Here's the recipe for a big-time trouble sandwich, jack. Take the IRS, mix in debt collectors and sprinkle in a dash of dough that you owe, and voila! Think I'm kidding? Ever since September, Uncle Sam has started to use private debt collection companies to get people who owe money to the IRS to cough up the cash. In return, the collectors get a 25 percent cut. Just another reason to always pay what you owe and don't get behind.

Dave Ramsey always tells you to arrange what's deducted from your paycheck so that when D-day comes calling in April, you don't owe anything to anyone, and nothing is owed to you. Don't have another reason to be in debt. The IRS and creditors will chase you to the ends of the earth if you owe them extra cash, so don't get that monkey on your back, baby.