Families are comprised of people with very different personalities, values and financial habits. There may be high earners, low earners and no earners – and even those who are currently financially comfortable can hit hard times and need help with their finances.

Divorce is rarely a life event that one plans for, but while many couples live happily ever after, some will undoubtedly go their separate ways. A divorce can be emotionally devastating, but it doesn’t have to derail your long-term financial security. If you’re facing a divorce, consider these steps to protect and claim what’s yours.

If you have a child or grandchild who is beginning college soon, you’re probably aware that in addition to academic readiness, preparing for college requires a financial strategy – especially as the cost of higher education continues to rise rapidly. Today, the average debt for graduates who fund their education with loans tops $25,000, and that number is expected to rise.

Having a “rainy day fund” in place to help you pay for emergency expenses has long been one of the foundations of a solid financial plan. But the importance of having a cash reserve that is liquid and easily accessible has become more apparent given the hard financial realities faced by many families due to challenging economic conditions.

It may seem like the answer to de-cluttering your home after the spring thaw lies in the aisles for storage containers and cleaning supplies that can often cost a small fortune. But getting your house clean and organized can be financially beneficial if you’re willing to wield your creativity and recycling bin at the same time.

If you’re planning on getting married or remarried and haven’t been paying close attention to the wedding industry, you may experience sticker shock as you begin calculating costs. An average American wedding costs the newlyweds and their families about $26,000 — and that’s without the honeymoon tab.1