Consumer Dummies0470345462, 978-0-470-34546-7
Table of contents :
Managing Your Money……Page 1
Managing Your Money……Page 3
UNKNOWN……Page 0
Contents at a Glance……Page 11
Table of Contents……Page 13
xii……Page 14
xiii……Page 15
xiv……Page 16
xv……Page 17
xvi……Page 18
xvii……Page 19
xviii……Page 20
Introduction……Page 21
How This Book Is Organized……Page 22
3……Page 23
4……Page 24
5……Page 25
Where to Go from Here……Page 26
Taking Charge of Your Finances……Page 27
Assessing Where You Are Financially……Page 29
Your Relationship with Money……Page 30
Checking Out Your Credit Reports……Page 31
12……Page 32
Finding Out Your FICO Score……Page 33
Comparing Spending and Income……Page 34
15……Page 35
16……Page 36
17……Page 37
18……Page 38
Assessing Your Spending Habits……Page 39
20……Page 40
Cataloging What You Own……Page 41
22……Page 42
Adding Up What You Owe……Page 43
24……Page 44
25……Page 45
26……Page 46
Improving Your Relationship with Money……Page 47
Working with Your Partner to Achieve Financial Goals……Page 48
29……Page 49
30……Page 50
31……Page 51
32……Page 52
33……Page 53
Believing in Yourself……Page 54
35……Page 55
Handling Setbacks……Page 56
37……Page 57
Asking for Help……Page 58
Digging Out of Debt……Page 59
40……Page 60
Budgeting for the Future……Page 61
42……Page 62
43……Page 63
44……Page 64
Building and Sticking to a Budget……Page 65
Comparing Monthly Spending and Income……Page 66
47……Page 67
48……Page 68
49……Page 69
Tackling a Budget Deficit……Page 70
51……Page 71
52……Page 72
Paying the Important Stuff If You Can’t Pay Everything……Page 73
54……Page 74
Examining a Budget Surplus……Page 75
Finalizing and Sticking to Your Budget……Page 76
57……Page 77
58……Page 78
59……Page 79
60……Page 80
Finding Ways to Spend Less……Page 81
62……Page 82
63……Page 83
64……Page 84
65……Page 85
66……Page 86
67……Page 87
68……Page 88
69……Page 89
70……Page 90
71……Page 91
72……Page 92
Bringing in More Bucks……Page 93
74……Page 94
75……Page 95
76……Page 96
77……Page 97
78……Page 98
79……Page 99
80……Page 100
Understanding Why a Credit Report Is Important……Page 101
82……Page 102
What Is a Credit Report, Anyway?……Page 103
84……Page 104
85……Page 105
Understanding How Bad Stuff Gets in Your Credit Report……Page 106
87……Page 107
88……Page 108
89……Page 109
Deciphering Your Credit Score……Page 110
91……Page 111
92……Page 112
Examining Specialized Credit Bureaus……Page 113
94……Page 114
95……Page 115
96……Page 116
Managing Home and Personal Finances……Page 117
Reaching Out to Touch Someone……Page 119
100……Page 120
Saving on Climate Control……Page 121
102……Page 122
103……Page 123
104……Page 124
105……Page 125
Cutting Back on Electricity and Gas Use……Page 126
107……Page 127
Trash Talk: Controlling Garbage Costs……Page 128
109……Page 129
Cutting Down on Water Use……Page 130
Keeping a Ceiling on Housing Budgets……Page 131
112……Page 132
113……Page 133
114……Page 134
Cutting Transportation Costs……Page 135
116……Page 136
117……Page 137
118……Page 138
119……Page 139
Purchasing Appliances……Page 140
121……Page 141
122……Page 142
Home Ownership and Choosing the Right Mortgage……Page 143
Mortgage Basics……Page 144
Assessing Your Financial Situation……Page 145
126……Page 146
127……Page 147
128……Page 148
129……Page 149
Is a Fixed-Rate Mortgage in Your Future?……Page 150
131……Page 151
132……Page 152
Adjusting to an Adjustable-Rate Loan……Page 153
134……Page 154
135……Page 155
Deciding What Loan Is Best for You……Page 156
137……Page 157
138……Page 158
Avoiding Foreclosure……Page 159
Understanding That Mortgages Are a Different Credit Animal……Page 160
141……Page 161
142……Page 162
143……Page 163
144……Page 164
145……Page 165
146……Page 166
Alternatives to Going Down with the Ship……Page 167
148……Page 168
149……Page 169
150……Page 170
Dealing with Deficiencies……Page 171
152……Page 172
Saving on Medical Expenses……Page 173
154……Page 174
Discovering What Makes a Great Health Insurance Plan……Page 175
Deciding Between Individual and Group……Page 176
157……Page 177
Saving Money on Individual Coverage……Page 178
159……Page 179
160……Page 180
Coping with Health Insurance Problems……Page 181
162……Page 182
163……Page 183
164……Page 184
