Our parents are our first and, for better or or worse, most influential teachers. They instill in us our values, expose us to their ideas and politics, and shape who we become.

One of the first things I did after my first job offer was call my parents. I ran through the pros and cons, expounded on how it would help my career and marveled at the thought that I'd somehow landed a full time job in journalism, with benefits and everything. It seemed too good to be true.

Used to be, you'd sit down once a month with your bank statement, receipts and check register, and make sure all of your deposits and withdrawals lined up.

Life happens. One minute you're coasting towards graduation, ready to take on the world. The next, you've lost your job or haven't been able to find one in your field and you can't afford the rent any more. If you're lucky, your parents are both willing and able to let you move back in and regroup before you go back out into the world to live on your own.

If you're looking to cull some of your unwanted books, say, or other possessions, you'll want to be careful of how (and to whom) you're selling your old stuff.

A lot of our thinking about money revolves around the gains: I'll invest X to get returns of Y per cent in the long term; I'll buy this couch because it will brighten up my apartment and make me happier. But when it comes to financial decisions, it's also important to consider what you'll be giving up.

Each week, we're tackling one of your pressing personal finance questions by asking a handful of money experts for their advice. This week: Investment advice!

Crypto experts have revised their 2018 predictions for bitcoin in 2018. By year's end, the world's most popular cryptocurrency is forecast to hit $27,898 - 400 per cent above today's price. Dogecoin, meanwhile, is still rated the highest potential mover.

One of the struggles of covering personal finance is that the tips and tricks most experts recommend only make sense for a certain group of people: Those who have some disposable income and are likely upwardly mobile. Sure, you can write about handling setbacks and how big an emergency fund should be, but standard advice won't work for everyone.

When you spend money impulsively, it isn't necessarily on luxuries. We buy some pretty boring stuff: Household cleaning products, for example. Research shows we like to buy practical, useful things, which makes spending impulsively even more dangerous.

We all know that automating savings and instituting spending rules can help us save money. But a new report from the Common Cents Lab at Duke University's Center for Advanced Hindsight offers new insight into how to hack behavioural finance to put more money into our pockets (or rather, bank accounts).

How much money do you need to be happy? Some people believe the best things in life are free; others are happiest when they're striking multi-million deals in the back of their chauffeured town car.

Everyone wants to learn tips and tricks for getting rich while exerting as little effort as possible. How can we save for a house, save for retirement, pay off debt, and live without sacrificing any of life's luxuries while working at a job we love?

You know it's important to have cash on hand in case of an emergency, but when is it okay to dip into that aptly named emergency fund? Some scenarios are so obviously emergencies - you lose your job and rent is due - but others can be iffy.

The true strength of a relationship isn't tested when circumstances are easy, but when they are dire. Over the weekend, my partner and I embarked on a journey that would test our mettle. Our ability to communicate, compromise, and show patience toward one another is what held us together through the trying ordeal, but one thing is for certain: Going to IKEA with your significant other ain't no joke.

Spotify is planning to go public through a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange in the next few weeks, and that's piqued the interest of investors hoping it's the next hot tech stock (a little more Netflix, a little less Snapchat). So, should you invest?

When you ask for a raise, you'll have more success focusing on the value you bring to the table as opposed to your own needs. You probably don't want to blurt out, "Hey, I've got bills to pay and you haven't bumped my salary in three years" - even if it's true. So what do you say?

Gary Cohn has resigned as President Donald Trump's chief economic adviser over proposed steel and aluminium tariffs, leading to the Dow dropping 300 points today.

Investing is an important part of a healthy financial life. You want your money to grow, and, short of winning the lottery, investing is the best way to do that. But as Jonathan Clements, the editor of Humble Dollar, reminds us in his newsletter, it's hardly the only thing that matters.