With June right around the corner, many of you may be planning a wedding or celebrating an anniversary.

So what’s the secret to a happy marriage? In a recent article, we told you about new studies that looked into what makes couples tick.

The response was amazing. More than 250 of you left thoughtful, humorous and often poignant comments about what makes your marriage work and what mistakes you have made in your relationships.

We love to hear from our readers, so thank you for sharing your thoughts and leaving lots of great advice.

Here are some highlights of the marriage tips you provided.

The importance of friendship:

“Marry your best friend. That way you still like each other and talk to each other down the road” - J

“If you are not friends in addition to partners, it won't work” - Dolphinlvr

Have a sense of humor

“We are happy because of humor in the marriage. I make the jokes. My wife laughs at them” - Sailorpete

Remember respect

“Sarcasm is a killer in any relationship. Every jab, barb, cutdown and criticism builds until sincerity is difficult to detect” - Keleko

“Be nice to one another always” - TT

“Choose to take the high road, the little petty stuff is a killer” - Sue

Don’t forget to date

“We go to lunch on Saturday. We hold hands” –Amanda

Love

“Love is a verb. You choose to love your spouse. Love is not a feeling, it is an action” - Dannie

The importance of sex

“What finally worked for us: sex every other day! In perpetuity” - Goldie

“Keep the sexual tension there as often as possible, going out on scheduled ‘dates’ - Ms. J

“I always let my wife know she's the best, the most beautiful, and ‘hot’ to make me sizzle - Vic of New York

“If the men take care of the romance and the women take care of the sex, everyone will be happy - Mike

Children

“I've been married 2 years and having this kid has made it a thousand times harder” - Antwon

“If you concentrate on keeping each other happy, the kids will be happy” - Billyjk

“If there's significant doubt about having children, you just shouldn’t have them” - Jessica

Wedding vs. marriage

“When I watch these shows about these great big weddings, it is obvious that many of these couples are into the fantasy of marriage” - Alli’s mom

“If more people prepared for the "marriage" as much as they do the ‘wedding,’ the divorce rate would be much lower - Momoftwo

Argue carefully

“If you are starting to argue, take a break, eat dinner, watch some TV or sleep and then continue the discussion later” - Jean

And finally, a special shout out to Bubba, who wrote:

“If everyone had a wife like mine, there would be no divorces.”

Bubba, we think you have a lot of fans out there.

The government is expected to reveal the results of its all-important bank stress-tests next week. Investors and customers alike will be scrutinizing these numbers to make sure their bank has the wherewithal to survive in this tough economic environment.

So how can you be sure that the bank where you keep your money is safe?

1) Pay attention to the numbers. The Federal Reserve's stress tests will value bank assets and analyze their capital cushion. Investors and large customers will be scouring the reports next week looking for telltale weaknesses.

But here's the rub: for consumers, this information is less than useful. What you need to know is whether your bank is lending to people like you, whether fees are out of sight, and if the bank's credit card department is cutting credit limits. The Fed is less concerned about all of this… Plus, the stress test is only being applied to 19 of America's 8,500 banks: yours might not even be tested.

2) Check up on your bank. You're better off consulting sites like bankrate.com than going by broad rules of thumb. Bankrate offers a safe and sound rating system that can help you get a picture of how your bank is doing. Bankrate updates its ratings quarterly, so be sure to check back for the latest every three months.

You can also check out HSH.com for mortgage and consumer loan information divided by region.

3) Don't panic. Even if something happens to your bank, your money is protected by the FDIC up to certain limits. Through the end of this year, individual accounts are fully protected up to $250,000, and the same goes for all retirement accounts, including IRAs.

And if you're over the limits, spread out your money at different institutions, or consider joining a credit union. Credit unions are just as safe a bet as banks are. Instead of the FDIC guarantee, you have the National Credit Union Association to back up your accounts.

One of the worst moves you could make is pulling your money out of a regulated institution and holding the cash yourself.

Finally, consider the size of the bank where you invest your money. Size doesn’t guarantee safety. Some large banks are struggling because of the collapse of collateralized debt obligations; and while many would say that small institutions are more risky because of their limited ability to raise capital, some haven't gotten into the quagmire of CDOs –  collateralized debt obligations, which are asset-backed securities.

Whether the swine flu outbreak in Mexico spreads quickly to become a worldwide epidemic, or ends up being something much less, we're starting to see the potential economic impact unfold. There are confirmed cases here in the United States and a number of other countries around the world; and already we're seeing travelers reconsider their itineraries and trade barriers start to go up - at least temporarily.

Russia announced a ban on meat imports from Mexico, Texas and California, stoking the concerns of officials in Washington. Other countries are following suit. U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk said: "We want to make sure that a handful of our trading partners don't take advantage of this and engage in behavior that could damage the world economy."

