There's nothing wrong with saying, "I want to have more," "I want to be more," "I did this for money."

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

Messages about money are passed down from generation to generation, worn and chipped like the family dishes.

The chances of a bank going out of business are extremely slim, but it's always a good idea to spread around major sums so every penny is backed by insurance.

Every time you overhear something hurtful, I want you to do something kind for someone else.

We are all powerless as children, and money looms so powerfully... we don't grow up to claim our financial power until we look money directly in the eye, face our fears, and claim that power back.

After you marry, every asset either of you acquires is jointly held. That's why you both need to be in sync on your long-term financial goals, from paying off the mortgage to putting away for retirement. Ideally, you should talk about all this before you wed. If you don't, you can end up deeply frustrated and financially spent.