Once considered stodgy and boring, dividend-paying stocks were used mostly to protect an investor’s portfolio. The regular cash payout helped to balance out losses from other holdings. But these companies took on new meaning after the 2008 crash, at least for Cramer.

No doubt the widespread use of solar and wind power is ideal, but it’ll be a long time before the mass adoption of those alternative energies is a reality. In the meantime, Cramer says, the US should shift its focus to natural gas.

No doubt the widespread use of solar and wind power is ideal, but it’ll be a long time before the mass adoption of those alternative energies is a reality. In the meantime, Cramer says, the US should shift its focus to natural gas.

Banks historically have been the best-performing stocks after a financial crisis. That’s right, even though the Western financial system teetered on the brink of collapse, Cramer still recommends buying these companies. But not all of them. In his newest book, "Getting Back to Even," he’s largely focused on just the strong, regional outfits in position to take share from their weaker rivals.

Believe it or not, the economy will recover. Cramer’s good news, which he shares in his new book, Getting Back to Even, is that “sooner is actually a whole lot more likely than later.” If that’s the case, then investors should know how to play it. Luckily for them, Cramer pulled together 12 stocks that he thinks will most benefit from an economic rebound. Check out the slide show to find out which market bellwethers made the cut.

Forget about making money – sometimes holding on to what you have is much more important. That’s why Cramer created these 15 rules that will keep you from losing your hard-earned cash when the market’s at its worst.

Forget about getting rich quick, Cramer says. Better to build wealth over a long period of time. That’s why he devised these 10 rules to guide you along the way. Some are about capital preservation, others are about capital appreciation. Regardless, though, they’ll help you generate a nice nest egg for retirement. And who doesn’t want money enough to enjoy his or her golden years? Read on for the Mad Money host’s step-by-step plan for financial freedom.