9 hard truths about money every adult should learn to accept

Money is serious business.

That's never more apparent than when you see taxes come out of your paycheck, or calculate the price tag on the European vacation you want so badly, or watch your credit card payment get deducted from your checking account.

In fact, it's often when money doesn't feel real that we find ourselves in financial trouble. That's where you encounter people who rack up thousands in debt before realizing or lottery winners who spend what seems like an endless supply of cash. When you don't recognize the truth, you can get in trouble ... fast.

Below, find nine hard truths every adult should learn to accept about money.