Melissa Ross is a disciplined, upbeat woman with a rewarding career and family. She shares her philosophy in her e-mail sign-off, quoting the writer-scholar Joseph Campbell: ``Live with passion!''

With a master's degree in public health and an undergraduate degree in recreation and leisure services, Ross works for the federal government managing employee health education and wellness programs. She helps people quit bad habits, like smoking, and embrace active, wholesome lifestyles.

But Ross, fit and trim at 46, is less confident about building financial muscle and bulking up her retirement portfolio. ''I'm so simple in terms of my money, and that's not fair to me,'' she said. ``There are decisions I'm sitting on because I don't know what to do.''

Enter certified financial planner Elaine King to give Ross a Money Makeover. Ross filled out a detailed questionnaire about her income and expenses, her assets and debts, her wish lists and concerns before she met with King.

She got some good news upfront: ''a perfect credit score,'' King said.

But Ross, who describes herself as a ''single mother by choice,'' has more than herself to worry about. She's the mother of 4-year-old Zachary.

''As a single woman supporting my son with only one income, I need to be very careful about my choices,'' she said. ``If I were to marry, this would, of course, change my financial situation.''

Ross' short-term goals -- which King agreed should be priorities -- are to secure more cash in an emergency fund and pay off a recent $6,000 loan that she borrowed against her Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) -- the federal government's 401(k)-style retirement fund. With that low-interest loan Ross paid off other debt, beefed up her cash fund a bit and financed her move to a larger rental home in Pinecrest.

Ross wanted advice on whether to buy a newer car or keep repairing her ailing 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. She also was curious about whether it made sense for her to buy a home rather than rent.

As far as retirement goes, she's saving diligently but has no idea when, or even if, she'll have enough money to finance her retirement.

In a month with no surprises, Ross has a few hundred dollars of discretionary income left after paying bills.

King said Ross should sock away as much of that as possible in her emergency fund, which needs to grow to a minimum of $14,000. (Ross currently has about $3,000 cash.)

NO MORE LUXURIES

To get to the point where she usually spends less than she's earning, Ross has dropped the simple luxuries of her pre-parenthood life, including pedicures, hair- salon visits, new clothes and vacations. ''I've really cut back, and I've noticed I have more money at the end of the month,'' she said.

Her big fixed monthly expenses include her rent of $1,600 and Zachary's child-care, which costs $600. Automatic deductions from her paycheck or checking account include $322 for her retirement (5 percent of her salary that is matched by the federal government, plus $44 toward her pension) and $91 to Zachary's Florida Prepaid College Fund.

When Ross is able, she adds to a 529 education savings account for Zachary, which King said is properly invested in an aggressive-growth portfolio (44 percent), a moderate-growth age-based portfolio (35 percent), and a bond market index portfolio (20 percent).

King noted that Ross overpaid her income taxes by $3,500 last year, receiving a large refund after filing. Ross could choose to increase her personal allowances on the IRS W-4 form so that less money would be withheld from her paycheck. That would give her a steady flow of ''extra'' cash each payday.

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