I plan on retiring in 15 years (at age 60) and currently have 85% of my money in stocks. I’ve been maxing out my 401(K) since I was 21, and in the last year, I have seen some frightening drops in my funds. Should I be making any kind of changes to prevent more losses?

During college, I racked up quite a credit card bill (about $35,000 in credit card debt plus $8,000 in student debt). I have stopped using the cards and have been paying above the minimum every month. I talked to a California based company,and they want me to go delinquent on my card payments and to pay them $7000 into an "escrow" account so they can try to negotiate down my debt with the credit card. Do you have any advice for me as to how to absolve my credit card debt? I really feel stuck.

According to recently released reports from the College Board, most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $108 to $1,398 more than what they paid in 2008 for this year's tuition and fees, depending on the type of college.  And with inflation rates continuing to increase, these costs will likely double and even triple in the years to come.  Although these costs are quite daunting, there are ways that parents and kids can prepare themselves for the sticker shock of attending college. 

I’m turning 60 next year.  While I don’t want to continue working full-time anymore, I don’t have the desire (or nest egg) to retire completely.  What do you suggest? 

Does the Cash for Clunkers program make sense for you? Use this calculator from edmunds.com.