Here’s a look at a list of symptoms and what it might mean if you have many (or all) of them. (Note that these are just symptoms of a problem—if your finances are in top shape and you meet some of these criteria, don’t sweat.)

• Lots of TV: Owning flat screen TVs, premium cable packages, the newest DVR equipment, elaborate sounds systems, TVs in every room or the like often signals that a person is spending a lot of money on in-home entertainment. If this is a unique expense, it may not be a big deal, but how much use can the average person get out of hundreds of channels and multiple televisions?
• Frequent meals out: This one’s a no-brainer. Eating in restaurants or getting carryout is far more expensive than preparing your own food. If you’re guilty of picking up your dinner or lunch regularly, try saving your receipts for a week—those six- or seven-dollar meals add up pretty fast.
• New gadgets: This can mean cell phones, computers, GPS navigators, MP3 players, cars—anything somewhat costly that gets frequent makeovers from its manufacturer. Often, the older, less-sexy versions of these devices last well beyond the release date of the latest update, and people who go for the latest model often discard functional gadgets.
• No budget: People who don’t have an idea of their monthly budget or expenses tend to have less control over their finances than those who make conscious, regular assessments of their financial situation. Keeping yourself in the dark about the money coming in and going out of your wallet can be a great setup for a financial meltdown down the road.

The irony here is that many of these traits seem to be those of wealthy people—and maybe that’s part of the problem. Credit cards have made it easy for us to trick ourselves into an illusion of wealth while actually depleting our personal net worth at an alarming rate.

If you recognize some of these symptoms in yourself, take some time to assess whether or not you might benefit from a serious reassessment of your finances—or else you may find yourself on the brink of bankruptcy.

Here’s an overview of the ground covered in the sites.

• Retirement savings: How much should you save for retirement? Are you on the right track? What will your future expenses look like? Luckily, there are online tools to help you answer these difficult questions and an online write-up to help you navigate the site these tools are found.
• Stocks and investing: From questions of portfolio diversity to risk levels to choosing what stocks to buy, the web has options for you. No matter where you are in your investing career, you can likely find helpful strategies and pointers at some of the sites mentioned.
• Spending and credit: Looking to trim your costs? Trying to figure out which credit cards you should keep and which ones you could get rid of? Look no further than the CNN list. The sites provided cover a variety of topics, including understanding your credit card (and the laws regulating it) and how to shift your saving/spending balance.
• Questions of home ownership: Whether you’re looking for a neighborhood that suits you, trying to determine whether you should hire a contractor or otherwise streamline your homeownership, there are sites to help you along. These can save you legwork, as many of them have information from around the country.
• Your health: Not sure who to see for a particular ailment? Looking for the best nearby hospital for a specific procedure? The money-management sites have tools for you.
• Employment: In this economy, many of us are either looking for work, looking for extra work or trying to stay sharp so our employers don’t let us go. Luckily, you don’t need to bend over backwards to find ways to keep on your toes: online resources can help you find work or better prepare yourself for it.
• Major purchases: Whether you’re in the market for a car, a stereo or airfare, there are web sites devoted to helping you find the best price.
• Minor purchases: Looking for coupons and discounts for less significant, everyday purchases? You’re in luck. Online directories also have you covered on this front.
• Charitable giving: Ever worried that the money you mean to give to a good cause will end up in the hands of a rascally scammer? Worry no more. A site for navigating charities rounds out the list of online resources to help you spend and save smarter.

Bottom line: Check out the list and see what online tools you can start using today!

This post from GetRichSlowly.org tells the story that’s fairly common: a woman got a new job and a raise, thought she’d finally end her debt and… didn’t.

The reason? She succumbed to “lifestyle inflation.” Luckily, she fought back and offers some tips for other people looking to hang on to their hard-earned cash.

Ignore Your Raises

While it may be tempting to automatically adapt to the new, more luxurious lifestyle a raise allows you, bumping up your living standards right away can be a bad move financially. This doesn’t mean you should eat Ramen noodles your whole life, but consider living one pay raise behind:

• Use extra income to pay down debt
• Sock new money into a savings account (or a retirement plan)
• Put the money toward a specific future purchase (like a new car)

However you save your money, this strategy will keep you from spending your money as soon as you make it.

