win, you get big-time momentum on your side, which means good things start happening in droves, jack. Need proof? Then here's the pudding. The Rutgers University football team started out this season on the low end of the food chain, a small-time program. Then they beat everyone in front of them on the gridiron, but still didn't have a great shot at the football championship.

So what happens? They get some breaks, baby. Teams above them in the rankings started dropping like flies. In one week, Rutgers University, home of the underdog, went from ranked No. 15 to No. 6 in the polls. They kept plugging away, never giving up, and good things happened.

In money, it's the same deal. The Dave Ramsey Show, starring DR himself, talks about it all the time. If you pay off debt and start building up a pile of dough, primo stuff comes your way. You'll set a money goal and reach it two or three months before you thought you would. You'll find extra cash in your budget. Exciting stuff, baby ... get going and work at it.

Me ... I don't like secrets, babe. I'm always a straight shooter. I don't buy into those commercials or books that talk about the "secrets of the rich". No secret to it. When you're in debt, work to get out of debt. If you have no dough, then save money. I think you'll find that this story on joes and jills who believe in debt free living lines up with what Dave Ramsey and myself preach about every day.

These people made debt payoff a priority, keep basic living expenses as low as they can, and even take on a second job to speed things up. Does that sound like a secret to you? If it does, than get a clue! If you think that rich people are the only ones who will ever have a big pile of cash, then you don't know jack, jack. The people in this story had just as much money and income as you and I; they just knew how to handle it. Take a lesson from them, my friends.

You want consistency? You got it, bub. Take a look at Joe Paterno, head coach for Penn State. Forget the fact that he's 79 years old and still going like he's 29; it took a broken leg to break his streak of coaching on the sidelines. For the first time since '77, the year Carter was in the White House, he'll miss a game because of doctor's orders. To top that off, it's only the second game JoePa has missed since he took over the top spot 41 years ago.

That's the key to success. Find the right thing to do and do it. When you create a budget, stick to it, no matter what. If you want to retire rich, then start investing and do it month after month. Don't letup for anything. Dave Ramsey talks about that all the time. A little bit of consistency makes a lot; a lot of inconsistency doesn't make much, baby.
CHECK OUT DEBTECTIVE VS. THE PAYDAY LOAN SHARK ON THE STORIES PAGE!

Quick quiz: if you're 62 and hard up for cash, what should you not do? Answer: rob a bank. You think I'm kidding, jack? Some yahoo strolled into a bank in Columbus, Ohio and took 80 bucks from the teller, then turned himself in to the security guard by the door. The reason? He said age discrimination kept him jobless, and that after he did three years in the cooler, he would be old enough to collect Social Security.

Stupid plan? You betcha. But what's even stupider is not having a plan. This guy didn't prepare for retirement, so he decided to get behind the iron (bars) to get ready for his golden years. I tell ya; if you don't ask yourself 'How much do I need to retire', then you might as well be doing the same thing, baby. Dave Ramsey says it all the time ... having enough money to retire rich is up to you.
CHECK OUT DEBTECTIVE VS. THE PAYDAY LOAN SHARK ON THE STORIES PAGE!

Divorce is an ugly thing, jack. Goes without saying. But it brings to light something that needs to be discussed. Take a look at Kevin Federline and Britney Spears. Now that Britney has gotten fed up with K-Fed, the two have parted ways. But there's still a little matter of Mr. Britney Spears earning a living. He was hyped up in the media as being a freeloader, and if that's the case, he now has no load to free, which spells money trouble for him.

The point is not to bash K-Fed. The point is that if you don't work hard and save money, and do your part to take care of yourself, no one else will do it. Some people should spend more time giving to their families instead of sucking them dry. Dave Ramsey talks about hard work all the time. Only through doing that and creating a budget will you not have to worry about the dough, joe. When you're part of a team, work hard and pitch in.

I've talked before about messing up and starting over. Heck, I've done it myself. Everyone needs a second chance every now and then, bub. What I can't stand is when someone gets a second, or third, or 28th chance, and chucks it into the garbage can. Take Dwight Gooden. He used to be on top of the world, pitching for the New York Mets, winning a World Series, the whole shebang. He also was just released from jail and has spent years battling a cocaine addiction. Hopefully, he'll get some help, and get his head screwed on right this time.

