I have never been a fan of bond funds. Unlike a direct investment in an individual bond that you can hold to maturity and be assured you will get your principal back (assuming no default), a fund has no finite maturity date and most funds are actively traded.

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

The less money you owe, the less income you'll need and the less you'll have to save for tomorrow.

There is nothing more beautiful than a confident woman.

A wise woman knows how to summon her courage and do what is right, rather than what is easy.

Remember to remember your power - everything you've learned with these steps to financial freedom - and put it all into practice everyday, because in the grand scheme of life, you'll never really know how things are meant to turn out until they turn out.

The advantage of online banking is that you can pay bills superfast, and your account is automatically credited or debited for each deposit and payment, making it easier to stay on track.