Table of Contents
Praise
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART I - HOUSES Home of Savings
CHAPTER 1 - Buy a House ASAP
Why You Should Buy
When to Buy
CHAPTER 2 - How Much Should You Spend?
Figuring Out What You Can Afford
A Better Way
Don’t Stretch for a House
CHAPTER 3 - Doing the Deal
Saving Big on Real Estate Agents’ Fees
The All- Important Offer
CHAPTER 4 - Getting a Good Mortgage
Picking the Right Mortgage Product
FHA Loans
Moving Parts of a Mortgage
CHAPTER 5 - Choosing a Mortgage Professional
Get Three Good Faith Estimates
How Mortgage Brokers and Bankers Make Money
How to Compare Good Faith Estimates
CHAPTER 6 - Cut Your Closing Costs
Lender Charges
Title Charges
Government Charges
Going to Closing
CHAPTER 7 - Appeal Your Property Taxes
Look for the Opportunity to SAVE BIG
Understanding Property Taxes
Appealing Your Tax Assessment
Results That Last Years
CHAPTER 8 - When to Refinance
Should You Refinance?
Reduce More Than Just the Rate
CHAPTER 9 - Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
A Guaranteed Gain
Silencing the Naysayers
Where’s the Money Going to Come From?
The Logistics of Prepaying Your Mortgage
CHAPTER 10 - Sell Your House Yourself
It’s the Price, Stupid
Underpricing Your FSBO
Agents Welcome
Negotiating the Deal
If All Else Fails
PART II - CARS The Cheaper Road
CHAPTER 11 - What to Buy
Never Buy a New Car
Always Buy a Used Car
Save Even More: Dark Horse Vehicles
CHAPTER 12 - What Can You Afford?
Cash Is King
Make Loans Short and Sweet
What Can You Afford If You Finance?
Shop for Outside Financing First
CHAPTER 13 - Where to Buy a Car
Getting a Used Car Fast
Getting a Used Car for Less
CHAPTER 14 - Choosing a Reliable Car
Narrowing It Down
The Number One Consumer Myth of All Time
Checking It Out
CHAPTER 15 - Bargaining for the Best Price
Research Pricing
How to Haggle
Closing the Deal
Real Results
CHAPTER 16 - Make Your Car Last
Repair or Replace
Finding a Great Mechanic
The Estimate
Two Ways Not to Pay
Secret Warranties
CHAPTER 17 - Car Insurance for Less
You’d Better Shop Around
Change Your Coverage
Diminished Value
PART III - CREDIT Loans for Less
CHAPTER 18 - Protecting Your Credit Reports
What Is a Credit Report, Really?
Getting Your Credit Report
Lies, Damn Lies
Disputing Errors
Why You Should Fight
Protecting Your File Going Forward
CHAPTER 19 - Understanding Your Credit Score
How Does a Report Become a Score?
How Is Your Credit Score Calculated?
FICO versus Fako Scores
How Do I Get My Score?
Why Does Your Score Matter?
CHAPTER 20 - Raising Your Credit Score
The Fundamentals
Flashy Moves
Hired Help: Rapid Rescoring
The Power of 100 Points
CHAPTER 21 - Cut Credit Card Debt
The Minimum Payment Mess
Old Fashioned Discipline
Newfangled Strategies
PART IV - GROCERIES Guerrilla Grocery Shopping
CHAPTER 22 - Price Matching
How to Price- Match
An Easier Way to Price- Match
Price Matching to the Rescue
How Much Can You Save?
CHAPTER 23 - Stockpiling
Know the Cost
Let Somebody Else Do the Work
Learn to See Sales Coming
Practical Considerations
Stockpile of Savings
CHAPTER 24 - Creative Couponing
Clicking Not Clipping
Coupon Combos
Coupon Combo Coaching
How BIG Are Our SAVINGS?
CHAPTER 25 - Wild Cards
Grocery Buying Clubs
Grocery Auctions
Couch Potato Shopping
PART V - HEALTHCARE Curing High Costs
CHAPTER 26 - Choosing a Health Insurance Plan
Raise Your Deductible
Pay As You Go
If You’ re Uninsured
CHAPTER 27 - Negotiating with Your Doctor
Approaching Your Doctor
Paying the Medicare Rate
Paying the Insurance Company Rate
Ask for a Payment Plan
CHAPTER 28 - Picking Your Prescriptions
What Medications to Take
Where to Get Your Medications
Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Medical Tests Are Prescriptions, Too!
CHAPTER 29 - Haggling with Hospitals
Before You Go
While You’ re There
Hospital Billing Errors
Conclusion
Index