Motley Fool Staff

Not as big as you may think. Families in financially unstable straits may elicit in you the thought, “They must have made poor choices.” But, realistically, there’s a big component of "There but for the grace of God..." in play, too.

Though the Great Recession is long since over, money is often tight for many, many families around the country. The authors of "The Financial Diaries,” however, found that we can be remarkably ingenious about finding ways to dodge the temptations of poor fiscal choices.

At this point, almost half of U.S. households don't have enough cash cushion to cover a $400 emergency, and as the authors of "The Financial Diaries" explain, the wide difference between wage growth and expense growth is a key reason why.

Or maybe you won’t be, considering how common it apparently is for average families to see major month-to-month spikes and dips in their pay, according to the authors of "The Financial Diaries."

SPLK earnings call for the period ending October 31, 2017.

ROST earnings call for the period ending October 31, 2017.

BBY earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2017.

SPB earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2017.

CSCO earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2017.

Some years, your picks all beat the market. Other years, you’re not that lucky.

NTES earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2017.

MTOR earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2017.

TGT earnings call for the period ending October 31, 2017.

Among the 210 stocks David Gardner has on his active recommendation list, not all get the recognition they deserve in the markets.

Among the 210 stocks David Gardner has on his active recommendation list, not all get the recognition they deserve in the markets.

Among the 210 stocks David Gardner has on his active recommendation list, not all get the recognition they deserve in the markets.

Among the 210 stocks David Gardner has on his active recommendation list, not all get the recognition they deserve in the markets.

Among the 210 stocks David Gardner has on his active recommendation list, not all get the recognition they deserve in the markets.

A listener needs some advice about 401(k) rollovers and the Roth vs. traditional IRA dichotomy.

TJX earnings call for the period ending October 31, 2017.