Here we go again. Lotto fever is hitting joes and jills everywhere right where it hurts ... in the pocketbook, baby. All over the U.S. of A., people are hoping to have the Mega Millions winning numbers in their hand and take home the record $355 million jackpot, and they're coughing up big-time cash to buy tickets.

These people think the Mega Millions lotto is a surefire way to make money, but it's just the opposite. Chasing the odds of 146 million to 1 your entire life will keep you broke as a guy who invests all his dough in Enron and WorldCom.

Here's the secret recipe to retire rich: save money. Create a budget and live on less than you make. Wipe out your consumer debt. Work the Baby Steps that Dave talks about all the time on The Dave Ramsey Show, and when you get to Baby Step 4, go nuts and invest 15% of your gross into growth-stock mutual funds. Simple, simon.

Let's have our blogs get together. Add mine to yours.