If some joe or jill needs help, then help them. If you get out of debt and have extra cash, you can help even more; that's one of Dave Ramsey's guiding philosophies. But no matter how big a wall you have in front of you, keep climbing it. Don't ever quit, or you'll end up right back where you started. In Gooden's case, he'll take a one-way ticket back to the cooler, baby. Don't let it happen to you ... keep things on the up-and-up and don't give up.

When you're on a team, it's important to work together. That goes without saying, but there are always some knuckleheads in the crowd who need to be reminded. Now, one day after the House of Representatives switches from Republican to Democrat and the Senate is still waiting for its final score, we all need to remember to keep our heads. Our team colors are red, white and blue, so let's agree on a direction and go with it, jack.

The same thing can be said with other teams; and the money that goes with them. If you're married, get on the same page with your hubby or dame and work to save money. Working at a church? Balance the books and get debt-free. Dave Ramsey knows a thing or two about the dough, so the quicker you see eye-to-eye with your partners, the more progress you can make. Do it, baby ... it's dynamite.

You've heard Dave Ramsey and myself talk about keeping away from credit cards like a match from the gasoline pumps. If you get in debt, creditors will chase you off the ends of the earth to get their dough. And it doesn't matter how big-time you think you are, either. Look at Air America. One minute, it's a thriving radio station. The next, it files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because talks with one of its creditors broke down.

Using credit is like fitting yourself for cement shoes, baby. Using cash that belongs to someone else just means you have one more joe or jill that is looking to you for a payoff sooner or later. Why do that to yourself? Create a budget, stay away from debt and build wealth like there's no tomorrow. It's a recipe for success every time.

Today's the day, jack. Today, you have the chance to take part in what makes this the greatest country in the world. Get out and vote, and don't make excuses about it being rainy, or too long a drive, or the lines are too long, or you have a dental appointment, or any of that other bull. Take pride in the Red, White and Blue, baby.

Nothing burns me more than some yahoo who doesn't go to the polls but still finds time to gripe about what's wrong with the U.S.A. If you don't like it, change it, buddy. But if you're not doing your part, then take the train.

Money is the same way. Dave Ramsey says to save money and pay off debt. So don't drive up in a car with a $600 payment and complain to me about how you don't have enough dough to pay bills. Do what it takes to win.

Love her or hate her? Either way, Paris Hilton is in the spotlight and looks to be staying. Problem is, it's for all the wrong reasons. Princess Paris didn't save someone's life, or help out at an orphanage, or teach kids to stay off drugs. Most joes and jills think that since she's got the dough, she must be the best thing since sliced bread. Not true, jack.

If you want to be remembered, make the world a better place. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or help out that single mother down the street. If you save money and give it away, you'll help tons of joes and jills who are down on their luck. That's why Dave Ramsey says to pay off debt. Just remember ... don't do it to get fan mail; do it because it's right. Besides, once you know that you've helped out; you won't care about getting your name in the paper. That's what I'm talking about, baby.

You want something that's uglier than the backside of an ape after a mud-wrestling match? How about a celebrity divorce! You got money fights, lies, money fights, running around with somebody that you shouldn't ... and let's not forget those money fights. The gloves usually come off on these things, big-time. Look at Paul McCartney and his dame. A muscle-bound bouncer at a speakeasy couldn't lift all the pounds (and schillings) that are gonna be thrown around in that deal.

If you're not careful, then the cash ... or lack of it ... can tear a relationship to itty-bitty pieces. I'm not saying that you should do a pre-nup; I'm saying you need to be on the same page with your joe or jill as far as the dough goes. Some things are key; you have to create a budget, talk about how to save money and agree with how to spend. That doesn't mean one of you says so. Just like Dave Ramsey says, it means BOTH of you say so, jack. Work together, and you get ahead. Simple, simon.

Life may have kicked you down, but you ain't out, bub. As long as you're still sucking wind, you have a chance to be a winner. Doesn't matter what you're up against as far as life or saving money goes, you can pull it out. Need proof? Then taste this pudding.

Yesterday, my hometown Chicago Bears took a nosedive against the Miami Dolphins and ended da Bears chance at a perfect season. I know what you're thinking, jack; it was gonna happen sooner or later. Well, here's the kicker; the Dolphins now have two wins and six losses. They were favorites going into this season and crashed harder than the stock market in '29. But they still pulled out a W on Sunday, despite being big-time underdogs.

The point is this: even when you have David going up against Goliath, there's still a chance for the little guy to win. You may be behind on bills and be asking yourself 'Where is the cash?' I'll tell you who can help you find it ... Dave Ramsey, baby. It'll take work, but it'll be worth it.

