The folks over at RothIRA.com have put together a great graphic that shows how saving small early can lead to big gains by converting dollars into a more attractive retirement goal: a giant tower of beer.

The savings rate is a little on the small side ($1/day), so throw in a tidbit about being able to save enough for a Lake Huron-sized tub of nachos if they contribute to an employer 401(k) plan, as well.

From: RothIRA.com

To help us shake the gravity that can come with the subject of money, we threw together some graphics that not only detail these seven rules, but also explain why each rule is so important. Below you’ll see two of those graphics, but feel free to click through to see all seven of the smart money rules your kids and grandkids should be following.

Are there any rules that you wish you had learned earlier?

Click here to see all 7 Smart Money Essentials.

The NCFC site is a one-stop-shop for student loan information, offering calculators, repayment action plans, and loan guides to help borrowers get step-by-step instruction on how to pay back student loans in what can be a confusing and costly process. The site couldn’t have been launched at a more opportune time, with a recent report showing that, though young adults are saddled with mounting debt and poor job prospects, the worst student loan payers are actually 40-something adults. Nearly 12% of 40-50 year-olds with student debt are delinquent on their loan bills, being pressured by retirement, family expenses, and their previously incurred educational debt. The NCFC site offers calculators that spell out in clear terms the true cost of different monthly payment plans, as well as a dedicated section for parents looking to explore financial aid options for their children.

Lynch signed on to promote the NCFC’s “Don’t Major in Debt” campaign, designed to help borrowers, past and present, know all their options when it comes to financing their learning and paying back their loans. She cites her nieces and nephews, as well as her experience with student loans, being forced to defer several times, with her involvement in helping to spread awareness to the current generation of borrowers and parents.

To learn more about financial aid options or student loan repayment plans, visit the NCFC website.

Did your career make either top ten list?

With the average post-retirement health care costs estimated at around $240,000 without including long term care, the need for planning now, today, becomes pressing for the often underemployed Gen-Y. The money situation is further exacerbated by Boomers’ savings having shrunk and their support of both their children and their aging parents.

Here are 6 tips to help Millennials avoid a long term care disaster:

1.  Learn the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. Don’t be like Frank who assumed Medicare would pay for long term care in a nursing home. For more information go to www.medicare.gov.
2. Don’t wait until the discharge date to learn about your parent’s ability to pay for care. Medicaid eligibility may require years of advanced planning.
3. Research funding sources. Is your father a Veteran? Does your mother have long term care insurance? Would a reverse mortgage be an option?
4. Consult professionals. Elder law attorneys, financial planners, and geriatric care managers can be very helpful in sorting out options for care and funding.
5. Consider indirect expenses such as transportation, missed work, financial and legal assistance, and travel expenses as part of the cost of care.
6. Explore benefits through your workplace. More companies are recognizing the need to provide support to caregiving employees and offer resources such as expert consultation, backup care, provider referrals, and geriatric care management.

Be sure to visit the LifeTuner blog for a cautionary tale and the full article on the costs of caregiving.