It was after several months of blowing between $800 and $1,200 on food alone that I realized it was time for a change.

Being student-loan-free means I'm old. As in, I should have my life figured out by now. I should be married (which I'm not), have kids (which I don't) and know what I want to do career-wise (again, I don't). I'm almost 29 and don't know what the rest of my life will look like.

With holiday spending and New Year's resolutions fresh in our mind, January is a good month to get serious about paying down your debt.

If you have an ex -- which most of us do -- you've probably received the "You're better off without them," speech from a friend. But what if the breakup left you better off in unexpected ways? Say, richer?

Ever bailed out an ex? Indulged in a little more retail therapy than you meant to? We'll show you the top seven mistakes women make -- and what to do instead.