Why am I here? I’m not a Wall Street suit, a CPA, CFP, or MBA. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money—no grandparents giving stock-certificate gifts here. So what am I doing here?

It’s because I believe—passionately believe—that the ability to manage your personal finances determines what kind of life you’re able to lead. It is an advantage so great and life-changing that to not have the correct information and motivation can be the difference between scrambling to pay your bills and not having to make note of the price of everything in your grocery cart. It is a BIG advantage and a tremendous bit of freedom that has very little to do with how much money you have. It’s all about what you do with it.

For example, since when does $20 get everyone barely five gallons of gas—or less? Ridiculous. Ninety-percent of Americans feel that pinch, hard. Now, we can’t stop driving completely so cut down on errands, lay off the accelerator (seriously, save 30% by not driving over 70 on the highway—a hard pill to swallow for a lead-foot like me but I just keep picturing dollar bills staying in my wallet rather than flowing out), and use a site like GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas station along your route home or to work. All that will add up.

It’s going to be my mission to give you the advantage of not only knowing how to manage your hard-earned dollars but to motivate you and guide you through what can be the very muddy, intimidating, frustrating, tear-your-hair-out waters of personal finance. Let’s fatten your wallet.

I’m yours—use me!