This anonymous posting comes from our Savvy Confessions group, where all identities are kept anonymous.

I need to look professional at work and want to buy new clothes — but I cannot afford designer duds. Are there any other stylish yet cheaper options (aside from the obvious T.J.Maxx and such)?

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and be advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This question was posted by almondeyes83 in our SavvySugar Q and A community group. She wants to know how to take advantage of the rocky market. I reached out to Robert Brokamp, a retirement expert from The Motley Fool, the go-to website for investing, to share his expertise with us.

I'm a young investor and would like to take advantage of this market . . . but have no idea where to start! I am currently a full-time graduate student with a very small amount to invest. Since I am younger, I know that any money I invest is on a long-term track and can ride the fluctuations of this market. When I was working, I did contribute to a 401(k) plan — but I haven't rolled anything over because I am unsure of the best course to take. Any advice?

Here is what Robert had to say:

First off, only invest money you don’t need for at least five years. Also, you can transfer the money in your old 401(k) to an IRA, which will likely lead to lower costs and more investment options. As for where to invest the money, consider a total market US stock market index fund or exchange traded fund (ETF). You’ll essentially be a part-owner of thousands of American companies — from Coca-Cola and General Electric to Apple and Google. It will be a wild ride, but — if history is any guide — these companies will be worth more than they are today by the time you retire.

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group or SavvySugar Q and A, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This question was shared by SavvySugar reader Birdsflyinghigh in the Savvy Travel Tips group:

I want to begin a planning a trip for a warm location this winter, I am thinking somewhere in the Caribbean with my husband! But I don't want it to be a mad dash to pay for everything! We have a couple months to start saving exclusively for this vacation, I have looked into using ING where I can setup accounts for automatic savings, etc and I have also debated doing it the old fashion way by just saving the money in an envelope but fear we might dip into that with its close proximity. Any tips or ideas on saving for a vacation?

Share your stories in comments and offer your own advice in our Savvy Travel Tips group.

Sometimes money and career questions can feel so sensitive and personal that it makes sense to stay anonymous when asking them. This is why the Savvy Confessions community group is the perfect place to vent because all postings are kept anonymous.

In the latest Savvy Confessions, a reader asks for if anyone has suggestions for apps that help you stick to budgets.

Let me start out by saying — I'm a really, really bad organizer when it comes to my finances. I have no structure right now, and as a result, I am having major issues with my budget! However, I know making a spreadsheet on Excel or Google Doc isn't for me. Is there any other way, a more . . . interesting way to remember or keep track of my finances? There has to be an app for this or something?! Help!

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and be advised by fellow Savvy readers.

Sometimes money and career questions can feel so sensitive and personal that it makes sense to stay anonymous when asking them. This is why the Savvy Confessions community group is the perfect place to vent because all postings are kept anonymous.

In the latest Savvy Confessions, a reader asks for help on improving her credit score and wonders if she should take out a loan just to raise her score. I reached out to credit expert Bethy Hardeman from CreditKarma.com, a site that provides free credit scores, financial education, and personalized savings recommendations.

I'm trying to figure out a way to improve my credit score other than waiting it out. I'm doing everything right so far, I have a secured credit card, which I'm only charging $15 a month to every month. The limit is $300. I don't have any other credit cards. I don't have any good debt, unfortunately (i.e., school loans, a mortgage, or a car). And I'm not planning on getting any in the near future. I don't have any negatives on my credit report.

The only think I can think of that I can do is to take out personal loans. I don't need to take any out, but I'm thinking of doing it just to improve my credit score because I feel like I'm out of options. Anybody know anything about that? Or rather than personal loans, any more ideas on how to improve my credit score?

To hear what Bethy has to say, read on.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group — she wonders how she should pay off her debt. Any suggestions on how she should deal with the situation?

