Increasing your income is certainly a sure fire way help put yourself in a good position. However, I have seen people with ever increasing earnings continue to outspend themselves. It seems that the bigger paycheck demands a bigger house, a bigger car, boat, tv, etc...

Case in point is the tax credit folks plan to spend on a big screen TV. You even cited your own struggle to deprive yourself of anything you wanted as your motivation. Some people cannot seem to control that no matter their income.

I suggest that everyone practice a crazy philosophy...live on less than you make (no matter what you make). Pay CASH for things after you SAVED up for it...kinda like your Grandma used to do. I submit to you that a COMPLETELY paid for Challenger drives nicer than one with a $600 a month payment on it...and I bet the paint even seems a little shinier.

I cited a quote from Dave Ramsey about taking a crock pot approach in a microwave world. I'll give you another about sacrifice. "Live like no one else today so tomorrow you can live like no one else"