Get your money in balance. One rule of thumb is 50/30/20. Spend about 50% of your money on must-haves - things like rent, car payments - and about 30% on wants, while 20% should go toward savings and paying down debt.

My parents and I were all afraid of being poor - really poor.

President Obama believes in a level playing field.

Good for Warren Buffett that he can afford to do that! Some people, sometimes, need to finance a purchase or rent a car, and a credit card becomes a necessity.

Pundits talk about 'populist rage' as a way to trivialize the anger and fear coursing through the middle class.

Credit cards are like snakes: Handle 'em long enough, and one will bite you.

All three [of my grandkids] earn money around the house, and all three spend their own money. Now I've noticed that when they have to spend their own money on birthday cards, they have decided that homemade cards are so much nicer.