Focus on the Right Goals

In the post mentioned above, the writer notes that she accepted a higher-paying job but found herself missing her old one, which allowed her more creativity. Make sure you don’t get trapped into a higher-paying gig or a more expensive lifestyle simply because you can.

• Write down what you want. Having a concrete goal in mind for saving money (like paying off your credit cards, buying a house, etc.) will make the process easier and let you know whether you’re staying on track.
• Use money as a tool. Money alone isn’t much good to you—it’s what you can do with money that matters. So try to treat it like you would a hammer: only take it out when you really need it.
• Take time to reevaluate. If you feel out of control or too restricted financially, sit down and reevaluate your goals. Being willing to change the way you do things is key for adapting your finances.

Additional Resources

Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future (PDF)

Make Double (or Triple) Portions

When you cook a basic, versatile ingredient (like chicken), make more than you or your family can eat in one night. That way, you have the basic ingredient for several more meals. Many people already do this on Thanksgiving with turkey soup or sandwiches the next day, and it’s fairly easy to apply it to regular life. Encore meals you might consider:

• Soups and stews: These are particularly great because you can toss them on the stove and leave them alone until you’re ready to eat.
• Anything wrapped: Dumplings, sandwiches, fajitas, ravioli—there’s a reason many cultures have wrapped up staples. They’re a great way to revamp leftovers.
• Anything with sauce: Never underestimate the power of spices and sauces to transform a basic food. A simple sauce and new sides can turn leftovers into a whole new meal.
• Anything from the freezer: Okay, this one’s a bit different. Consider freezing an extra portion of a main meal and pulling it out in a week or so, when it doesn’t remind you of yesterday’s meal.

Make a Tradition

Rather than treating leftovers like something you have to eat, make a game out of them. This is particularly useful if you have kids. Reserve one night a week to clean out the fridge and let everyone eat exactly what she wants—as long as it’s a leftover.

This may lead to some pretty creative meals.

Take Turns

If your children are old enough to participate in food planning or preparation, make them part of the process. Even if they’re too young to wield knives, they may be able to help put grapes into a fruit salad, say, or develop a menu.

For example, you might outline the food groups you’d like to include in each meal, then have them pick their favorites. Again, you could end up with some pretty interesting combinations—but at least you won’t be bored!

What is a Financial Vice?

Financial vices are those things that we spend money on that are very important to us—but may seem silly to other people. One person’s vice might be new books, while another’s might be collectible action figures.

The point is, vices are something you’re willing to splurge on. And, if you’re able to, you should. After all, adjusting our spending habits so that you have money for the things that really make you happy is the whole point of developing a budget.

Identifying Financial Vices

Keep in mind, though, that you can’t just claim every item you want is a vice and should be purchased. True vices should meet these criteria:

• Lasting: Is this something that is important to you every (or almost every) day? For example, a gym membership you use often and feel the benefits of constantly may qualify, but a daily donut may not (no matter how good it smells).
• Consistent with goals: Will this expense allow you to stay on track with your larger financial and life goals? For example, that gym membership may keep you better focused and motivated at work, while the donut purchase might just drain your food budget.
• Contained: Financial vices shouldn’t end up taking over your life or ruin your budget, so be wary of expenses that have an addictive quality (gambling, drugs/alcohol, elaborate video games, etc.).
• Acceptable to all involved parties: If you’re living the single life, this one doesn’t really apply to you, but if you’re in a relationship or family, it’s important. If you cannot convince a partner that your ,q>vice is worthwhile, you may need to reevaluate how much you need and want it in your life.

So take a look at your current spending habits and see if you can identify your true financial vices. Then you can commit yourself to making room in your spending plan for them.

A recent interview with author Chris Farrell on the blog WiseBread.com explores the differences between what frugality meant a generation or so ago and what it means today, as Farrell suggests in his new book “The New Frugality”. The full interview is definitely worth a read, but here are some takeaway highlights for people working out of debt.

