One look at the headlines and it's easy to see -- the economy is something that everyone is talking about. But are the troubles in Washington something that each of us should be worrying about?

According to Money Coach Bill Stanley, the answer is simple: we should only worry about things we can control. That leaves out the economy, interest rates, the national debt, unemployment rates and everything else you can't control, he said.

When it comes to our money, we should however be concerned about the people we choose to handle it.

"From my point of view, my industry, the financial industry, has the highest percentage of incompetent people in any industry I've worked in," he said. "And it has an extraordinary number of downright greedy people. We should all worry about this when we select someone to help us with our finances."

It's all part of taking control of our finances. Stanley offered this analysis:

"Look at our jobs -- we get paid what the boss thinks we are worth, and that depends on our education and our work ethic," he said. "The paycheck is what the paycheck is. It's not something to worry about.

"What we can control... and what we should worry about... is how we spend our paycheck."

Here are 5 "big things" that Stanley said we should be concerned about when it comes to money:

1) You should worry if you are spending more money than you make or if you are not sure if you are spending more that you make. We control what we spend.

2) If you have a credit card and you can't pay off the balance at the end of the month, you should be worried. You are in financial trouble now, and you had better admit it to yourself and you best make some changes in the way you handle your money.

3) Worry if you don't have an emergency fund to cover a minimum of three months basic expenditures like food, shelter, transportation, and insurance.

4) If someone depends on you, you should worry that you have enough life insurance.

5) Finally, you should step back and think about your life. Twenty years growing up and getting educated; then 35-40 years working; and finally another 35-40 years in retirement. You should worry about how you will take care of yourself in retirement if you aren't putting money aside now.

The bottom line, Stanley said, is this: Don't spend your time worrying about things you can't control -- just prepare for whatever might happen. Only worry about things you, yourself, can control... like your personal finances.

Bill Stanley and Money Matters airs every Tuesday on FOX21 Morning News.
If you have a money question, contact Bill directly: moneycoachbill@aol.com