The biggest challenge for many consumers in going to a brokerage firm or opening a money-market account is that these accounts can require a minimum balance of $1,000, $5,000 or even $25,000.

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Say you're going to close your account unless I get a better deal. In most cases, they will lower the rate on the spot.

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A good friend of mine, Tom, had $15,000 in credit- card debt. I recommended to him that he go and buy a home anyway. Ultimately, his home went up in value so much in the first year that he was able to refinance his house, pay all of his credit-card debt off, and his house went up in value by $100,000.

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Many of the success stories people have shared with me over the years focus on how homeownership has been the key to their financial security. I'm confident these essays will inspire millions of renters to work toward their first home and millions of current homeowners to consider second homes or investment properties as a road to building financial freedom.

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People should take every opportunity they can to save money because it really adds up, and the best way I know to do that is to make your savings automatic.

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