165……Page 185
166……Page 186
167……Page 187
168……Page 188
169……Page 189
170……Page 190
171……Page 191
Taking Decisive Action……Page 192
173……Page 193
174……Page 194
175……Page 195
176……Page 196
Using the Internet to Help Manage Your Finances……Page 197
Giving Yourself an Online Financial Makeover……Page 198
179……Page 199
Using the Internet to Budget……Page 200
181……Page 201
182……Page 202
Finding Online Resources to Track Your Income and Expenses……Page 203
184……Page 204
Using the Internet to Get Free Financial Advice……Page 205
Finding Out What You’re Worth……Page 206
187……Page 207
188……Page 208
Dealing with Debt……Page 209
Tackling What You Owe……Page 211
Taking Stock of Your Finances……Page 212
Using a Budget to Get Out of Debt……Page 213
Taking the Right Steps When You Have Too Much Debt……Page 214
195……Page 215
Handling Debt Collectors……Page 216
197……Page 217
Getting a Financial Education……Page 218
199……Page 219
200……Page 220
201……Page 221
202……Page 222
Understanding How Credit Works……Page 223
Defining Credit: Spending Tomorrow’s Money Today……Page 224
205……Page 225
Meeting the Cast of Characters in the Credit Story……Page 226
207……Page 227
Understanding the Consequences of Bad Credit……Page 228
209……Page 229
210……Page 230
Dealing with a Thin Credit File……Page 231
212……Page 232
Identity Theft: The Crime That Turns Good Credit Bad……Page 233
214……Page 234
Knowing When Debt Consolidation Makes Sense……Page 235
Considering Your Options……Page 236
217……Page 237
218……Page 238
219……Page 239
220……Page 240
221……Page 241
222……Page 242
223……Page 243
224……Page 244
225……Page 245
Avoiding Dangerous Debt-Consolidation Possibilities……Page 246
Negotiating with Creditors and Getting Help……Page 247
Getting Ready to Negotiate……Page 248
229……Page 249
230……Page 250
231……Page 251
Getting Down to Business: Contacting Creditors……Page 252
233……Page 253
Making the Agreement Official: Putting It in Writing……Page 254
Knowing the Deal with Credit Counseling……Page 255
Finding a Reputable Credit Counseling Agency……Page 256
237……Page 257
238……Page 258
239……Page 259
Working with a Credit Counselor……Page 260
241……Page 261
242……Page 262
Avoiding Debt Settlement Firms……Page 263
Getting Relief If You Get Ripped Off……Page 264
245……Page 265
246……Page 266
Considering Bankruptcy……Page 267
Viewing Bankruptcy in a Historical Context……Page 268
249……Page 269
Debunking Bankruptcy Myths……Page 270
251……Page 271
252……Page 272
Understanding What You Can Gain Through Bankruptcy……Page 273
254……Page 274
255……Page 275
256……Page 276
257……Page 277
Knowing What You Can Lose in Bankruptcy……Page 278
Considering Alternatives to Bankruptcy……Page 279
Introducing the Different Types of Personal Bankruptcy……Page 280
Weighing the Consequences of Not Filing Bankruptcy……Page 281
262……Page 282
Using the Statute of Limitations……Page 283
264……Page 284
Saving and Investing……Page 285
Becoming a Saver……Page 287
Eliminating Most of the Fat……Page 288
269……Page 289
Lowering Your Debt……Page 290
271……Page 291
Changing Your Perspective and Watching Your Savings Grow……Page 292
273……Page 293
274……Page 294
275……Page 295
276……Page 296
277……Page 297
Saving While in Debt……Page 298
279……Page 299
280……Page 300
Investing in Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds……Page 301
Stock: Owning a Piece of the Rock……Page 302
283……Page 303
284……Page 304
285……Page 305
Buying Bonds for Fixed Income……Page 306
287……Page 307
288……Page 308
289……Page 309
Mutual Funds: The Power of Many……Page 310
291……Page 311
292……Page 312
Doing It Your Way Versus Using a Broker……Page 313
294……Page 314
295……Page 315
Five Common Investing Mistakes……Page 316
297……Page 317
298……Page 318
299……Page 319
300……Page 320
Saving for Retirement……Page 321
Setting a Target Date for Retirement……Page 322
303……Page 323
304……Page 324
305……Page 325
306……Page 326
Calculating the Size of Your Nest Egg……Page 327
308……Page 328
309……Page 329
310……Page 330
Developing a Retirement Savings Plan……Page 331
312……Page 332
313……Page 333
314……Page 334
315……Page 335
316……Page 336