So I must confess I was an avid credit-card user in my younger years. Now that I am a little older and hopefully a little wiser, I want to eliminate all of the debt in my life. I have one credit card with a high balance and high interest rate that will take me two years to pay off, probably. I also have a student loan that is a much smaller amount and a lower interest rate. If I concentrate all of my energy on that loan and just pay the minimal on my credit card, I can have my student loans paid off in less than six months. But I am not sure which is a better plan of attack. Anyone been in the same situation? Help!

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group, talking about how she doesn't want to recommend a friend for a job at her company. Any suggestions on how she should deal with the situation?

I have a pretty good friend (we've known each other a little over a year) that is on the market for a job. I think she's a great person (charming, funny, etc.), but she has a disastrous work background. She has either been fired or quit almost every job she's had, has no concept of punctuality, and is looking to just "put in time" somewhere. Recently, a position at my company opened up, and of course, she asked me to recommend her. The thing is, as much as I want to — I simply cannot! It would look so bad if she messed up (there is an extremely high chance she would). How do I let her down lightly? What should I say? I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I know she isn't cut out for the position.

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants to know what to do with her lazy boss. Chime in with your thoughts below.

I must confess I don't love my job, but right now it pays the bills, offers lots of flexibility, and I am happy to be employed, but I am running into issues with my boss. Frequently he will skip out on his smaller duties, but these small messes are still left for me to clean up. I don't think his manager will do anything and I don't want to be known as a tattletale either. What would be the best way to make my boss aware of this issue? Do I subtly drop a hint or set up a meeting to set up better parameters? Or do I just keep doing it in hopes that I can use it in my review as the reason that I should get a raise?

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and be advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants to know how to become a good manager. Chime in with your thoughts below.

I just received a promotion into a management role at my company, I am thrilled to have received it but I am a little nervous about being a manager. I know my superior thinks I will be great for the job but are there any managers our there that have tips? Or managers that you have loved and why? I really want to be excited and, of course, want to be very successful at my new position.

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This question was posted by maude in our Ask Savvy community group. She wants to know how to make the most of her 401k. I reached out to John Rosevear, Motley Fool contributing writer from The Motley Fool, the go-to website for investing, to share his expertise with us.

I have been contributing to my 401K for several years now and I have been using the retirement-based fund where the company bases the returns on when you are going to retire, I am a long way off from retiring but I was looking into other funds to see the performance and realized a lot of the other mutual funds seem to be performing much better. Should I move my money around? Or just play it safe in this sort of economy? I know I have 40 plus years before I retire but I want my money to do the most for me, I mean really doesn't everyone! Any tips with how to make the best of our 401k? Just curious how often do people move theirs?

To find out what advice John has to give, read on.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group saying that her co-worker takes a long to to respond to her emails. Any suggestions on how she should deal with the situation?

Have you guys ever dealt with someone (professionally) that won't email you back—or takes a really long time? I am looking for an appropriate way to get a faster response from this person that I work with. I just don't get people sometimes! Has this ever happened to you? What is the best way to handle this? I am working closely with this person, so I don't want to be rude or annoying! Grrr!

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This reader posted in our Resume Remedy group saying that she's having trouble finding an internship. Any advice?

I'm in a bind! I'm a recent graduate looking for an internship, but I can't seem to land one! Unlike most students, I didn't do any internships while in school (something I majorly regret). But what really stinks, is now i cannot even land one post-grad, it seems all employers are looking for someone with at least one on their resume. What do I do? I feel so hopeless. I don't mean to get all emo . . . but I just don't know where to begin — and I'm not getting any younger.

Ask anything about job hunting and resumes by posting your questions in the Resume Remedy group, and the community and I will help you out.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group explaining her predicament, saying that she has a feeling her company wants her to quit. Any suggestions on how she should deal with the situation?