• “Frugal” does not equal “stingy”. The “old frugality,” the interview suggests, was about saving money at all costs, denying yourself pleasures being one of the most noticeable of these “costs”. Today, though, frugality means treating money as a tool: saving where you can so you can afford to indulge in things that are important to you.
• Frugality promotes sustainability. Though it’s often applied exclusively to the environmental movement, “sustainable” is an important word for anyone who’s working to stay out of debt. Are your borrowing habits sustainable? What about your shopping and entertainment habits? Part of being frugal is adopting a lifestyle that won’t come crashing down on you if you lose your job or get hit by an illness or some other emergency—which can often lead to filing bankruptcy. Plus, acting frugally is often great for the environment!
• Frugality promotes community interactions. In the old days, people were more likely to pass along baby clothes and other used items when they were finished because people often couldn’t afford to buy new ones. Now, frugal people are returning to that practice because it uses fewer resources and promotes friendship and support between community members. Oh, and it still saves money.
• Frugality can be fun. Making do with less can be fun for a number reasons. First, it often demands creativity, which can mean anything from getting together with friends to figure out a problem to hosting get-togethers at home to save on restaurant food. Second, it often means you need less money, which means you may be able to work fewer hours or retire sooner than you expected—and who doesn’t want a little extra free time?
• Frugality is flexible. If you don’t like the idea of eating cabbage and beans every day for the rest of your life, that’s okay. You can still be frugal. It’s all about figuring out what you do love (new clothes? movies? traveling?) and balancing your expenses so that those things take priority and you don’t cringe when paying your bills, since they’re for things you really wanted to do.

What do you think about being frugal? How are you finding ways to save money? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

And, if you’ve been in the position to either ask or be asked for a loan from a loved one, you’ve probably realized how sticky a situation it can be.

Luckily, loans between family members don’t have to be relationship-wreckers. Read on for some ideas about smart ways (some adapted from this post on WalletPop.com) to help your friends and family financially.

Act Like the Personal Loan Pros

When giving a loan to someone you like or love, take cues from professional lenders so that both parties are clear about the terms of a loan from the beginning. This could mean:

• Writing a contract for both parties to sign. Be sure to include interest rates, payment due dates and an expected repayment schedule.
• Making it official. The web site VirginMoneyUS.com provides an online venue where family members can document and keep track of loans.
• Eliminating “favorites.” If parents offer one child with a personal loan , other children may feel slighted. Keeping things formal can help diffuse uncomfortable situations.

Having official documentation makes it easier to collect – and repay – money without awkwardness. It may also prevent lenders from feeling pressured into going after “a few more bucks” here and there.

But Remember Everyone’s Family

One of the upsides of a family loan is that it can be much more flexible than one through a bank. If a borrower encounters unexpected financial difficulty, like a layoff or a major illness, lenders should not feel obligated to enforce a difficult payment schedule.

Naturally, excusing a loan is always a judgment call: if a borrower is responsible and works hard but genuinely meets unforeseen obstacles, forgiving all or part of a loan may make sense.

Don’t Play the Shame Game With Loans

Family loans – especially between parents and adult offspring – can be uncomfortable because they come with a certain stigma. Parents might worry that they didn’t guide their children to appropriate financial behavior, and children can feel guilty for not being able to make it on their own.

As long as parents aren’t enabling children to form bad debt habits and children aren’t turning to parents for easy money you shouldn’t feel excessively guilty about the situation. Use the unpleasant emotion as motivation to commit to increased financial responsibility in the future and move on.

The article’s worth a read (for women of all ages), but here’s a look at some of the major points the author makes:

• Women earn less than men. I’m not thrilled about this, but, on average, we only make about three-quarters of what our male counterparts do. Over a lifetime of work, this could add up to a quarter of a million dollars, according to the article. Whew.
• Women tend to be caretakers. Since we’re already earning less and because we’re traditionally seen as “nurturers,” women are usually the ones to leave a job to take care of children or other family members. This means that we’re working fewer years, thus contributing to retirement funds for fewer years.
• Women live longer. I always thought this was a good thing, but financially speaking, it might not be so hot. Having a smaller nest egg to spend over a longer period of time could make for some pretty lean golden years.
• We’re having fewer children. It’s no longer normal to have an enormous brood of children, which can mean there will be fewer candidates to take care of you (financially or otherwise) if you become unable to do so yourself. Part of the reason for this is that women now approaching retirement age are more likely to have been divorced than earlier generations.
• The workforce is changing. Pension and 401(k) plans are not as common as they once were, and may not be as lucrative. Plus, it’s much more common today for someone to have moved from one job to another, which could further confuse retirement funds.

