Recently, the Federal Reserve was ordered to disclose documents that specifically identify financial institutions that might have collapsed without aid from the 2008 bailout program.

The order, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan, marks a new development in the ongoing legal battle between Bloomberg and the Federal Reserve. This ruling upheld a previous order from August 2009 that ordered that the information be released.

This unusual legal struggle began on November 7, 2008 when Bloomberg filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information act against the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, demanding that the Fed release the names of private financial institutions that received public bailout money.

Chart of the day. US dept-to-GDP ratio as of March 2008. Yes, that was 2 years ago. Someone needs to take America's credit cards away.

One of the largest social media websites, Twitter.com, can be an effective way to spread the word about your business and learn from other top representatives in your business niche. However, it can take a lot of time to determine the best ways to use Twitter effectively for business. Below are ten tips to help shorten that learning curve.

Anthony Weiner chastised Glenn Beck saying he is using fear to promote Goldline that overcharges. Peter Schiff speaks up. 

Accept your limits. This is not to say that if you don't have a job, you shouldn't look for one. Of course you should get a job. But the majority of people, who read this, have a job, makes some amount of money-and just aren't satisfied with it.

There is nothing wrong with striving for promotions, or a pay raise. But until that happens, accept the means that you live in.

Interestingly enough, most people who get a raise find that the extra money actually doesn't solve a single money problem they have. The reason for this is that as soon as they get a raise they go out and purchase something that eats that money up immediately. If they were struggling before, they continue to struggle.

Learn to accept the limits of your income. Live within that limit and be content with what it provides. Many, many people wish they could make as much money as you do.

DON'T USE CREDIT CARDS - PAY WITH CASH

Now, I use a credit card for everything, which may seem somewhat of a contradiction. However, I use a credit card solely in conjunction with a budget. Without the budget, the credit card would be incredibly dangerous. I use it like a check. As soon as I purchase something, I go home and deduct it from my budget. This way I never overspend and always pay off the credit card. In essence, I use it like cash.

However, most people use credit cards to live outside their means. This is a mistake. It will haunt you.

To use a Christian analogy, credit cards are like the devil. Get instant gratification now and pay later. And only pay the interest, please, so that you pay and pay and pay. Cash up front is like God. You pay the price now, and enjoy the benefits thereafter!

If you don't have a budget, can't control your spending, or are too tempted by the next gadget and gizmo, then tear up your credit cards and get rid of them!

TAKE OUT LOANS ONLY ON LONG TERM INVESTMENTS

As mentioned, we live in an age where we promote: get it now, pay later! This attitude has put more people in debt than I even want to consider.

If you must take out a loan, take it out on something that will either appreciate in value, or you can sell to rid yourself of the loan in its entirety. I'm not necessarily against purchasing a new car, but if you finance the entire thing, you'll find out that as soon as you drive it off the lot you'll never be able to sell it to pay off your loan! That, in my opinion, is a mistake and living outside your means.

A house is usually a good investment. You can sell your house and pay off your loan-assuming you got a decent loan.

Don't get caught up in the fervor of instant gratification. Save up money and pay cash if you can!

HAVE A BUDGET

This is essential to living within your means. Without a budget you'll never know what you can or cannot afford. A budget gives you instant knowledge of how much money you have, what you can spend it on, and when you can spend it.

You need to develop a budget.

It'll tell you where you need to cut back, how you can save, and how to plan for the future.

Living within your means is many things, but in essence it is knowing what you have and what you can do with what you have.

Greg S. Baker is a pastor, professional counselor, author, happy husband, and proud father of four boys. He lives in Colorado. He has a passion for helping people develop healthy relationships. He believes that life is relationships. Thus, if your relationships are hurting, so are you. He has authored several e-Books that range in topic from dealing with stress, communication in relationships, , expressing yourself, to a novel that explores the ramifications of changing the past.

What will you do the day money fails? In the days of Joseph money failed. “Can it happen again,” you ask? Yes. The real question is, “Are you prepared?” Scripture teaches that money failed in the land of Egypt and Canaan during the life of Joseph. The testimony declares that Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret except Joseph. In Pharaoh’s dream there would be seven years of “great plenty” followed by “seven years of famine.” The famine would be so bad that “all the plenty would be forgotten and the land consumed.” Can you imagine such an economic collapse that money failed?

Have you ever reached over on a Monday morning to hit that snooze button one more time? I know I have. Maybe you had a really busy weekend and feel exhausted. Maybe you know that as soon as you arrive at the office, an overwhelming project will await your attention on your desk. We may all have days when we do not feel like getting up for work, but we should always know why we get up and go.

With home mortgages, school loans, and car loans, young couples today may owe more than $140,000 within the first couple of years of marriage. This may seem normal to many, but God’s Word says debt isn’t normal, especially long-term debt (see Deuteronomy 15:6; Psalm 37:21; Romans 13:8).

Our economy is crazy. Want a tip? Buy stock in Tums, because anyone watching the news lately probably has an ulcer.  I’m only kidding. But it seems as of late that our media has become prophets of doom. Despair spews from their mouth and infects us daily. Here are five tips for recession proofing your life.

The Bible says that Solomon was the richest man who ever lived and also the wisest ever to live (1 Kings 4:31). I think that makes him qualified to give some financial advice. I know there is some debate over whether or not Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, so just in case he didn’t we can use the alternate title of: Financial Lessons from someone wise.