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Americans and the world that pork products in this country are safe to consume, because the virus is not food-borne.

Meanwhile, the outbreak has hit America's $770 billion travel industry already feeling the pinch from the recession, as more people cut back on both business and leisure travel. Mexico vacations had been a bright spot, because they tend to be cheaper than other vacation destinations.

Some airlines, hotel chains and cruise lines are allowing American travelers - heeding the Centers for Disease Control warning to forgo non-essential travel to Mexico - to cancel or delay their reservations.

With all this in mind, let's take a look at some potential economic winners and losers in this swine flu outbreak:

1) America’s travel industry could lose a lot in a health crisis. As mentioned earlier, U.S. travel companies have already started responding to concerns about travel to Mexico, which only accounts for a small percentage of overall revenue. The real concern for the industry going forward is the fallout the flu scare could have on domestic travel, which accounts for almost 90 percent of total revenue.

2) U.S. agriculture exports could suffer. As with Russia's recent example, many countries responded with bans on U.S. meat imports when small outbreaks of mad cow disease and foot-and-mouth disease led to some culling of herds in this country - bans that took years to overturn.

3) Some pharmaceutical companies could make out just fine. Many drug companies could benefit from an upswing in demand for vaccines if swine flu turns out to be a bigger problem than it already is.

Having said all that, I wouldn't advise all you day traders out there to rush out and buy pharmaceutical stocks, or short airline stocks. This swine flu crisis could go the way of the last two big health scares, the SARS outbreak of 2002 and the avian flu scare in 2005.

Those two incidents turned out to be relatively limited events, after initial fears of massive epidemics spreading around the globe. Still, we should be concerned about this swine flu scare, and not just because of the potential health consequences to us all.

If swine flu does develop into a worldwide crisis of epidemic proportions, the current global economic recession will get much worse, and it will take much longer for world economies to recover.

Ali Velshi is CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent

New moms and dads face many milestones when their child is an infant. I'll never forget my excitement - and relief! - when my son started eating solid foods. He was a big baby and he seemed to be hungry all the time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some advice on how and when to start transitioning babies to solid food.

1) Wait and watch. Doctors agree that around 4 to 6 months of age, most babies are ready to start eating solid foods. Not only are their energy needs increasing, but infants are physically able to push their tongues against a small spoon or the food.

2) Where to start. It doesn't really matter what time of day you start serving a baby solid foods, but some parents prefer doing it during a family meal. If that turns out to be too chaotic, find a quieter time when you and the baby can focus on the feeding.

3) What's first? Traditionally, single grain cereals are introduced first, but the American Academy of Pediatrics reports there is no medical evidence suggesting there is an advantage to introducing solid foods in any particular order. Despite that, some doctors say rice cereal is often a good place to start because it is easy to digest.

4) One at a time. Some doctors recommend waiting at least three to four days before introducing a new food. This will allow you to watch for any signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, vomiting or diarrhea.

5) Fruits and vegetables. Babies may be born with a preference for sweets, but doctors say that doesn't mean you need to introduce fruits before vegetables. There is no evidence that babies will develop a dislike of vegetables if they are offered before fruits.

Finally, there are several foods that should not be served to a baby. Honey is a no-no for kids under the age of one because of the risk of botulism. Some pediatricians also warn parents against serving eggs, fish and peanut products in the first year of life because of the potential for allergic reactions.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays.

Over two million jobs have been lost already this year. And one of the biggest threats to financial security is job loss. Here are some ways you can cope if you've been given a pink slip:

1) First, get all the benefits you can from your employer. That means signing up for COBRA (if you can't get on a spouse's plan); asking for additional weeks of outplacement services if it's offered. And don't forget to grab that Rolodex and talk to HR about any outstanding bonus or vacation time you may be due before you go!

2) Second, now that you've lost one household income, you'll have to make your money stretch. Sign up for jobless benefits pronto - they take at least two weeks to get started. Go to servicelocator.org,which is sponsored by the Department of Labor, for more information. If you're strapped, cash out CDs for income. Think about part-time work if you think it will be awhile before you are employed again. Try to keep your paws off your 401(k). The average worker is unemployed for just five weeks - chances are you will find a job and it may be sooner than expected.

3) Finally, to make yourself as attractive as possible to hiring managers maintain your own online profile. Set up your profile at social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook; and be sure to get rid of any embarrassing photos you or your friends may have already put on the Web. It's not a bad idea to create your web site, which you can do for $10 at godaddy.com or for free at WordPress.com.

President Obama met Thursday with more than a dozen executives of credit card-issuing companies to press his campaign for more protections for consumers. We all know what he's talking about: You open your card statement just to find out your rate has been tripled without explanation - even when you pay your monthly bills on time.

