No matter what stage of divorce you're in, you need to get the upper hand on your economic situation. If you're in financial crisis, you need to gain control of the situation and learn how to budget effectively. There's no reason why you can't start now.

Here are my top 5 tips to get started:

TIP #1: Don't be scared: Don't waste a minute feeling scared or insecure about not knowing how to handle your finances. In the U.S., personal finance truly is the pink elephant in the room. If everyone got "financially naked" you'd be stunned by how many of your friends and neighbors (male and female) feel the exactly the same way!

TIP #2: Rethink your attitude toward savings: Many people think saving money is about deprivation. The truth is that saving is actually all about spending — spending that you'll do in the future instead of today. You save for three reasons: An emergency fund, retirement and big ticket items. Ideally, you'd be saving around 15% of any new money coming into your life from this point forward for spending you'll do down the road.

Whether you're just thinking about divorce, in the middle of one or moving beyond divorce, you need to be on top of your personal financial situation. Empowering women to lead independent financial lives is the premise of my book, On My Own To Feet — A Modern Girl's Guide to Personal Finance, coauthored by Sharon Kedar.

Here are a few strategies that you can use to gain control over your financial situation:

2. Understand that if you charge something on your credit card and make only the minimum monthly payment, you are effectively paying twice as much for that item.

3. Know and protect your credit score: Its reach in your life is far and wide.

4. Guard against the unknown with an appropriate amount of insurance for your particular circumstances — healthcare, auto, and homeowners insurance (if you own a car/home) — are an absolute must. If you have children, life insurance is also essential.

5. Keep in mind that it's your spending, as opposed to your income, that you have the most control over on a day-to-day basis.

6. Know that you invest for two reasons: To keep the corrosive power of inflation at bay and to grow your money faster than inflation.