Here's my gift-giving rule: Respect your current financial situation.

Women need to turn their attention from saving their spouse, their mothers, their this, their that, their kids, to putting that financial oxygen mask on their face first. When they're solid, they can pick up the whole world.

The only way you will ever permanently take control of your financial life is to dig deep and fix the root problem.

If you do not have at least an eight-month emergency fund, and you think there's a probability you could loose your job - and it's not just losing your job; you could be in a car accident, get sick - continue to pay the minimum on your credit card every month. Everything beyond that needs to go to establish an emergency fund. And if you have an emergency fund saved, then fund your retirement account before paying down credit card debt.

Stop saying yes out of fear about what others will think about you and say NO out of love for yourself!

Never cosign a loan. Once you have cosigned, you cannot get out of it - even on your deathbed.

Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.