Top 10 Reasons Why You're Still Poor...

Although we are continuously reminded of how fragile the market and the economy are lately, I've tried to stay out of it. I understand that the economy has it's ups and downs and I try not to get sucked into the big craze about who's to blame and what you should be doing with your money.

However, I did hear about this article on the radio the other morning, and it has some good information. It makes me think that if people would just live within their means and make smart choices about their own money, than a lot of these problems could have been avoided.

So, here goes. These are the Top 10 Reasons Why You're Still Poor... Even If You Make Good Money.

10. You don't take advantage of opportunities. Basically, keep your eyes and ears open . . . and trust yourself enough to take a risk or two.

9. Your house is too big. If you have a big house, you're going to spend more money on property taxes and upkeep. Do you really need two guest bedrooms . . . when you only have three friends who NEVER visit anyway?

8. You don't understand value. Just because something's expensive doesn't mean it's high-quality . . . and just because something's cheap doesn't mean it's a good value. You need to find the best value you can . . . and invest your savings.

7. You buy things you don't use. Buying things you'll never use or you don't need is going to prevent you from ever saving money for what's truly important. If you cannot see beyond an impulse buy, then you'll never get anywhere.

6. You don't like to learn. Honestly, if you don't have a willingness to learn new things in order to improve your career and financial situations . . . you'll never be rich.

5. You hate your job. Let's be honest . . . you'll only work so hard at a job you hate, and that's going to affect your ability to get raises. Plus, if you spend 40 hours a week in misery, there's a good chance you'll spend more to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

4. You started saving too late. Compound interest can work wonders over time . . . and the sooner you start saving, the better off you'll be.

3. Your investment portfolio isn't diverse. You've heard this before. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Your money is a lot less likely to suddenly disappear that way.

2. You feel entitled. A lot of people think they DESERVE to be rich, so they max out a dozen credit cards so they can live like they're rich . . . and spend the next 30 years digging themselves out of debt.

1. You care what your car looks like. I see all these idiots driving around in fancy, expensive new cars. But a car is just something to get you from Point A to Point B. That's it. If you see your car as anything more than that, you're throwing away money.