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[TOC] Introduction Chapter 1: Setting Your Financial Goals Why Financial Goals Are Important Calculating Net Worth: Your Financial Snapshot Decide What You Want to Achieve Break It Down Evaluating Your Progress Educating Yourself About Money Matters Chapter 2: Guilt-free Budgeting It's All About Attitude Customizing Your Budget Setting Spending Goals by Category Monitor Your Progress Monthly Plug Any Spending Leaks Personal Finance Software Stay Motivated Chapter 3: The Secrets to Saving Money The Magic of Compounding The Rule of 72 The Danger of Inflation The Time Value of Money Building an Emergency Fund The Fun of Frugality Luxury Items and Loss of Value Chapter 4: Banking Basics Choosing a Bank Banking Costs Overdraft Protection Automated Teller Machines Debit Cards It's Time to Balance Your Checkbook Best Places to Stash Your Cash Chapter 5: Credit Cards 101 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly What's Out There Choosing What's Best for You If You Have Damaged Credit Using Credit Cards Wisely Pay It Off! Warning Signs of Too Much Debt Protecting Yourself Against Losses Chapter 6: Digging Out of Credit Card Debt Your Credit Report and How It Works Paying Down Debt on Your Own Getting Help from a Finance Company Bill Paying Services Transferring Credit Card Balances Borrowing From Your 401(k) Credit Counseling Service Negotiating with Credit Card Companies Avoiding Credit Repair Scams Chapter 7: Other Credit Issues Installment, Secured, and Unsecured Loans Creditors and Debt Collectors Filing for Bankruptcy Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Reorganization Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Liquidation Using Bankruptcy as a Debt Management Tool Avoiding Financial Scams and Schemes Chapter 8: Student Loans Stafford Loans Federal Perkins Loans Keep Track of the Interest Rates Defaulting on Your Student Loan Rehabilitating Your Defaulted Student Loan Resolving Student Loan Disputes Consolidating Your Student Loans A Tax Break Chapter 9: Show Me the Money: Work and Career Choosing a Job with Potential Your Worth to an Employer Negotiating Your Salary and Benefits Package Evaluating Your Employee Benefits Employee Ownership Plans Asking for a Raise Losing Your Job Without Losing Your Shirt So You Want to Be Your Own Boss? Chapter 10: Moving On: Finding New Living Space Your Housing Options Finding an Apartment Signing the Lease Deposits and Other Charges Renting with Roommates Renter's Insurance Cost of Living Differences Automotive Costs Related to Moving Tax Issues Related to Moving Chapter 11: Buying a Home Owning Isn't for Everyone Getting Ready for Home Ownership How Mortgages Work Types of Mortgages Choosing the Best Mortgage for You The Home Buying Process Closing the Deal Home Ownership Tax Savings Be Prepared for Other Expenses Chapter 12: Living with a Mortgage Planning Home Improvements Building a Home Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit Escrow Accounts Refinancing Your Mortgage Prepaying Your Mortgage Selling Your Home Facing Foreclosure Chapter 13: Getting Deals on Wheels New or Used? Paying for a New Car What about Leasing? Negotiating the Price Using a Car-buying Service Using the Internet The True Cost of Ownership Extended Warranties Buying Credit Life Insurance Chapter 14: Marriage and Family Tying the Financial Knot Do We Need a Pre-nuptial Agreement? Planning an Affordable Wedding Preparing for the Marriage Tax Penalty Beneficiaries, Name Changes, and Wills Planning for a Baby Can You Afford to Stay Home? Raising Financially Savvy Kids The Financial Impact of Divorce Chapter 15: Unwed But Not Unwise Moving in Together Non-marital Agreements Common Law Marriages Mingling Your Assets Buying a House Together Sharing Expenses Taxes for Unmarried Couples Other Issues Chapter 16: Minimizing Income Taxes Federal Income Taxes--the Basics Standard and Itemized Deductions Preparing Your Tax Return Hiring a Tax Accountant or Service Making Tax-wise Financial Decisions Keeping Good Tax Records Surviving an Audit When You Can't Pay Your Taxes Chapter 17. Investing: Profits and Risks The Big Picture Risk Tolerance and Asset Allocation Investing in Stocks Investing in Bonds Mutual Funds Using the Internet for Investment Research Using a Financial Planner Chapter 18: Retirement: Planning for Tomorrow The Younger, the Better Defined Benefit Plans Defined Contribution Plans 401(k) Plans 403(b) and 457(c) Plans Individual Retirements Accounts Keogh Plans Choosing the Right Investments A Word on Social Security Chapter 19: Insurance: Buying Security Life Insurance Health Insurance What about COBRA? Disability Insurance Homeowner's Insurance Auto Insurance Other Types of Insurance Chapter 20: Estate Planning In Your Twenties and Thirties Where There's a Will, There's a Way Serving as Executor of a Will Wishes for Your Final Arrangements Medical Directives and Living Wills Probate and Trusts Estate Taxes
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication: Generation X United States Finance, Personal, Finance, Personal United States, Investments United States