The Lazy Person's Guide to Personal Finance

If you learned anything about personal finance, chances are that you have learned it on your own.

It's not really being taught in schools; last year, only seven states required a personal finance class as a requirement for high school graduation, according to the National Council on Economic Education.

It's not being taught by parents, if the amount of debt they are carrying is any indication. (Don't miss: "Pay Down Your Consumer Debt.")

That means that there are a lot of people out there who need to take the time to learn the basics of personal finance. ...