Step 1. Get out of debt, stop allowing the doosh bags to siphon away your hard earned cash.

Step 1a. Save and invest 20% of take home pay.

Step 1b. Keep 10% of 1a in liquid assets for “prudent” purchases.

Step 1c. Pay cash for everything, allow retail outlets to give less to large financial conglomerates (Visa, MC, AMEX, etc).

Step 1d. Use a local bank (credit union if available) to receive your paycheck and for other financial transactions (see above doosh bag comment for reasoning).

Step 1e. Automate auto payments of bills (heat, electric, rent, mortgage, etc) from a checking account and NOT through credit/debit card. If the “Visa/MC/AMEX” symbol is on the card, they are taking a cut (see 1c).