The truth will always lead you to a better place and a bigger place. And every single setback, every single one, has led me - not in my time, but in the time that it was meant to happen - to a place that I never in a million years could have imagined that I could go or become.

Believing you are worthy of love means that you believe I deserve to be treated well - with respect and dignity. I deserve to be cherished and adored by someone. I am worthy of an intimate and fulfilling relationship. I won't settle for less than I deserve. I will do whatever it takes to create that for myself.

Many people are dreaming. Let me rent. Let me have a job. Let me work until I'm 70. That's not what the American Dream used to be. It used to be, let me own a home. Let me retire at 59 and a half or 65 at the latest. Let me do this. And now, really, given what's happened, good luck with anything happening unless you do it yourself.

If you wait until your children are high school seniors to spring it on them that there's not a whole lot of money for school, they won't have too many options.

Cut back your spending now.

When it comes to tackling your financial goals, whatever they might be, there's no time like the present.

Focus on what you have.