Sally Herigstad, CPA

We all want to save the earth. Unfortunately, we can do more harm than good if we don't stop and think about the consequences of our actions.

Many of us are counting on the government, disability insurance, our children or our own savings to take care of us in our old age. That can be an expensive mistake.

No, it won't make you bad parents. It's fiscally irresponsible to spend your retirement money on your children's education. See my article on MSN Money about why designated education funds may not always be the best use of your money.

Tax software makes doing your annual tax return much easier. But can you trust the results? This article I wrote for MSN Money tells you how to use software like a pro to make sure you get all your deductions and file an accurate return.

Checking yourself out at the grocery store can save you both time and money.

I want to pay off my home mortgage by the time I'm 60. Is it a good personal finance strategy to put all my spare money into paying off my mortgage, or is it better to invest the money in stocks or mutual funds and hope that I have enough money to pay off my mortgage when the time comes?

Is budgeting just for people who have a steady income and predictable expenses? Can you be too broke to budget?

Filing for bankruptcy is seldom the best solution to money troubles. Find out why most people who have filed for bankruptcy later wish that they had found some other way to manage their debt load.

Have budgets failed you in the past? Some budgets seem doomed to failure from the start. Read about common budget mistakes, and how you can create a budget that helps you make the most of your money.