If you’re one of the lucky people offered Simple IRA benefits at work, why aren’t you taking them?

Your boss will match money you chose to invest toward retirement. 3% 6%… whatever the percentage rate is, that’s the percent of your salary he’s willing to match.

For example, if you make $10 an hour and your boss matches 3%, invest those 30 cents into an IRA and your boss will invest another 30 cents. Now your salary is like $10.30. A free raise!

You invest in an IRA post taxes, meaning when you withdraw that 60 cents (which will have grown with interest) in your 60’s, you don’t have to pay more taxes on the principle you put in or your boss matched.

Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing.” Meanwhile, I’m still dreaming of that free money at my fingertips.