What to Do about It

Luckily, there are steps women (and the people who care about us) can take now to help ease the stresses of retirement.

• Get involved in your finances. Make sure both you and your partner are aware of what’s going on in your financial life – that way, you’ll both be prepared to make important decisions in an emergency.
• Work a little longer. Social Security benefits are based on your highest 35 years of earnings, and if you took time off, years of no earnings may bring your benefits down. A few extra years of work could make a big difference in your payments.
• Don’t think it’s too early to start planning. Even if you’ve just started working full time, it’s not too early to begin saving and investing for retirement.

Additional Resources

What Women Need to Know about Retirement (PDF)

Know the Facts about Credit Reports & Credit Scores

Hopefully, you already know that your credit report is a compilation of information about your use of credit and loans in recent years. One important part of financial responsibility is keeping track of your credit report, which you can do by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.

This site lets you check your credit report from each of the big three credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once a year for free. Once you see your report, you should identify any incorrect information and follow the site’s directions for having it corrected.

Then, you can use the information to help you see where you’re doing well financially and where you need improvement.

And, to illustrate how important it is to maintain a healthy credit history, this post from Five Cent Nickel examines the exact, numerical difference that a few points’ change to your credit score can have on the loan terms you get.

• Credit report: A collection of information about your history with credit, loans and debt, a copy of this from each of the big three credit reporters is available free to every American, every year.
• Credit score: A number based on credit reports and other factors developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation, this figure is available for purchase, but generally isn’t necessary to understand where you stand in the eyes of lenders.

Be Serious about Cutting Costs

You may discover that, in order to meet your financial goals for the year, you need to lower your spending in some areas. So here are some places to look for great tips on trimming everyday costs without feeling the squeeze:

• Growing veggies and fruit: According to this post from Get Rich Slowly, early January is prime time to start planning for a garden.
• Trimming food costs: These two articles from the Daily Green include great suggestions for making sure your food dollars don’t go to waste.
• Cutting energy costs: Check out these detailed tips for saving money around the house by reducing your energy usage, also from the Daily Green.

To make and keep resolutions that translates into a more financially stable 2010, it’s important to know which concrete steps you can take to begin the process of financial improvement.

Part One: Tally Up Your Assets

At this point in the game, don’t fret about the little things – trying to determine the value of all your possessions is probably more trouble than it’s worth. So focus on your major assets, including:

• Real estate: Estimate conservatively the equity you have in any properties.
• Retirement accounts: Get a current value for any savings you have for your golden years.
• Savings accounts: Check with your bank for an updated total.
• Vehicles: Estimate conservatively (or check this year’s Blue Book to learn) the values for any cars or recreational vehicles you own.

This side of the equation gives you an idea of what you have to work with, so to speak.

Part Two: Tally Up Your Debts

This may seem painful, but the only way to develop an effective plan for eliminating debt is to know exactly how much you’re starting with. Liabilities could include any of the following:

• Mortgages: How much do you owe on your primary (and, if applicable, secondary) mortgage?
• Credit cards: Review your most recent statements for a solid number.
• Educational loans: Again, a current bill should reveal your obligation.
• Business debt
• Car leases or loans: Review the terms of your contract or loan agreement if necessary.
• Personal debts: Any individual who has loaned you money should also appear on this list.

After working through this from memory, you may want to pull a copy of your credit report (available free at annualcreditreport.com) to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

The Big Financial Picture

Once you know all your assets and debts, take a clean sheet of paper (or spreadsheet) and divide it into two columns. In one, list debts (with amount owed, interest rate, and any pertinent details). In the other, organize your assets.

Once you have a visual of where you stand financially, it will be much easier to make a plan for getting your finances into shape.

Here’s to a happy and financially healthy 2010! Cheers!