This book is intended for common people. Those individuals who, for the most part, do not follow the stock market and how it does everyday. People who could care less when the federal chairperson is going to speak on the United States monetary policy. You have no idea what a two hundred day moving average is and probably have never done your own income taxes. If this described you, then this book CAN help you. In the pages that follow, you will be introduced to basic, everyday, “Money Matters”. Everyday money problems, that are given everyday money solutions, in simple to understand terms. Be warned now that you will need stick-to-it-tiff-ness a phrase I pick up when I was young which means that when you start something you need to continue working at it until it is completed. Be assured, there are ways to increase the amount of money that you have to spend, by simply changing some of your spending and savings habits.I am not a stock market guru, who has the answers of when to buy and when to sell. I am not a Certified Public Accountant, though I do have a degree in accounting. This is definitely not a get rich scheme. What I will present is a simple and sure way for you to make ends meet, save a few dollars (more is better in this case), and enable you to understand simple everyday finances. We will also look at what you CAN DO NOW to become more financially secure. Through proper and reasonable budgeting, Forced savings, and other tried and true ways of managing your money, you will have additional money to do things that you currently cannot afford to do.Whether you just want to make it from payday to payday, want to save money to purchase your own home, or just buy that expensive toy that you have always wanted, you will find some ideas that will help you reach your goal in the pages that follow. No matter your education level, your job (yes, it is necessary that you work and earn money to get what you want), or your circumstances, my book will offer at least one way for you to improve your life financially. The amount you will save from using one of my suggestions will pay for the cost of this book.Our current school system does not teach a person how to budget, invest, and plainly speaking make ends meet. Most of my friends are hard working, Monday through Friday (with several Saturdays thrown in) stiffs. This book is written with them in mind. I am one of these working stiffs. I am not independently wealthy, retired, nor do I buy a new car every two or three years. I own my own home, and am, for the most part, debt free. I plan to retirement at the age of 66 and will have enough saved to do so without disrupting my average/modest life style. This was done through planning, dreaming, budgeting, worrying, saving, making mistakes, investing, and basically dealing with life day by day.I believe that everyone should be responsible for themselves, their actions, and regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, adapt and create a better life for ourselves. “Money Matters” is based on this belief and using experience, (you know what that is – it is what our parents told us was the best teacher), to show what really works and how learning from our experiences can help you!I have read financial books, articles, and magazines. I have attended school/college, seminars, presentations, and researched the Internet. I have learned by making mistakes, and found several practical, everyday, solutions that have taught me what actually works. In this book, I will present these truths to you and perhaps you can avoid some of the mistakes I have made.In closing, my sole purpose in writing this book is to show you how you CAN make your life easier. In addition, I have tried to present this information in a simple fashion so that it is understandable to all. I hope you enjoy this, my first book, Money Matters.