A reader asked: 'The recession/depression has left many elderly people very concerned. I have two questions: 1) Should I remove my savings from banks (place in mattress) so to speak? 2) Will the Feds replace full dollar value for savings in banks or a percentage thereof?'

The safest place for your money is not your mattress - it's the bank. Generally, you'll be safe as long as your bank is FDIC insured. (Digestion problems acquired as a result of reading scary financial news is another issue altogether.)

So how did we get into this mess in the first place? The answer, of course, is gradually.