Check out the houses that one million dollars can buy. Having digs like that will really raise some eyebrows, bub. There's only one problem. Too many times, some joe or jill who comes into big money doesn't make smart money decisions and ends up blowing it like dynamite.

Buying a big house, getting a fancy set of wheels or going on a long vacation doesn't mean you know how to handle money. Being good with the green means paying off debt, getting an emergency fund ready, investing for your golden years and the kids' college, then knocking out the house debt, in that order.

The best thing to do with the dough is to follow the Baby Steps. Dave Ramsey talks about getting an emergency fund, pay off debt and investing, so that's what you should do. Pretty soon, your money will turn into big-time money, and that leads to financial peace, baby. Make it happen.

NEWEST DEBT-BUSTING CASE IS NOW ON THE STORIES PAGE. CHECK IT OUT!!

You never know when life is gonna throw you a curve ball or a left hook. What you can know is that you'll be ready for it if you're smart with money. Bad luck can strike at any time. Take Michigan State head coach John L. Smith, for example. Three years ago, he took over a tough luck football team and took them to a bowl game. Two games ago, he pulled off the biggest comeback in college football history. Now, he's out as football coach.

Here's a good way to look at things. Do your best and be prepared for the worst. A bunch of things can turn your life upside-down, jack. But if you have the dough saved up for when the job layoff comes or the car wreck puts you in the hospital, you can breathe a little easier. Dave Ramsey says to pay off debt and build wealth, so do it, baby.

NEWEST DEBT-BUSTING CASE IS NOW ON THE STORIES PAGE. CHECK IT OUT!!

Hate to tell you this, bub, but one little slip at the wrong time can cost you big-time. Say what you will about John Kerry and his comment about US soldiers earlier this week, but left and right, people have got things to say about it. It's not what the man wanted, but it's what happened.

The same thing can happen with money. If you try to get too fancy with your cash and make some slick "investment" hoping that you can retire early, it can backfire on you. Dave Ramsey says to KISS your money (keep it simple, stupid). Don't get so fired up about being "sophisticated" with your dough that you blow it all on stuff that you don't even understand. I tell you; it takes a pretty stupid person to be that sophisticated. Don't let it happen to you. Save money, grow it slow and keep things on the up-and-up. Nothing stupid about that, baby.

When you find something that lights your fire and you want to do it well, it's something else, jack. Having an idea and the work ethic to turn it into something can lead to big-time wealth. You don't have to be a candidate on "The Apprentice" to have a great shot at good money. Top young entrepreneurs all over the U.S. of A. are wanting to be self-employed at some point in their lives. That's good for the ones who know how to handle it. Not everybody can, bub.

It takes tons of hard work and a go-getter attitude to make a small business work. The sooner you learn that ... I mean really learn it ... the better. Lots of people get started on a business and then bow out in a couple of years. Something it doesn't take? Debt. The quickest way to sink your business is to get in debt. Start your business small and debt free and grow it. That's what Dave Ramsey did, and he's the smart money talking, baby.

Bob Barker is calling it quits after 50 years in show business. I tell ya; we may never see the likes of people like him again, jack. I'm not talking about game show hosts; they're almost a dime a dozen with a few exceptions (Barker, Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak, to name a few). I'm talking about someone who commits to something and keeps working at it, year after year.

Too many joes and jills nowadays jump in and out of jobs like they're playing hopscotch. With jobs, just like with saving money, that's not the way to do it. In either one, you gotta commit to something worthwhile and see it through.

Dave Ramsey always talks about committing to investing and paying cash for everything, and he's right on the money. You have to create a budget, stick to it and make the dough work for you. Do that, and you won't have to worry about getting on a game show; you'll have cash and valuable prizes to spare, baby!

Ever wonder what "consumer confidence" really means? Take a seat, class, and we'll start the lesson. Consumer confidence is the stat economists use to measure how much dough you'll overspend because you're giddy about how great the economy is (forget how far dive into the debt pool, by the way).

You know what inspires confidence, jack? Cash. Dough. Moolah. MONEY. If you save money and don't spend what you don't have, you won't have to pay a bit of attention to the consumer confidence report on the news. Consumers who deal with the green don't feel blue.

Dave Ramsey has been hammering that point home for years, baby, so it's the smart money talking. You won't need to worry about interest rates, paying something off next month or collector calls when you have C-A-S-H.