Lyle, I promise you that those of us who work here don't like the situation any more than you do. Last year was not the best for the Deseret News, or indeed, for print journalism as a whole. We're likely to continue to face changes and challenges in the years to come, but the reporters and editors at the paper remain as dedicated as ever to providing the best information we can.

Which is what I would say to another reader comment, posted on our Web site: "The Money section is the one section I look forward to reading every week. The timing could not be any worse, because of what's happening around us. The Deseret News had put two financial stories in their top five local news stories of 2008. I guess even the Deseret News is not immune to the economy."

Sad but true, dear reader. Let's all hope for a better 2009!

As always, if you have comments or financial questions for me, send them to gkratz@desnews.com or to the Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110. Or post your comments online in the "Family finances" section of the Deseret News "Life Talk" message boards at lifetalk.deseretnews.com.

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E-mail: gkratz@desnews.com