The Money Answer Book by Ramsey, Dave -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

COVER PAGE TITLE PAGE COPYRIGHT PAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS THE BASICS

WHAT ARE THE BABY STEPS? WHAT COUNTS AS TAXABLE INCOME? DOES THE NATIONAL ECONOMY REALLY AFFECT MY PERSONAL ECONOMY? WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL PRINCIPLE? (THE ANSWER MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.) WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH DEBIT CARDS AND CREDIT CARDS? DO I NEED SEPARATE ACCOUNTS FOR CHECKING AND SAVINGS?

DEBT, CREDIT & BANKRUPTCY

HOW DO I GET THE BALL ROLLING TO GET OUT OF DEBT? WHY SHOULD I PAY OFF MY SMALLEST DEBTS FIRST INSTEAD OF STARTING WITH THE HIGHEST INTEREST RATES? MONEY ACTION HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO BE OUT OF DEBT? Getting out of debt takes getting mad. It takes the willingness to live off rice and beans for a while. It takes getting a second or third job and selling stuff. ISN’T SOME DEBT GOOD? IS IT OKAY TO BUY STUFF WHILE I’M STILL IN DEBT? ISN’T THERE A POSITIVE USE OF CREDIT CARDS? LIKE REBATES AND AIRLINE MILES? CAN DEBTS HURT MY MILITARY STATUS? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY INQUIRIES ON MY CREDIT REPORT AND WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS? WHAT ARE THESE STRANGE TERMS ON MY CREDIT REPORT? DOES IT HELP TO TRANSFER CREDIT CARD DEBT TO ANOTHER CARD? HOW ELSE DO THE CREDIT SHARKS BITE? I’M GOING TO CASH OUT MY 401(K) TO PAY OFF MY DEBTS. GOOD IDEA? WHAT ABOUT DEBT CONSOLIDATION OR COMPANIES THAT PROMISE TO CLEAN UP MY CREDIT? WHAT ABOUT CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING? SHOULD I SELL MY HOUSE TO GET OUT OF DEBT? I’M ABLE TO PAY EXTRA TO CREDITORS. WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PARENTS’ DEBTS AFTER THEY DIE? OOPS! I RAN UP $250,000 ON CREDIT CARDS. WHAT NOW? HOW SHOULD I HANDLE COLLECTIONS PEOPLE? WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP HARASSMENT FROM CREDITORS? I CO–SIGNED ON A LOAN. HOW DO I GET OUT OF IT? WHAT IF THAT PERSON IS DECLARING BANKRUPTCY? MEDICAL BILLS ARE PILING UP, AND I DON’T HAVE INSURANCE. IS BANKRUPTCY THE ANSWER? I’M TRYING TO REESTABLISH MY CREDIT AFTER BANKRUPTCY. WILL A LOW–LIMIT CREDIT CARD HELP? HELP! MY CAR IS ABOUT TO BE REPO’D! WHAT SHOULD I DO? HELP! SOMEONE OPENED A CREDIT CARD USING MY NAME! WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHAT IS BANKRUPTCY? MONEY ACTION

RELATIONSHIPS & MONEY

HOW IMPORTANT IS FINANCIAL COUNSELING BEFORE WE GET MARRIED? SHOULD I HELP PAY MY SWEETIE’S DEBTS BEFORE WE GET MARRIED? SHOULD WE HAVE JOINT OR SEPARATE ACCOUNTS? WILL MY FIANCÉ’S BAD CREDIT AFFECT MY GOOD RATING? HELP! MY SWEETIE WON’T KICK THE CREDIT CARD HABIT! WHAT CAN I DO? I’M DECEIVING MY SPOUSE ABOUT MONEY. HOW CAN I COME CLEAN? I’M BETTER WITH MONEY, BUT MY SPOUSE IS MORE FORCEFUL ABOUT IT. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WIN THE LOTTERY? MY HUSBAND JUST LEFT ME. HOW DO I PROTECT MY CREDIT? MY SPOUSE’S SPENDING IS SINKING THE FAMILY. SHOULD WE CALL IT QUITS? WE’VE SEPARATED AND NOW I MIGHT BE BANKRUPT. SHOULD I FILE? MY EX ISN’T PAYING CHILD SUPPORT, AND I DON’T EARN MUCH. HOW CAN I MAKE IT? WE’RE TRYING TO ADOPT. SHOULD WE WAIT TO PAY CASH, OR SHOULD WE BORROW THE MONEY? WHY SHOULD WE TEACH KIDS ABOUT MONEY? WHEN SHOULD I START MY KID ON AN ALLOWANCE? WHY PAY KIDS COMMISSION FOR THINGS THEY SHOULD DO ANYWAY? WHAT’S A BASIC WAY TO TEACH MY CHILDREN HOW TO HANDLE MONEY? AREN’T PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE LESSONS INVESTMENTS INTO A CHILD’S FUTURE? SHOULD YOU EVER BUY A CAR FOR YOUR CHILD? MY KID WON’T SPEND HER MONEY. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I’M BROKE AND MY SON MOVED BACK IN. WHAT SHOULD I DO? MY PARENTS ARE FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. HOW CAN I HELP THEM? HOW CAN I FORGIVE THEM FOR TEACHING ME THEIR BAD HABITS?

