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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                                BROAD AND CASSEL
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                                   SUITE 3000
                                  MIAMI CENTER
                          201 SOUTH BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
                              MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131
                                 (305) 373-9400
                               FAX (305) 373-9443



                                October 20, 1998

Thrift Management, Inc.
3141 W. Hallandale Beach Boulevard
Hallandale, FL  33009

Re:       Thrift Management, Inc. (the "Company")
          Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         You have requested our opinion with respect to the shares (the
"Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"),
included in the Company's registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement"). The Registration Statement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").

         As counsel to the Company, we have examined the original or certified
copies of such records of the Company, and such agreements, certificates of
public officials, certificates of officers or representatives of the Company and
others, and such other documents as we deem relevant and necessary for the
opinion expressed in this letter. In such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures on original documents, and the conformity to
original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or photostatic
copies. As to various questions of fact material to such opinion, we have relied
upon statements or certificates of officials and representatives of the Company
and others.

         Based on, and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Shares included in the Registration Statement, when issued and paid for, will be
duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         In rendering this opinion, we advise you that members of this Firm are
members of the Bar of the State of Florida, and we express no opinion herein
concerning the applicability or effect of any laws of any other jurisdiction,
except the securities laws of the United States of America referred to herein.

         This opinion has been prepared and is to be construed in accordance
with the Report on Standards for Florida Opinions, dated April 8, 1991, as
amended and supplemented, issued by the






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Thrift Management, Inc.
October 20, 1998
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Business Law Section of The Florida Bar (the "Report"). The Report is
incorporated by reference into this opinion.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. We also consent to the use of our name in the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are included within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

                                             Sincerely,

                                             /s/ Broad and Cassel

                                             BROAD AND CASSEL