Take free money. No matter how in debt you are, if your employer offers a matching contribution on a 401(k) or other retirement vehicle, you must sign up and contribute enough to get the maximum company match each year. Think of it as a bonus.

Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward your emergency savings.

Consider a 15- or 20-year fixed-rate mortgage instead of a 30-year, if you can afford the monthly payments - they may not be as high as you think.

I get so frustrated when people tell me it's unrealistic to create an eight-month emergency savings fund, or have money saved for a home down payment, or pay off their $5,000 credit card balance.

If you're financially responsible, your children have a much better chance to grow up financially responsible.

People first, then money, then things.

Money is the only thing you can use even if you don't have any. ... There's always a credit card.