How does one truly begin?

Ok the short answer to this question is to travel back in time to when I first started working and smack myself til I have a far more advanced financial awareness. Or travel back to 1991ish to when I was introduced to the world of credit and smack myself there. Between you and me, the first choice makes more sense.

So now I am in a position where we have a mortgage, a truck loan, 2 CCs with money on them, one consolidated loan, a bank of mom loan, no savings, no retirement fund, no emergency fund and no educational funds for the kids.

I certainly have learned more about money in the past three or so years, but I don't know if I am any smarter.

I've read a plethora of financial pages and books, all with varying advice that does seem to make sense, but where does one begin?

I want to get $1000 in an emergency fund. I want to get my new CCdebt (less than $2000) off the 'to owe' list. I want to get the debt of $1500 paid back to bank of Mom before she just says 'ohh don't worry about it' yet again and I hate feeling that way. (There's more I want to do but I'm focusing on these three right now)

Taking care of the emergency savings would help as we always seem to have emergencies we are not financially prepared for and that gets tossed on the credit card.

Taking care of Bank of Mom would give me that peace of mind that maybe, just maybe, I'm a grownup for once and don't owe my mom for this loan.

Taking care of the CC would make money interest wise, but would it give the best peace of mind and feeling of security.


Sometimes the frantic 'too much to do too little time' gets to be overwhelming.