A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.

Late payments also hurt your FICO score. And never, ever take out a cash advance on your credit card.

If you expect your money to take care of you, you must take care of your money.

Absolutely pay off your credit card debt, because a child can always get a loan to go to school, possibly a scholarship, a grant.

The world does not need another credit card.

You must remember the value that you add to others and not just what others have added to you. That's how we build self-worth, which, in my opinion, is just as important as net worth.

What happens to your money directly affects the quality of your life -- not your stockbroker's life or your banker's life, but YOUR life.