With gas and food prices rising, a huge wave of foreclosures continuing, and many Americans deep in debt, many people have been stressed about money. Now with bank troubles showing up as a new potential crisis, financial stress is getting even more common and more intense. If you're worried about money, you're not alone!

While I can't give out cash (oh, wouldn't that be great?), I can give you the next best thing: resources for understanding and dealing with financial stress, and tips for making the most of your money situation. Here goes:

Financial Stress - How It Affects You, and What You Can Do
This article discusses how many people are stressed about money, how that stress affects people, and some general strategies for making the most of your financial situation. If you're stressed about money, start here!

Protecting Your Money
What's the best investment you can make in this economy? Ken Little, About.com's expert in Stocks has a surprising answer: pay off your personal debt first! Read more here.

5 Ways to Save on Gas
Jeremy Vohwinkle, About.com's Financial Planning Guide, has some timely tips on stretching your dollar at the pump. Definitely worth a read!

How Does FDIC Work?
If you're like many people--a little confused about the fall of IndyMac and what this means to bank customers everywhere, About.com's Banking expert, Justin Pritchard, has the scoop on the FDIC and how it works.

Losing Sleep?
If you're stressed and losing sleep over money troubles (or other stresses in your life), this article explains the various ways that stress can rob you of sleep, and provides valuable tips for getting your "z"s--even when stressed!

Stressed about money? Have tips to share on dealing with the stress of financial problems? Come talk about it in the Stress Management Forum!

The other day, I went to a mall with my husband and two kids. They had a band playing swing dance music, and there was a crowd gathered, with a dance floor and several people dancing. Seconds after we slowed our gait, thinking about stopping to watch, an older gentleman came through the crowd, made eye contact with me, and immediately grabbed my hand and took me to the dance floor as if we had some type of understanding, and I actually knew how to dance to swing music.

Normally, I would stress about not knowing this person, possibly not having time for this, and the fact that the last thing I should be doing in front of a crowd is pretending I know how to swing dance. However, this guy was so un-self-conscious and obviously having such a great time (and either oblivious to the fact that I was butchering this dance, or a great actor as well as dancer), that it was contagious.

As I tried not to break an arm or get my hands sweaty from accidentally touching this stranger's back, I started to just let go of my thoughts and enjoy the moment. The music, the dancing and the excitement from the whole experience became a great stress relief.

As I returned to my laughing husband and stunned children, and we continued on through the mall, I thought of how this experience related to stress management in that it contained a few of the stress relievers that I love to share the most: the aforementioned music and dancing (well, exercise), as well as mindfulness (just being in the moment) and maintaining a sense of humor.

Have you had an out-of-the-ordinary stress relief experience lately? Share it in the Stress Management Forum!