[OnerePeepsy]

See the problem is that people tend to make investing sound more complicated than it actually is. I probably wouldn't take a chance in stocks and bonds, as the economy is simply a tragic roller coaster inherently designed to keep people in debt.

That said, there are actually some very simple things a person can do to minimize their own personal debt and keep money in the bank. The first two are the most difficult; as most of us lack the discipline and dedication for either:

1.) Work a government job, if applicable. This concept is inspired by the fact that a.) war will never end and b.) the gov't doesn't give a crap how far in the hole we are as a country--they just keep spending. Ergo, you'll always be entitled to some kind of a raise.

2.) DO NOT live outside of your means. Of course we all know this one is a particularly difficult one to follow. I can't count how many people I've met who own brand new cars with 23 inch rims that are worth more than what I pay a month for insurance on two vehicles. Meanwhile, you walk inside their house and the fridge is empty. And God forbid they have kids.

3.) Open up a PayPal account and start putting money to the side each paycheck. Simple, yet effective. Best part of the whole thing is you don't have to worry about some big bank charging you erroneously while you watch your balance decrease for no apparent reason.

4.) Buy a house. That's the easy part. Tough part is keeping it up and selling it at just the right time in better condition than you received it. But think of it this way: you can apply those property tax returns partially towards repairs and maintenance for your house rather than spending it frivilously on the economy.

and 5.) Buy a foreign vehicle. Sounds harsh? Consider this: you'll spend less money in the long run on maintenance for these vehicles, provided you take care of the basics.