Here's everything you need to know about personal finance on a single page. But like so much in life, it's easier said than done!

Spend Less Than You Earn
You can’t avoid the obvious and absolute truth of this: If you don't earn more than you spend, sooner or later you'll be in debt. It's that simple.

There are two ways to achieve this goal: Earn more or spend less. Clearly, the best course would be to do both and really widen the gap so you can use your new-found money to work for you—instead of you working for it!

Earn More! How? Good question—and you're the only one with the answer. Still, here are some options anyone can do:
• Keep up with what's going on. Stay engaged; Pursue your interests (read books, take courses, have discussions) and keep your eyes open for opportunity. If you aren't looking for it, you may not see it if it comes along.
• Look for ‘income streams.’ Use your talents and hobbies; Anything you can do better than other people is a possible avenue to ‘widen’ the gap.
• Start a side business. Instead of burning a few hours in front of the TV each evening, invest part of that time. Maybe you can find something to sell and ‘sell' it via mail order using eBay or Internet portals like Yahoo to market your goods.
• Do what you love to do. People who do what they love, do more than they have to do and work harder and more consistently to get better at doing it. That translates into efficiency—and that generates productivity and profit.
• Keep your options open. Don't reject anything without an unemotional consideration of it. You just may discover something others missed and profit greatly from it.
• Keep in touch with old friends who think like you. Send them an email or a phone call occasionally just to see what they're up to. If they need help with a money making idea, maybe you can both make a profit.

Live Frugally
You don't have to tear each piece of paper towel in half. Just use common sense and a little self-restraint.
• Eat home-cooked meals more often. Don’t go out or eat take out because you’re too lazy or tired. You can easily spend five to ten times more than it would cost to make a meal at home.
• Be careful what you spend at work! The cost of that daily cup of coffee and a bagel can really add up over the course of a month. Buy a thermos and butter your bagels at home. You'll save a bundle and most times, it will taste better, too.
• Hesitate before buying anything or paying a bill. Ask yourself if this is something you really want to buy or if there isn't some way to lower the bill you're about to pay.
• Don't deny yourself. If you really want it and really enjoy it, buy it, do it, get it. Splurging on the things you really want will make not getting the things you don't really need easier.
• Be sure you really want what you do buy. Don't buy from habit or because you wanted it yesterday—even if you saved for it. Reassess and be sure before you purchase.

Manage Your Money!
Make a budget and stick to it. Put it in writing and make it realistic.
• Pay off debts and credit cards. Focus first on the ones with the highest interest rate and just keep going.
• Have an emergency fund. Keep it in a savings account to be used in the event of a major crisis, such as a job loss or a medical emergency. Try to have enough cash to cover a full six months of living expenses.
• Put as much away for retirement as you can. Determine how much you can legally put aside and how much you can afford. This varies depending on how much you have saved already and how much your employer matches, etc.
• Start saving for your kid's college. Set up a 529 College Savings Plan and start automatically putting a certain amount into this account each month.
• Invest—don't speculate! If you want to “play the market” set aside a portion you can truly afford to lose and think of it as an ‘entertainment' expense.

Think About Getting Rich as a Byproduct of Being Happy
The best part of being rich is being able to do what you love doing and be what and who you love being. That means the way you get rich matters because it helps determine who you really are.