The Everything Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s Book · Eliminate Your Debt, Manage Your Money, and Build for an Exciting Financial Future (Everything®) by Davidoff, Howard -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Contents Acknowledgments Top 10 Personal Finance Tips Introduction Chapter 1: Setting Goals: Your Financial Road Map

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 Set 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 or Credit Union Online Banking Banking Costs Overdraft Protection Automated Teller Machines Debit Cards 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! Protecting Yourself Against Losses The Credit CARD Act of 2009

Chapter 6: Digging Out of Credit Card Debt

Your Credit Report and How It Works Paying Down Debt on Your Own Finance Companies and 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 Bankruptcy as a Debt Management Tool Avoiding Financial Scams and Schemes The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Chapter 8: Living with Student Loans

Stafford Loans Federal Perkins Loans PLUS Loans Keep Track of the Interest Rates Defaulting on Your Student Loan Rehabilitating Your Defaulted Loan Resolving Student Loan Disputes Consolidating Your Student Loans A Tax Break Income-Based Repayment Plans Creative Financing for Your Children

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? The True Cost of Happiness

Chapter 10: Moving On: Finding New Living Space

Your Housing Options Finding an Apartment Signing the Lease Deposits and Other Charges Renting with Roommates Renters’ Insurance Cost of Living Differences Automotive Costs Related to Moving Tax Issues Related to Moving

Chapter 11: Buying a Home

Getting Ready for Home Ownership How Mortgages Work Types of Mortgages Choosing the Best Mortgage for You The Home-Buying Process Making and Negotiating the Purchase Closing the Deal Home Ownership Tax Savings Be Prepared for Other Expenses Owning a Condo Owning a Co-Op

Chapter 12: Living with a Mortgage

Planning Home Improvements Building a Home Home-Equity Loans and Lines of Credit Escrow Accounts Refinancing Your Mortgage Tax Deductibility of Mortgage Interest Prepaying Your Mortgage Facing Foreclosure The Short Sale Alternative

Chapter 13: Getting Deals on Wheels

New or Used? Paying for a New Car What about Leasing? Negotiating the Price The True Cost of Ownership Extended Warranties Buying Credit Life Insurance

Chapter 14: Marriage and Family

Tying the Financial Knot Do You Need a Prenuptial Agreement? Planning an Affordable Wedding What about 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 Nonmarital 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 Credits and Deductions

Chapter 17: Investing: Profits and Risks

The Big Picture Investing in Stocks Investing in Bonds Mutual Funds Alternative Investments Using a Financial Planner Sample Investment Allocations Investing in a Low Interest Rate Environment

Chapter 18: Retirement: Planning for Tomorrow

The Younger, the Better Defined-Benefit Plans Defined-Contribution Plans 401(k) Plans 403(b) and 457 Plans Individual Retirement Accounts Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) Small Business Plans Choosing the Right Investments A Word on Social Security

Chapter 19: Insurance and Estate Planning

Life Insurance Health Insurance and COBRA Disability Insurance Homeowner’s and Auto Insurance Other Types of Insurance What Is Estate Planning? Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way Durable Power of Attorney for Finances Probate and Trusts Estate Taxes

Chapter 20: Living in a Postrecession World

Be a More Savvy Consumer Institute a Savings Program Investing in a Postrecession World Keep Your Investment Decisions Simple

Appendix A: Glossary of Financial Terms Appendix B: Internet Resources Copyright