Clark and I had a great visit with our affiliate in Appleton, Wisconsin this past week. We want to say thanks to everyone that came out to the book signing and to Clark's speech. Everyone was so kind to us there. And guess what? It was around 70 degrees the whole time. This was my first visit with Clark to the cheese state but every previous visit from what I am told he braved blizzards. I must bring good luck.

At the rental counter we had a few choices of cars. We could either get a Chrysler, a Chrysler, a Mustang, or a Chrysler. Since Clark and I are pretty manly, I said that the Mustang was the right choice. We toured America's dairyland in a bright blue Stang. He wasn't too fond of it but I think that secretly by the end of the trip he had bonded with it.

Everyone who has listened to the show for a while knows that Clark refuses to pay for parking ever. There was a parking lot right next to our hotel that cost $1 to park. Not 10 or 5 but ONE dollar. I'm cheap too. I don't like to pay for parking. Its $1 though. But since he is Clark Howard he decides to park a 1/2 mile down the road across the railroad tracks. In the morning he gets to the car and there was a ticket on it. A $25 parking ticket. He tried his best to fight the ticket but there is an ordinance that doesn't allow parking from 2-5am in the whole city of Appleton. No dice. He has to pay, plus an extra $1 processing fee. I'm sure he still doesn't find this that funny, but it made me chuckle a bit.

A new study shows that Generation X is pretty apathetic when it comes to retirement income. Lots of people pretty close to my age range don't think that they will ever be able to retire. Social security, at least in my opinion (oh, and that of most economists) will be a distant memory by the time I'm hitting the beach longterm.

So, how am I going to be able to stop working? How can I hit that beach worry free knowing I won't have to become a Wal Mart greeter to make ends meet when I hit 82?  It is up to me. If I want to retire and if Gen X wants to retire before hip replacement surgery becomes necessary then they have to put away dough throughout their working life.    

21% of Gen X'ers haven't saved a dime. That is the problem. Diagnosis complete. Spend a little less, save a little more. If you want to retire, EVER, it is up to you. 

Apparently Americans are going to start driving less. Really!?! For some reason I've got to see it to believe it on this issue.