Money is worth only what it can be exchanged for at the time of a trade. The dollar has lost value when it takes more dollars to trade for items now than it did before.

We've all heard stories of how in the 1900s, you could have eaten dinner for four in a fancy restaurant, left a generous tip, and received change ­all from a single dollar bill. You may remember going to your local fast food hamburger franchise in the mid '70s, and buying a burger, fries and drink for less than a dollar. Today, for the same dollar you might be able to buy the hamburger.

On average, a dollar has continuously lost value since 1900. In fact, if you had a dollar in 1900 and held on to it until today, its buying power would be worth less than five cents.

The only way to be certain your money will be worth tomorrow what it is today, is for it to be in a savings or investment vehicle that is earning an annual rate of return greater than the rate of the shrinking dollar. If you leave $10 in your wallet, a week, a month or a year from now, that $10 may only buy $9 worth of goods or services.

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