The way to do is to buy a small lot for a home, a small piece of ground upon which you can build a little cage for yourself, your dear ones, and for your posterity, or in anticipation of such an event. It pays. The man who does not dream of a posterity is not a good citizen, a good friend, nor a safe man to deal with. You do not have to pay out a large sum of money; a small sum to begin with will secure you a start toward a home. Paying gradually, you will soon have the ownership of a portion of this green earth, and a spot all your own. Then you can build when the ground is paid for. That is the key to a home—get a lot paid for and you can always secure a building fund. In this way you become a real member of society, a citizen who has an interest in the way his affairs are carried on. In addition to that, you are deemed a solid citizen, a fixture, and when the time comes you are the one selected to fill an opportunity of any sort within your capacity. DON’T BORROW MONEY FOR NEEDLESS EXPENSES It is a common business transaction to borrow money when there are sufficient assets to justify it. But in such cases there is a regular rate of interest fixed by law as payment for the use of the money borrowed. You can not risk any other than the legal rate of interest, if you do you are taking unwarranted risks, and subjecting yourself to the yoke of a loan shark, out of whose clutches you can never emerge without tremendous sacrifices, often ruin. Money borrowed to speculate with is a heavy and dangerous burden on the borrower. When he loses, he not only has nothing to show for his folly, but is goaded into borrowing more in the hope of making good his loss. Once in the toils, he will not stop until ruined financially—perhaps morally. If he wins he will still pursue the phantom fortune on borrowed money and lose finally. Speculation is a gamble with the odds against you. In speculations, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” If you have to borrow money to complete or perfect some transaction or business deal, or to carry you through, or tide yourself over some delay, you can always get it at the regular rate of interest, provided you have reputation, and security. But do not mortgage your clothes, furniture, etc., for anything but an absolutely necessary loan. Remember always, that money borrowed and spent is a hardship to return unless you have the wherewith in the way of business to make good. If you worked half as hard to get money for your own pocket as you do to repay a loan, you never would need to borrow. ESTABLISH A REPUTATION FOR YOURSELF To get along successfully in business, or in any other occupation, for that matter, every man must establish a reputation for himself. Indeed, reputation is the basis of credit; it is his first and best capital with which to make a start in life. Of course, the reputation meant is a good reputation, and not one that is open to question.