So you feel like a hamster spinning your wheel? The faster you run, the faster the wheel spins. Just when you get a raise, you notice the price of hamster wheels jumps!
Mr. Cheapie is here with his super-charged budget-cutting tips.
One of the biggest wastes of money is restaurant meals. You can cook a meal at home for about 2 cents a plate. Just put leftovers in the microwave, and Presto!
Those same leftovers cost a lot more at a restaurant. They call it "the buffet", and they sell it to you for $10.95.
Consider also the steak dinner that costs, say, $7 at home. At the restaurant, you pay $13.95 for the same meal. Or, if you want fancy napkins, $39.95.
Plus tax.
Funny thing about eating at home; you don't pay tax. But step into a restaurant, and guess who jumps in: "Hello, my name is Taxman. I'll be your waiter tonight. Would you like to start with something to drink? Perhaps a very nice glass of wine? That will be 50 cents, plus the price of the wine, of course."
"Why would you tax my wine?" Mr. Cheapie wonders. "It's not like the government made it."
"Who do you think keeps this country free and safe so that you can enjoy your wine?" Taxman demands. "Do you think Saddam Hussein would let you drink wine if he was still in power?"
"I don't see how he could stop me."
"Hah!" Taxman replies. "He has spies everywhere. He knows you drink wine and he has targeted this very bottle to self destruct."
"Actually, I don't drink wine. His spies must run on the same technology as his scud missiles," Mr. Cheapie muses. "How about a steak dinner?"
"An excellent choice," Taxman beams. "That will be $1.73, plus the price of the meal."
"Now what?" Mr. Cheapie demands. "Are you saying that Saddam is targeting my steak."
"Of course not," Taxman giggles. "We have him locked away. But watch out for North Korea."
"Why?"
"North Koreans are starving," Taxman explains. "They don't have steaks."
"Ah, so the North Korean government wants to take my steak and give it to their citizens."
"Not a chance. That would violate the official North Korean policy of starvation for all. They would never feed your steak to the people. But they would hold it up to taunt them," Taxman grins. "Then they would throw it into the fire to fuel a nuclear missile trained on this very table you are sitting at."
"Which is why you need to tax my steak."
"Exactly," Taxman nods.
"It's like a security deposit."
"That's right," Taxman smiles.
"It's protection money."
"You understand," Taxman winks.
"It's your tip."
"That's what I sa ... no it's not! It's national defense," Taxman insists.
At home, you never have to tip the microwave. But, at the restaurant, your waiter expects 15%.
Mr. Cheapie has discovered a legal loophole to save 15% on your restaurant bill. According to a national Mr. Cheapie survey, your plate usually has 15% too much food on it. Set aside 15% of your meal. When your waiter comes to collect his tip, pay him in food. Your waiter raved about today's special, so Mr. Cheapie is sure he will appreciate having some for himself.
If Taxman is your waiter, don't actually give him the food. Just taunt him with it -- then mail it to North Korea. Then they won't have to blow up your table to get it themselves. Why pay for national defense when the postal service can protect your freedom to eat for just the cost of a stamp?
Aren't you glad Mr. Cheapie offers such useful, free advice?
About The Author
David Leonhardt - sign up for his weekly satire column up at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/positive-thinking-free-ezine.html or read more columns at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/self-actualization-articles.html.
Join in the happiness at http://www.thehappyguy.com, info@thehappyguy.com
People often get to a place where they simply can't... Read More
Vehicle repossession may appear justified in circumstances where a person... Read More
Many consumers that are bogged down in debt frequently turn... Read More
Bankruptcy laws give debtors a way to resolve debt by... Read More
On October 17, 2005 President Bush's sweeping bankruptcy reform law... Read More
Many Christians feel uncomfortable with the notion of being in... Read More
Sometimes debt can seem overwhelming. In those instances, or even... Read More
In today's consumer society it is all too easy to... Read More
"Legally terminate credit card debt! You can be debt-free in... Read More
Debt consolidation versus debt negotiation are two options that are... Read More
Personal debt reduction practices, the steps people take to relieve... Read More
With the high cost of gasoline and the amount of... Read More
Honorably and ethically rid yourself of burdensome debts using the... Read More
Congress recently passed sweeping legislation that will significantly reform American... Read More
Still living from pay to pay? Or envying those great... Read More
FTC opinion letter on validation Section 809(a) of the FDCPA,... Read More
A debt solution like bankruptcy should really only be used... Read More
If you're reading this article right now I'm sure that... Read More
Feeling stressed by the amount of debts you have? Three... Read More
We all know about debt. If you don't have too... Read More
Debt Help is the stepping stone to debt elimination and... Read More
Debt Settlement companies work with your creditors to help you... Read More
Almost all Americans carry credit card debt. Actually, over 40%... Read More
It is always possible to negotiate with creditors ? even... Read More
There are two main roads to improving your personal finances:... Read More
Congress recently passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection... Read More
With £1.3 trillion pounds worth of debt in the UK,... Read More
The recently passed Bankruptcy Abuse prevention and Consumer Protection Act... Read More
The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last... Read More
So you've screwed up. You're drowning in debt. Maybe the... Read More
Outlined below are some of the benefits and drawbacks of... Read More
Last April, President Bush enthusiastically signed into law the oddly-named... Read More
1) Use your AssetsIf you have assets with some significant... Read More
Almost all Americans carry credit card debt. Actually, over 40%... Read More
It's never pleasant to realize that you're in financial hot... Read More
Once you file bankruptcy a court appointed bankruptcy trustee will... Read More
On April 20 of this year, President Bush signed a... Read More
Bankruptcy is one of the most difficult things a person... Read More
The first and maybe most important step in a debt... Read More
I'm not sure where it originated, but I've heard it... Read More
If you are determined to pay credit card debt off... Read More
An inability to manage credit, growing debt and bankruptcy are... Read More
If you are in debt over your head and wondering... Read More
Are you still clearing a mountain of debt amassed last... Read More
Debt negotiation and settlement can give you a drastic reduction... Read More
For many, the word 'budget' immediately sends shivers down the... Read More
On April 20, 2005, President Bush signed into law the... Read More
Are you among the millions of people who have found... Read More
It is possible for creditors and third-party collection agencies to... Read More
If you are in debt, well over your head in... Read More
Debt Relief Debt Relief |