I have been having issues with my boss for the past year. He has done many things that have led me to think he is discriminating me based on my gender. I reported my concern to HR three months ago and despite two follow ups on my side they have yet to resolve the issue. However, on Friday my boss and our HR representative talked to me about "how I'm doing" and that if I think I can't handle the job to tell them and they will help find another job. I left the conversation feeling like they are trying to get me to quit. Are there any other approaches or resources I might be able to look in to to handle this issue? I am looking for a new job but I can't afford to leave this one until I have something else.

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants help on building an emergency fund. Chime in with your thoughts below.

I just graduated college and have started at my first job. I am really lucky and I love the job. I make decent money and wanted to start some budgeting before I start blowing every paycheck like I see all of my friends are doing. I am torn between paying more toward my student loan and small car payment or build an emergency fund. With the economy in the state it is in I want to try to prepare for anything. I don't want to rely on my parents since I am out on my own. So how should I start to save a little each month and pay a little more on my loan and car? Or pay the minimum on each and save up an emergency fund faster? And any tips about where I should keep the money for an emergency fund, I know myself and I might be tempted to spend it if it is just in my checking.

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants to know what happened to her internship. Chime in with your thoughts below.

So here is the deal — I applied for an internship and was told to submit a little test. I handed in all the supplemental materials and I was sooo excited, because (not to toot my own horn) but I did a great job. But then, the morning the materials were due (I had already turned them in) I saw ON TWITTER that the position had been filled. I don't get it? What happened? Should I say something?

Truly yours,

Internshipless in SF

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants to know how she can let her boss know she's interested in him. Chime in with your thoughts below.

Okay, so I have a crush on my boss. He is NOT married. I really want to see if he's interested in . . . anything really. What do y'all think I should do? How do I subtly let him know I am interested without getting myself in trouble if he is not . . .

Crazy, I know.

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants to know if she deserves a raise. Chime in with your thoughts below.

OK, so I have been with my current employer for three years.  I have it made!  I have wonderful bosses, and have a lot of freedom.  My problem is . . . I came to this company straight out of college.  The ad online stated that they were looking for someone with no experience and at minimum a two year degree . . . they were willing to pay 40 to 50k for this position.

I came along with even more qualifications than they were asking for and started out making 40k with the promise to re-evaluate in six months.  Well six months passed and nothing, then a year and nothing, then two years and nothing.  At two and a half years I received a four percent pay increase. I was a little offended because our business is doing very well given the economy, and I had waited so long for the "promised" evaluation.  I didn't express my frustrations (although maybe I should have).  I accepted the raise because after all it is a raise.  My responsibilities have more than tripled since I started and where I don't expect my salary to mirror that . . . I at least expected a 10 percent raise.  Am I silly to think so?  And . . . if not then how do I approach it with the boss?  (keep in mind that I am not one that feels like a raise should be asked for . . . it should be given if your work ethic proves worthy)

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group feels weird about the new girl in the office. Leave your advice in the comments!

I don't think the new girl at the office likes me. It's really weird. I try to go out of my way to be nice to her, but she  just ignores me. I send her emails regarding projects and she just doesn't respond. I'm trying to be understanding and I'm wondering if she has personal problems going on at home that's affecting her work. It's just very weird, and I don't understand what's going on. She seems to treat other people a lot nicer than she treats me so I really don't know what's going on. I'm even wondering if this has to do with my race. Do you think I should sit down with her and have a serious conversation?

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group needs tips on how to deal with a friend who is living beyond his means.

My friend is spending beyond his means, and I've tried to tell him nicely that he shouldn't be spending money on a weekend away to Hawaii, but he says he just graduated and wants to celebrate. He doesn't have a job lined up. I've said things like, "Maybe you should save that money in your emergency fund in case you're unemployed for a while?" He's still going ahead with it, so I'm thinking that I could've been more direct. Do you think it's my place to say anything or is he just not going to listen to me?

Share your own career- and finance-related questions anonymously in the Savvy Confessions group for a chance to be featured on SavvySugar and advised by fellow Savvy readers.