Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.

It's easy to underestimate the real cost of home ownership.

I get so frustrated when people tell me it's unrealistic to create an eight-month emergency savings fund, or have money saved for a home down payment, or pay off their $5,000 credit card balance.

Like your home's closets, your financial clutter needs an overhaul every now and again, and the payoff will go far beyond the psychic satisfaction of neatening up.

People first, then money, then things.