The pitch: If stocks do well, you participate, but if they crash, you get all your money back with a little bit of interest.

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So if, as so often happens, a creditor agrees to wipe your slate clean if you come up with most but not all of the money owed, you have to let the government know how much your debt was reduced by, and pay tax on it.

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And with all that money saved by the superefficient gas furnace in your basement, you fly to Aspen for a weekend in the snow.

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Ongoing conversations about money with your children can be the best financial education of all.

FORBES: An Early Education In Financial Literacy

If you're at all concerned at all about where your money is going, we'll leave you with these parting pieces of information to consider.

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With a Roth, you get no tax deduction for your retirement savings, but all the money that comes out at the other end is tax free.

FORBES: Is a Roth 401(k) Right for You?

Rather than having to dig for this information yourself or face endless phone calls with various schools and lenders, you can see all your available options (that will likely save you money or at least time) in one place.

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There are two upsides to paying with plastic: First, if you borrow enough to pay off the balance of your mortgage, all of the money goes towards principal.

WSJ: Should You Pay Your Mortgage With Plastic?