• The biggest barrier to saving is not being in the habit of saving. The best way to get in the habit is to pay yourself first by directly depositing money from your paycheck into a dedicated savings account.
  • Plowing excess cash into repayment of credit card debt is a double-digit, risk-free return because it reduces the outstanding balance and the resulting interest charges.
  • Homeowners who are upside down and can refinance through the Home Affordable Refinancing Program, or HARP, should move quickly to refinance as that program is scheduled to expire in June 2010.