[It's a new year (which I am having trouble remembering when I have to write the date on anything), meaning it's the perfect time to wipe that slate clean and start anew. And we're gonna help you out. Every Thursday in January we're bringing you advice from experts on ways to improve yourself and your life. From mental health to making the most of your workspace, we'll all work together to get our lives, health and GPAs back on track. First we feng shui-ed our rooms to make them happier, more productive places. Then we centered ourselves so we could handle whatever comes our way. Now let's get our finances in order with Fool.com's Dayana Yochim.]

Let’s face it, “the talk” is awkward for everyone: You, picturing your parents at your age; your parents trying to cover all the bases (protection, safety, responsibility and the long-term consequences of your young-adult actions) before letting you leave the nest.

You know we’re talking about the “money talk,” right?

What’s the big deal? Well, unlike the mechanics of procreating (which, if you’re reading this, we can assume your mother and father mastered at least once), there’s a good chance that your parents made a mess of their own finances back in the day. They might even feel like they’re still unqualified to offer sage advice. After all, this stuff isn’t taught in most schools, which leaves most folks learning money lessons the old-fashioned – and very expensive – way: At the school of hard knocks.

I’m here to do your folks a solid and give you six money management tips that will help you avoid graduating with a major financial hangover. Read More »

The time has come for someone to say something.  The madness has to stop.  What madness am I talking about?  Those effing Allstate Commercials. You know, the ones that make you afraid to do anything?  The ones that have you scared to even look at your car for fear of instant bad luck or even death?  Yeah.  Those.

I’m not sure which Allstate bigwig hired Debbie Downer as their ad executive, but whoever decided depressing people into buying insurance was a good idea should be punched in the eye.

Below are a few of the offending commercials we found on YouTube.  Not surprisingly, most of the worst ones did not show up.  This is probably because Allstate knows they’re being f*cktards.

Read More »