Already, Congress is moving to tighten the reins on issuers with legislation that restricts rates and fees the companies can charge cardholders. And, that's on top of changes enacted by the Federal Reserve taking effect next year that will stop interest rate hikes on cardholders who are late on unrelated bills; and halt averaging of finance charges from two prior cycles - a move designed to hit consumers who carry a balance then pay it off.

The Obama Administration wants to crack down on what many Americans consider unfair practices, including the tendency of credit card companies to rewrite the rules for lending. Since many of the issuers are in fact banks and other financial institutions taking government bailout money during this current financial crisis, the President probably feels like he has some leeway with their executives. In summary, here is what Obama wants the card companies to do:

1) Ban unfair rate increases, abusive fees and penalties. Too often cardholders are slapped with rate increases - reaching as high as 29 percent in many cases - or added fees, often for arbitrary reasons. The credit card companies say they need to be able to raise rates and fees to offset the risky behavior of cardholders, but many Americans think credit companies abuse this practice.

2) Use plain language in the terms and conditions; get rid of all that "fine print." Who wouldn't want more clear and concise contract terms written in plain English? Everyone wants this, except perhaps the credit card companies themselves.

3) Post contract terms online, and enable easier comparison shopping. Make it easier to for consumers to shop for terms and rates that suit their individual lifestyles and situations.

Predictably, the credit card companies hate such limitations, and complain that new restrictions will only reduce the amount of credit they can offer consumers. True enough, but is that such a bad thing? For far too long, Americans have spent too much and saved too little with almost "free" money doled out by credit card companies.

A little less credit might be what the doctor ordered to get us into a more healthy state of spending - and saving. Many complain that the system we live with now forces us to use credit card; good luck trying to check into a hotel, or renting a car without one. A future home buyer is compelled to use credit cards to start building his credit history.

That’s still not an excuse for us consumers to go out and spend money - credit - irresponsibly. Both issuers and consumers share blame for the uses and abuses of credit cards.

Ali Velshi is CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent.

Getting a loan from a bank may be tough, but bank fees certainly aren’t hard to come by. Here’s how you can avoid giving banks even more of your money.

1) Watch for fees

Here are some fees you should be on the lookout for:

–ATM fees: According to the latest bankrate.com study, ATM fees average $1.97. That’s 11 percent higher than the prior year

–Overdraft fees: Overdraft fees kick in when you don’t have enough money in your account to cover a transaction

–Maintenance fees: Some banks charge a monthly fee regardless of your balance, while others will ding you only if you fall below a minimum balance

–Teller fees: Some banks will charge you just for going to the teller –perhaps if you have an express, or an online account.. you could even be dinged for writing too many checks

2) Avoiding fees

Don’t use another bank’s ATM. 99.2 percent of ATMs surcharge according to bankrate.com. So, to avoid these ever-growing fees, use your debit card to make a purchase, and just ask for cash back. If you really just need an ATM, make sure you avoid the ones at airports, casinos or any other place where the machine is the only way you can access money. Overdraft fees can be brutal. As high as $40 in some cases and Consumer Reports estimates that translates to over 1000 percent interest rate. Here’s how you can avoid them. First, link your checking account to your savings account. Next, keep track of your deposits/withdrawals and finally, keep a cash cushion (especially if you have companies that withdraw money from your account automatically) .

3) Join a credit union

Credit Unions generally have lower fees and higher saving rates on its products. Plus, if you’re looking for a credit card, the terms and conditions are generally easier to understand compared to large commercials banks. A Credit Union membership may be set up through your employer, a neighborhood association or a church group. You may even be able to join a credit union that serves just your local community. To find out where the credit unions are in your area, go to the National Credit Union Association Web site at ncua.gov.

Watch Gerri's Top Tips every day at 11:20 am Eastern Time.

On May 4, the Obama Administration will unveil the results of its "stress tests" that it is conducting on the country's 19 largest financial institutions. The goal is to figure out - in the government's worst-case scenario -– how much more taxpayer money Washington may have to put up to prevent a major collapse hitting the financial system.

The government is not likely to detail each bank's financial position - for fear that news of an "unhealthy" bank could trigger a run on that bank by both investors and customers, thereby hastening its demise. But it is likely to say something like, "If unemployment were to increase dramatically, and home prices were to drop by a certain percent more, we’re likely to need X amount of money."

Until the government finishes these tests, it's not likely to even discuss taking back any of the huge sums it invested in those big banks, despite the fact that many of them have reported profits for the first three months of this year, and now say they want to give the money back. If the five largest banks followed through on their announced intentions to return government bailout funds, that could put $88 billion back into the coffers at the so-called Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

That money could be used for other banks in need, preventing the administration from going back to a Congress that admittedly does not have much appetite to spend more taxpayer money to help Wall Street.