317……Page 337
318……Page 338
Saving for College……Page 339
Doing the Numbers……Page 340
Exploring Section 529 Plans……Page 341
But Wait! There’s More!……Page 342
323……Page 343
Maximizing Your Savings, Minimizing Your Tax……Page 344
Checking Out the Cost of College……Page 345
326……Page 346
327……Page 347
328……Page 348
Looking into the Costs of Various Types of Schools……Page 349
330……Page 350
331……Page 351
332……Page 352
Working with an Online Broker……Page 353
Sorting Them Out: Selecting an Online Broker……Page 354
335……Page 355
336……Page 356
337……Page 357
338……Page 358
339……Page 359
340……Page 360
Opening Your Online Brokerage Account……Page 361
Ready, Set, Go! Making Your First Online Trade……Page 362
343……Page 363
344……Page 364
Knowing When to Hold and When to Fold……Page 365
346……Page 366
Protecting Your Money and Assets……Page 367
Combating Identity Theft……Page 369
Protecting Yourself from Identity Thieves……Page 370
351……Page 371
352……Page 372
353……Page 373
354……Page 374
355……Page 375
356……Page 376
Spotting Identify Theft When It Happens……Page 377
358……Page 378
359……Page 379
When Identity Theft Happens to You……Page 380
361……Page 381
362……Page 382
363……Page 383
364……Page 384
Accessing Credit after Identity Theft……Page 385
366……Page 386
367……Page 387
368……Page 388
Online and Traditional Banks……Page 389
370……Page 390
Accounting for Your Accounts……Page 391
372……Page 392
Choosing an Online Bank That’s Right for You……Page 393
374……Page 394
375……Page 395
376……Page 396
377……Page 397
378……Page 398
Opening Your Online Bank Account……Page 399
380……Page 400
Introducing the Six Parts of a Homeowner’s Policy……Page 401
382……Page 402
383……Page 403
384……Page 404
385……Page 405
386……Page 406
387……Page 407
388……Page 408
Choosing the Right Homeowner’s Property Coverages……Page 409
390……Page 410
391……Page 411
Establishing Property Coverage Limits……Page 412
393……Page 413
394……Page 414
395……Page 415
396……Page 416
Documenting Your Claim……Page 417
398……Page 418
399……Page 419
400……Page 420
Managing Your Lawsuit Risks……Page 421
402……Page 422
403……Page 423
404……Page 424
405……Page 425
406……Page 426
Insuring Your Personal Injuries……Page 427
408……Page 428
409……Page 429
410……Page 430
Dealing with Damage to Your Vehicle……Page 431
412……Page 432
413……Page 433
414……Page 434
415……Page 435
Evaluating Road Service and Car Rental Coverages……Page 436
Assessing the Need……Page 437
418……Page 438
Determining How Much Coverage You Need……Page 439
420……Page 440
Speaking the Language……Page 441
422……Page 442
Understanding the Types of Life Insurance……Page 443
424……Page 444
Understanding the Variations of Permanent Life Insurance……Page 445
426……Page 446
427……Page 447
428……Page 448
429……Page 449
430……Page 450
Understanding the Variations of Term Life Insurance……Page 451
432……Page 452
433……Page 453
434……Page 454
Making Your Choice……Page 455
Evaluating Life Insurance Sources……Page 456
437……Page 457
438……Page 458
439……Page 459
Debunking Myths and Mistakes……Page 460
441……Page 461
442……Page 462
443……Page 463
444……Page 464
Filing Federal Taxes……Page 465
446……Page 466
Filing State Taxes……Page 467
Coming Up with Deductions……Page 468
449……Page 469
Avoiding Tax Mistakes……Page 470
Facing the Dreaded Audit……Page 471
452……Page 472
453……Page 473
What Can Happen If You Don’t Pay on Time……Page 474
455……Page 475
456……Page 476
457……Page 477
458……Page 478
459……Page 479
460……Page 480
461……Page 481
462……Page 482
Coping with Interest and Penalties……Page 483
Dealing with Liens and Levies for Past-Due Taxes……Page 484
465……Page 485
466……Page 486
467……Page 487
468……Page 488
Getting Help……Page 489
470……Page 490
471……Page 491
472……Page 492
Retiring Comfortably……Page 493
401( k) and 403( b) Retirement Investing……Page 495
What a 401( k) Does for You……Page 496
477……Page 497
478……Page 498
Saving Without Tears……Page 499
Letting the Pros Work for You……Page 500
Improving Your Chances of an Ideal Retirement……Page 501
Protecting Your Money……Page 502
483……Page 503
Watching Out for Potential Pitfalls……Page 504
485……Page 505
