The good news? Personal incomes got a good boost at the beginning of the year. The bad news? Consumer spending went right up with it, bub. People made 1 percent more but spent half of that before the dollar bills even had a chance to get wrinkled. Spending dough in a heartbeat like this is a surefire way to end up as broke as a gambling junkie's arms after he stiffs Tony Soprano.

Think about whatever you're spending money on. Chances are, you're blowing it at 18 percent interest on a two-bit credit card, which means that $50 sweater or shirt you got at the mall is costing you 60 bucks and change. Don't be a sucker. Create a budget, save up some dough for emergencies, then you start to pay off debt.

When you get an income boost, save the money and start working the Baby Steps that Dave talks about on The Dave Ramsey Show. Do that for long enough, and you'll have more cash than you know what to do with. Like them apples, jack?

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