In order to enhance your material base in the year ahead, you must be hardworking, prudent and practical over long periods of time. Conditions in general favor you when you're willing to do your part, but there's no room for wastefulness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Anyone who is only interested in him or herself will annoy you far more than usual. Steer clear of just such a person, so that you don't fly off the handle and look bad.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- The best way to ruin the family's tranquility is to introduce a topic that is emotionally charged and sure to cause a kerfuffle. Keep your piquant little observations to yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Before you jump in and support someone who looks like the underdog, be sure that you know what the situation is all about. There's a chance that you could back an unworthy candidate.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Be your own person instead of risking your efforts and resources on what another thinks you should do. No one knows your affairs better than you do, so follow your own thinking.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Before judging or condemning another for his or her faults, you should be mindful of your own. If you're tolerant of their imperfections, they'll overlook yours.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You would do well to keep bystanders out of your private battles. Without realizing it, they could turn a merely abrasive situation into something far more destructive and volatile.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Even if you have to spend a little time with someone who rubs you the wrong way, make the most out of doing so. If you keep your cool, you'll walk away undamaged.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Be particularly careful about your conduct when around someone whose respect is important to you. Being too blunt or erratic could severely impair your image.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- In order to get your points across to an individual who has rejected your ideas in the past, you need to know your subject well and be extremely prepared to make a presentation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Make certain that those to whom you delegate an important assignment have the ability to successfully carry things off as needed. The wrong choice could set you back.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Normally you have little problem working in conjunction with another. However, it might be wise to avoid any type of entanglements at this juncture. Play it safe and operate on your own.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- That row you intend to hoe may be littered with far more rocks and potsherds than you anticipate. Unless you clean things up first, your path could be quite treacherous.

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