It all seems like a no-brainer; and, in most cases, the big banks will probably be allowed to give the money back. But, according to recent reports, the government is likely to want answers to the following questions before allowing big banks to give their TARP money back:

1) If the big banks return TARP funds, how will it affect stability in the financial system overall? The government will want to make that sure that they have plenty of cash on their balance sheets and can demonstrate they can raise fresh capital, to make sure future shocks to the economy do not bring these banks down and the financial system with them.

2) Will such a move encourage banks to engage in reckless borrowing on their own? By owning stakes in the banks, and with the legislative strings attached to the bailout funds, the government has wide latitude to try to discourage some of the risky moves that got the banks in trouble to begin with. Treasury will want to make sure big banks don’t return to their bad old ways, before agreeing to take the money back.

3) Will returning bailout funds leave enough money in the system to provide adequate credit? Remember, the whole reason for the banks bailout was to inject enough capital into the system, so banks could start lending again to businesses and consumers. If by returning their money, big banks are forced to cut back on making loans, then the government will say, "No thanks! Keep our money."

While the Obama Administration will in most cases be prepared to take back bailout money from big banks if they insist, the ultimate decision to so will be made in the context of what is good for the wider economic interest. We'll be following this story as it unfolds over the course of the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

Ali Velshi is CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent

Getting my kids to eat fish is like pulling teeth. They complain about the smell, say it tastes suspicious – you'd never know they were teenagers. But despite their complaints, I keep bringing it to the dinner table because of the health benefits. Fish is a good source of protein and contains a healthy type of fat called omega-3 fatty acids. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) studies have found that these fatty acids can help us with our heart health by reducing the risk of death from heart disease. How it works is still being studied but clues point to a reduction in abnormal heart rhythms, a decrease in the growth of artery clogging plaques and a slight lowering of blood pressure.

But fish often contain mercury. So the AHA wants you to eat it in moderation. To help you strike a balance, the Environmental Protection Agency offers tips on how to eat seafood safely and sensibly.

1) Low Mercury Fish. Virtually all fish or shellfish contain traces of mercury but according to experts the benefits of seafood outweigh the risks for most people. The American Heart Association suggests we eat up to 12 ounces a week – the equivalent of 2 average meals. Some of the most popular low-mercury fish consumed in the US include: canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish. Others in good standing are: anchovies, shrimp, cod, clams, and tilapia.

2) High Mercury Fish. Generally the older or larger the fish, the more mercury it contains. According to the FDA, those at the top of the list include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Pregnant women, women planning to get pregnant, nursing mothers and young children are advised to avoid fish high in mercury in favor of the lower mercury variety. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish are beneficial for the brain development of infants but high mercury levels can damage the brain and the nervous system of an unborn baby or a young child.

3) The Right Formula. The best advice about eating fish is to eat smart. Nobody wants to risk having too much mercury in their body, yet losing out on the health benefits of fish is not a good option either. So when planning your next meal look for low-mercury fish at the farmers' market or grocery store and remove the skin and surface fat before cooking. If you overdo it one week by eating more than the recommended 2 servings, don't panic, cut back the following week or two and you should be fine.

If you really want to know the exact amount of mercury in a particular variety of fish, the Environmental Protection Agency has a list of fish and mercury levels to help you eat smart and be safe.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays

College tuition increases about 5-8 percent a year. And most students are now just beginning to get their financial aid packages. If you’re astonished by just how much money you’ll be spending, here are some ways you can ease that student loan burden.

1) Let Uncle Sam forgive your student loan debt

Yes, the price tag for college can be daunting. A private-four-year college costs more than $25,000 a year. But there are some programs from Uncle Sam that can help you manage that burden through loan forgiveness. To qualify, you must perform volunteer work , military service or teach or practice medicine in certain types of communities.

Volunteering Loan Forgiveness Programs:

–Americorps: Serve for 12 months and receive up to $7,400 in stipends plus $4,725 toward your loan—that amount is likely to increase
–Peace Corps: cancel 15 percent of your Federal Perkins Loan per year
–Volunteers in Service to America: Provide 1,700 hours of service and receive $4725.

And students who are in the Army National Guard may be eligible for their Student Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $10,000.

2) Loan forgiveness for teachers

If you become a teacher in an elementary or high-school with students from low-income families you can have a portion of your Perkins Loan forgiven. Each year you teach, you get a portion forgiven, up to five years. Contact your school district's administration to see which schools are eligible. Math and science teachers who work in high-need schools can also get up to $17,500 forgiven from their Stafford loan.

3) Cut medical/law school bills

Many law schools forgive the loans of students who serve in public interest or non-profit positions. Go to the American Bar Association for a summary of loan repayment assistance programs.

Here’s a sampling of some student loan forgiveness programs in healthcare:

–National Health Service Corps
–Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

For more of Gerri's Top Tips, watch CNN weekdays at 11:20 am Eastern Time.