Where did it all go wrong? That's a question that many people are asking themselves today as they confront their personal finances. For some, it's a matter of making new investment allocations. But many others are hoping they'll still have jobs to pay the everyday bills. And sadly, there are millions of Americans who have already lost their jobs and now are worrying that they could also lose everything they worked for over the years.

Today's economy is simply brutal. And it's also unfair. Some people may have deserved financial punishment. They overspent, overborrowed and were overly greedy. But those who played by the common rules have been blindsided by this financial disaster.

Just when you thought you had your finances figured out, everything changed. At least that's the way it seems now that we're living through a stock market crash, a banking crisis and are well into a deep recession with rising unemployment.

Even your best-planned money decisions seem to have become a disaster. Contributions made to your IRA or 40l(k) or college savings plan look like you've thrown hard-earned money down the drain. Investing in real estate by purchasing the largest home for the smallest down payment now seems like another promised road to riches that has reached a dead end.

And maintaining the lifestyle you thought you deserved has you drowning in debt.

The message to all is: Don't give up! Don't stop anticipating -- and planning for -- better times. Don't stop believing in the future -- your own, and that of our country. And don't lose the certainty that what you do now can make a big difference in your lifestyle tomorrow. America was not built by quitters!

Americans have always believed in a better life, if not for themselves, then at least for their children. And our children, it seems, took it all for granted. So before we blame others -- government, business bosses, show-off movie stars or financial crooks -- let's take a closer look at the basic principles of money management so we can all do a better job next time around.

Yes, there will be another go-round -- although it may take a few years of financial suffering. We're not the first generation to go through this kind of financial hangover from a binge of debt-driven excess. And we'll all be better off in the end for having learned the lessons the hard way. And that's The Savage Truth!