BUDGETING

HOW DO I GET STARTED ON MANAGING MY MONEY? WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR STICKING TO A BUDGET? WHAT IS THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM? MY INCOME IS IRREGULAR. HOW CAN I MAKE A BUDGET? MONEY ACTION

SAVING & INVESTING

IS SAVING REALLY THAT IMPORTANT? WHAT IS THE SECRET TO SAVING? HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH INVESTING? WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF INVESTING? WILL I RETIRE WITH MORE MONEY IF IT’S INVESTED IN A ROTH OR A TRADITIONAL IRA? WHAT TYPES OF INVESTMENT PLANS MIGHT I BE OFFERED? HOW DO I SET SHORT–TERM AND LONG–TERM INVESTING GOALS? IS A SMALL MUTUAL FUND A GOOD WEDDING GIFT? I HAD A 401(K) WITH A COMPANY THAT WENT BROKE. DO I STILL GET THE MONEY? SHOULD I CASH OUT OR ROLL OVER MY 401(K)? HOW CAN I INVEST IN MUTUAL FUNDS WITH COMPANIES THAT ALIGN WITH MY SPIRITUAL VALUES?

20–SOMETHINGS, COLLEGE & STUDENT LOANS

WHAT ARE THE FOUR NEVERS OF COLLEGE SAVING? HOW CAN I AVOID STUDENT LOANS? WHEN DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GO TO COLLEGE? WHAT ARE THE BASICS ON ESAS, EDUCATIONAL IRAS, 529S, AND UTMAS? MY SON LOST HIS SCHOLARSHIP. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? I’M A STUDENT AND I’M BEHIND ON BILLS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

STEWARDSHIP

IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO ‘PAUSE’ TITHING IN TOUGH FINANCIAL TIMES? IS IT RIGHT TO COUNT MY CHURCH TITHES ON MY TAX RETURNS? SHOULD MY CHURCH BORROW FOR A NEW BUILDING? I’M MAKING MORE MONEY NOW. HOW SHOULD I INCREASE MY GIVING ABOVE THE TITHE?

INSURANCE

WHAT KINDS OF INSURANCE DO I ACTUAL LY NEED? WHAT KIND OF LIFE INSURANCE SHOULD I GET FOR MY CHILD AND FOR MY SPOUSE? WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN GOOD HOME INSURANCE?

RETIREMENT & ESTATE PLANNING

WHEN IS IT TOO LATE TO START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT? IS A SEPP A GOOD PLAN FOR THE SELF–EMPLOYED? WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT? SHOULD I PRE–PAY FOR MY FUNERAL? WHAT IS A WILL? DO I REALLY NEED A WILL? WHAT IS A LIVING TRUST?

AUTOMOBILES

FOUR TIPS FOR BUYING A VEHICLE: SHOULD I BUY OR LEASE A CAR? WHY BUY A USED CAR INSTEAD OF A NEW ONE? BUT I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT THAT CAR! CAN SOMEONE JUST TAKE OVER THE PAYMENTS ON A CAR LOAN? HOW CAN I GET OUT OF MY CAR LEASE? ARE EXTENDED WARRANTIES A GOOD DEAL?

REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGES

ARE WE READY TO BUY A HOUSE? HOW AGGRESSIVE SHOULD I BE ON PAYING OFF THE HOUSE? CAN I QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE WITH NO CREDIT? WHICH IS BETTER—AN ADJUSTABLE OR FIXED RATE LOAN? WHAT ARE ‘POINTS’ AND PMI? WHAT IS AN 80/20 MORTGAGE AND IS IT A GOOD IDEA?

MORE RESOURCES ABOUT DAVE, FPU, AND THE ‘DAVE RAMSEY SHOW’

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