I’ve been thinking a lot in the past year about financial issues - not just because of the recession (which is showing inconsistent signs of improving), but because I’ve noticed how finances affect so many areas of our lives: spirituality, physical health, emotional health and relationships, just to name a few.

As someone who, according to some demographers, is part of the Millennial Generation (although others would call me a Gen-Xer), I’ve supposedly never known hardship up until the current economic malaise, since my baby boomer parents made sure I had everything I could possibly want, and that gave me a false sense of entitlement that carries over into the classroom and the workplace.

(That sound you just heard was my parents, professors and bosses laughing hysterically.)

The reality, of course, is very different. My parents gave me a lot of wonderful gifts and opportunities - but they also instilled a good Protestant work ethic and taught me that the world does not owe me anything.

Those lessons have served me well. But the recession has also taught me that working hard isn’t enough. You also have to work smart and take control of your money and your career in order to thrive and weather whatever storm comes along. (I hope other people in my age group are learning this, seeing as we’re increasingly being laid off or unable to find jobs while trying to pay back huge student loans.)

To alleviate some of the stress that finances can bring, I’ve started following the advice of Dave Ramsey, the Christian personal-finance guru, radio host and author, although plenty of secular experts have similar plans - and it’s really just “common sense for your dollars and cents,” as he likes to say. (The title of this post is another one of his Southern-fried pearls of wisdom.)

In fact, I like Dave so much that I wrote an article last year about churches that teach his concepts.

No matter what happens on Wall Street, getting control of your money and “telling it where to go, instead of wondering where it went” is a must for everyone. And it may be even more important for people with mental illnesses and learning disabilities, such as bipolar disorder and ADD/ADHD, since those conditions often express themselves in irresponsible financial behavior. And, people with very severe illnesses may not be able to work much or may face large medical costs, so learning how to live on a tight budget is even more critical.

So, as we get ready to celebrate Independence Day this weekend, think about how you can work toward financial independence - and financial health and peace. It may not make economists (who want us to spend and borrow more) happy, but you’ll be better off.