By CLAUDIA BUCK, Sacramento Bee

Three months ago, many bank customers were fuming. They didn't like big bank bailouts, and they didn't like the $5 debit card fees that Bank of America and other institutions were rolling out.

When it comes to retirement planning, most women prefer to make their own decisions but rely primarily on friends and family for advice. Few have a written plan for retirement and most admit they "guessed" how much they'll need to live on.

Only 8 percent feel "very confident" about their ability to retire comfortably.

In general, consumers did lots more shopping this holiday season than last, which could mean a headache when those credit card bills arrive. In fact, heading into the 2011 holiday season, a Consumer Reports poll found that 14 million Americans were still paying off holiday credit card purchases from the previous year.

So here are 10 ideas to get on the right money track:

After 76 years, the traditional paper U.S. savings bond has gone digital.

Starting Monday, those paper bonds -- given and received by generations of Americans to celebrate babies, birthdays, graduations and holidays -- will no longer be sold in banks or credit unions. Instead, they must be purchased electronically, via your computer.

For weary job seekers, the holidays can seem like the perfect time to pull up the covers and retreat until January.

But that's exactly the wrong attitude, say career counselors and job search experts. Contrary to what many assume, the season between Thanksgiving and New Year's can be the best time for job hunters.

When most people think about bequeathing their belongings, it's the obvious: the house, the car, bank accounts, and sentimental family mementos.

But what about our online "stuff"? With so many of us emailing, blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, eBaying and otherwise living online, it's clear that a huge portion of our lives are on the Web.

The holiday shopping season is in full swing. Hordes of us are expected to be out scouting the malls and neighborhood boutiques or hovering at our computers to shop online over the next few weeks.

To ensure you have a safe-and-sane holiday shopping season, we've gathered tips from consumer experts. Here's a look:

-- Don't blow the budget

Credit scores can be kind of scary. Perhaps that's why there seem to be so many myths and misperceptions about exactly what's in a credit score.

In a recent national survey by Visa Inc. that asked U.S. consumers what factors negatively affect a credit score, plenty of answers were flat-out wrong.

Amid all the fears over identity theft, the No. 1 tip on how to avoid getting hit is always the same: Shred it.

"One of the best ways to protect your personal information from an ID thief is to shred important documents before you toss them," said Noreen Perrotta, personal finance editor for Consumer Reports magazine.

If you're looking for a financial planner, here are 10 questions to consider asking:

1. What is your experience? How many years, areas of expertise, etc.

2. What are your qualifications? Ask for professional designations, such as CPA, CFP, etc., and check their validity.