Dear President Obama

Dear President Obama,
 
You are always saying that "the most fortunate among us" should be paying "our fair share" (more).  I'm pretty sure hubby and I qualify to be in this "lucky" group so I would like to share a few tips on how many others (if not most people) can also attain the level where they too can pay more in taxes.

1. Get good grades in high school.  This will get you some kind of financial support for college. Save your birthday gifts, earnings from babysitting and any other income for college. Forget owning your own car at 16.

2. Live at home and commute to a local state university.  Walk the three miles (like I did) to save bus fare.  Try and get your textbooks from the library, buy them used or share with a classmate. Take the hardest classes you think you can pass because those are what employers need. Bring your own snacks.

3. When you marry (or cohabit) use birth control.  Share a single car with your partner.  Eat beans, pasta, hot dogs and whatever else is on sale.  Take the relatives' used furniture and other usable stuff that's been discarded. Check the thrift shops weekly.

4. Pay your bills on time and in full every month.  Build your credit score.  Save one salary and live on the other.  Max out 401K and IRA contributions every year.  Decide on what's important to you both and prioritize.

5. Do the very best job you can at work.  Keep vigilant about opportunities for advancement either in or out of your current company.  Take a risk.  Keep your skills up-to-date. 

Do all this and barring a truly awful turn of events by the time you are as old as me you will have safely weathered many financial storms and career setbacks.  You will be proud of your accomplishments and your strong relationship with your partner.  You will have few regrets, if any.

And best of all, you will qualify as "wealthy" and thus able to pay more taxes to help support those folks who did none of the above!