“Money you know you need or want to spend in the next few years is savings. Money you keep handy for an emergency belongs in savings. Money you hope to use soon for a down payment on a house belongs in savings. And all savings belong in a low-risk bank savings account or money market account.”

“Like your home's closets, your financial clutter needs an overhaul every now and again, and the payoff will go far beyond the psychic satisfaction of neatening up.”

“It's easy to underestimate the real cost of home ownership.”

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

“The most important loan to pay is your student loan. It's more important than your mortgage, car and credit card payments. You cannot discharge student loan debt in the majority of cases.”

“The prenup needs to be drawn up months before the wedding, not days - it's not something you slap together and sign in the car on the way to the ceremony. A shotgun prenup might not hold up in court.”

“The foundation of a financial fresh start actually has nothing to do with money or specific financial dos and don'ts.”

“Many people are in the dark when it comes to money, and I'm going to turn on the lights.”

“The new American dream is one of responsibility. What is the bottom-line number that you're going to be able to pay back toward a student loan responsibly if you're doing it yourself after you have a job? That dictates the amount of money you can borrow. That dictates the school you can go to, if you can even go to a four-year college at all.”

“No one's ever achieved financial fitness with a January resolution that's abandoned by February.”

“The key to making money is to stay invested.”