My organization is often asked to serve as a resource for news media stories related to money management. Occasionally, I am asked to serve as our agency spokesperson. One of the greatest challenges I face as a spokesperson is how to effectively communicate an educational message in the very short time we are in the spotlight.

As I am sure you have noticed, television news is moving at a faster pace than it did in the past. In fact, in 1960, the average television soundbite lasted 40 seconds. Today, the average soundbite lasts less than 15 seconds. As you might imagine, 15 seconds doesn’t leave a lot of time for “ums” and “ahs”—this is particularly true if the interview is live.

In attempt to make the most of my interview time, I have collected and created a list of very short phrases that I hope are both educational and media-worthy. Here are some examples:

-The best place to vacation is somewhere near your budget.
-Far too many budgets are haunted by the ghosts of Christmases past.
-You can’t borrow your way out of debt.
-Credit is a privilege to be protected, not a right to be expected.
-Most consumers would rather have piece of mind than a piece of furniture.

Because I think it is important not to repeat myself, I would like to add to my existing list of financial education soundbites. If you have short, colorful educational messages that you are willing to share with a larger audience, I would love to hear them! Please share your “quotable quotes” through the comments section.

I am a regular at a local coffee shop where there is a sign that reads “$5 minimum for all credit card purchases.” So far, I have dutifully followed the sign’s suggestion. But yesterday, when I was $1 short on both cash and the $5 minimum to use credit, I started questioning the policy. Was I really willing to buy something extra to make the $5 mark? (The answer was ‘yes’—though I did not do it happily.)

This morning I confirmed that the coffee shop is breaking the rules. The agreements merchants have with MasterCard and Visa prohibit their ability to set minimum amounts for credit card purchases. Apparently, it is not uncommon for this part of the agreements to be ignored. I am wondering if the coffee shop owner even knows that she is violating her agreements (I can only assume that there is a lot of fine print in those things!)

I realize that retailers have to pay a fee for credit card processing, so I am torn about whether or not to bring this (my) “issue” to the owner’s attention. On one hand, I want her to succeed; on the other hand, I don’t want it to be at my inconvenience.

What do you think? Please don’t tell me to carry more cash, but feel free to share any other words of wisdom through the comments section.

According to an S&P study released earlier this week, home prices dropped a record 15.4% in the second quarter compared with last year. (Visit CNN.com to see which cities faired the worst.) With falling prices and a lot of inventory to choose from, you might be thinking that this is a good time to get a great deal on a new home—particularly if you don’t have a home to sell first.

Even if you are one of the lucky few who are only buying, it is important not to underestimate the true cost of homeownership. You may get a home for a good price; however, there are many additional costs that are incurred by new homeowners. There are up-front costs, including the down payment and closing costs. The other costs you may incur include realtor’s fees, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance. The costs most people are surprised by are the little things you need to buy once you get into the house, so a realistic budget is essential.

The other thing you must consider is the cost of financing your new home. It may be wise to improve your financial standing before you buy a house; even it takes some time and effort. For homebuyers with less than perfect credit, mortgage loans are tougher to get then they were in year’s past.

To learn the steps to homeownership and find out if you are ready to buy, sign up for a first time homebuyer’s workshop.