Dear David and Finish Rich — I began reading Automatic Millionaire and I feel pretty good about my situation. I already participate in my company’s 401K and contribute sustantially more than the national average according to your book. I have other deposit accounts as well, savings, CDs and money markets, but I am not what I would call wealthy by any means. I am still not saving as much as I would like but, like most other people I feel I am doing the most I can do. So, I TRIED to take the Latte challenge and the absolute truth is I don’t splurge on anything daily. Not store bought coffees (make at home and free at work), not cigarettes (don’t smoke), I don’t drink (alcohol or sodas), I take my lunch to work (only going out once a week or even less for a treat). I don’t subscribe to newspapers or magazines. So, I couldn’t find a latte factor. That is until I started looking at my credit card statements. Now, my credit cards are not used regularly and I don’t max them out. In fact, my payments are not what I would call significant or uncomfortable and I always pay at least double the minimum. But what I realized was that the interest, let alone the principal I pay them every month would be better spent adding it to my 401K at work. I was so inspired by your book that I decided to get rid of my credit card debt once and for all but I didn’t want to take from my savings or other deposit accounts to eradicate it. My children are grown and I have some time to myself that with nothing productive to do I find myself going to the mall or treating my children to a restaurant meal (which in itself is not a bad thing but I was doing it too frequently). I couldn’t wait to get rid of that debt and start putting those funds in my 401K so I went out and got a part time job waiting tables! This has done a number of things for me that honestly I hadn’t figured into the equation. More than ever before I feel like I am in control of my money and my time instead of the other way around. I am still reading the Automatic Millionaire book but I am taking baby steps and developing some new habits while breaking some very old ones. I am sharing your methods and principals with my children as I go along (planting the seeds) and when I finish with the book I am going to ask them to read it as well. I just received today my Automatic Millionaire Workbook to go along with the book and I can’t wait to get started. I also received your book Smart Women Finish Rich and I can’t wait to devour it. Women ARE smart and we CAN finish rich! Thank you David for showing me that I was on the right road but, I was Sunday driving. I just needed to look at the map and give it the gas!
Connie
