Q. Last month, our company went to a four-day work week. My wife continues to work but we could run into some problems sooner than later. Would a financial adviser help with our concerns?
– Sondeep

A. Having a good financial advisor on your side is always good, particularly in these economic times. Set a time to see one.

Don’t be Scrooge  but instead learn from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The irony is that Dickens’ initial inspiration to write this classic was his need to get out of debt. 

Christmas Past
Some things, once broken, cannot be mended. Fortunately, credit is not one of them. Pull your credit and review carefully. Have the credit bureau correct any errors and negotiate to pay off judgments.

Christmas Present
Plan now for the future. Create a household budget and stick to it. Pay all your bills on time, payments should not mimic the stock market.

Christmas Yet to Come
The steps you take now will have a direct impact on your financial future. Don’t forget George Orwell’s famous quote: “Who controls the past, controls the future: Who controls the present controls the past.”