403( b): Different Name, Same Tax Breaks……Page 506
You Can: Contribution Info……Page 507
Trekking Through Your Investment Options……Page 508
Withdrawing Money: Watch Out for That Fee!……Page 509
Understanding ERISA Versus Non-ERISA 403( b) Plans……Page 510
491……Page 511
Finding Out Rules for Church Plans……Page 512
493……Page 513
494……Page 514
Retiring Your Way: IRAs……Page 515
Why an IRA?……Page 516
The ABCs of IRAs……Page 517
498……Page 518
499……Page 519
500……Page 520
501……Page 521
502……Page 522
Traditional IRAs……Page 523
504……Page 524
Roth IRAs: The New Kid in Town……Page 525
Making the Most of Your IRA……Page 526
507……Page 527
508……Page 528
Understanding Reverse Mortgages……Page 529
510……Page 530
511……Page 531
512……Page 532
513……Page 533
Choosing a Loan Product……Page 534
Figuring Out the People in Your Mortgage……Page 535
516……Page 536
517……Page 537
518……Page 538
Getting Paid……Page 539
520……Page 540
521……Page 541
522……Page 542
Managing Money in Retirement……Page 543
Decisions, Decisions: What to Do with Your 401( k) Money……Page 544
525……Page 545
526……Page 546
Paying Uncle Sam His Due: Required Withdrawals……Page 547
528……Page 548
Strategizing to Deal with the Tax Man……Page 549
530……Page 550
Managing Investments in Retirement……Page 551
532……Page 552
Managing Risk and Maximizing Return……Page 553
534……Page 554
Living within Your Means for Life……Page 555
536……Page 556
Generating Predictable Income……Page 557
538……Page 558
539……Page 559
540……Page 560
Online Retirement Planning……Page 561
Pop Quiz: How Ready Are You for Retirement?……Page 562
Developing a Retirement Plan……Page 563
544……Page 564
545……Page 565
Using the Internet to Determine How Much You Need to Live On……Page 566
547……Page 567
548……Page 568
549……Page 569
550……Page 570
Saving for Retirement……Page 571
552……Page 572
553……Page 573
554……Page 574
555……Page 575
556……Page 576
Planning Your Estate and Will……Page 577
Fundamentals of Estate Planning……Page 579
What Is an Estate?……Page 580
561……Page 581
562……Page 582
563……Page 583
564……Page 584
565……Page 585
Why You Need to Plan Your Estate……Page 586
567……Page 587
Why Your Estate-Planning Goals Differ from Your Neighbors’……Page 588
569……Page 589
The Critical Path Method to Planning Your Estate……Page 590
571……Page 591
Getting Help with Your Estate Planning……Page 592
573……Page 593
574……Page 594
575……Page 595
576……Page 596
577……Page 597
578……Page 598
Where There’s a Will……Page 599
Planning for Your Will……Page 600
Getting to Know the Different Types of Wills……Page 601
582……Page 602
583……Page 603
Choosing Your Will’s Contents……Page 604
585……Page 605
586……Page 606
587……Page 607
588……Page 608
589……Page 609
Safeguarding Your Will……Page 610
Changing, Amending, and Revoking Your Will……Page 611
592……Page 612
Protecting Your Loved Ones from Your Unloved Ones……Page 613
Figuring Out Your Will Status……Page 614
595……Page 615
596……Page 616
Making Your Peace with Statutes That Affect Your Will……Page 617
Identifying Statutes That Your Will Can Change……Page 618
599……Page 619
600……Page 620
601……Page 621
602……Page 622
603……Page 623
Living ( And Dying) with the Laws That Your Will Can’t Change……Page 624
605……Page 625
606……Page 626
607……Page 627
608……Page 628
609……Page 629
610……Page 630
Calculating Your Estate’s Value Online……Page 631
Understanding Wills and Trusts……Page 632
613……Page 633
614……Page 634
Getting the Basics of Trusts……Page 635
Trusting in Living Trust to Avoid Probate……Page 636
617……Page 637
Joint Tenancy and Beneficiary Arrangements……Page 638
619……Page 639
620……Page 640
Customizing Estate Planning for All Ages……Page 641
622……Page 642
623……Page 643
Selecting an Estate Planner……Page 644
Preparing to Meet Your Estate Planner……Page 645
626……Page 646
Understanding Power of Attorney……Page 647
628……Page 648
629……Page 649
Determining Necessity……Page 650
631……Page 651
632……Page 652
Finding an Elder Law Attorney……Page 653
634……Page 654
635……Page 655
Using a Living Trust as an Alternative……Page 656
637……Page 657
638……Page 658
Index……Page 659
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