Introduction |
|
1 | (4) |
|
PART 1 FACING OFF AGAINST A RECESSION |
|
|
5 | (1) |
|
#1 Determining Your Net Worth |
|
|
6 | (9) |
|
#2 Calculating Spendable Income |
|
|
10 | (4) |
|
#3 Calculating Required Expenses |
|
|
14 | (3) |
|
#4 Calculating Discretionary Spending |
|
|
17 | (3) |
|
|
20 | (2) |
|
#6 Setting Spending Practices |
|
|
22 | (5) |
|
|
27 | (3) |
|
#8 Breathing Away Tension |
|
|
30 | (2) |
|
#9 Tensing Your Way to Relaxation |
|
|
32 | (3) |
|
#10 Stretching Away Your Stress |
|
|
35 | (2) |
|
#11 Practicing Habits of Effective Stress Managers |
|
|
37 | (4) |
|
PART 2 BUMPING UP YOUR BRING-HOME |
|
|
41 | (2) |
|
|
43 | (4) |
|
#13 Choosing the Right Resume Format |
|
|
47 | (2) |
|
#14 Making Your Resume Stand Out |
|
|
49 | (4) |
|
#15 Preparing for a Job Interview |
|
|
53 | (4) |
|
#16 Standing Out during an Interview |
|
|
57 | (3) |
|
#17 Dealing with Video Interviews |
|
|
60 | (2) |
|
#18 Employing Post-Interview Tactics |
|
|
62 | (2) |
|
#19 Trying Quick Ways to Find Good Jobs |
|
|
64 | (3) |
|
#20 Looking into Federal Jobs |
|
|
67 | (1) |
|
#21 Checking Out Best Career-Changing Tips |
|
|
68 | (2) |
|
#22 Figuring Out Whether You Should Change Your Career Course |
|
|
70 | (2) |
|
#23 Telecommuting as an Alternative to Traditional Work |
|
|
72 | (2) |
|
#24 Persuading Your Organization to Let You Work from Home |
|
|
74 | (2) |
|
#25 Considering Self-Employment |
|
|
76 | (2) |
|
#26 Getting Acquainted with Home-Based Businesses |
|
|
78 | (2) |
|
#27 Setting Up Your Home-Based Business |
|
|
80 | (8) |
|
#28 Taking a Few Steps Before Leaving Your Job |
|
|
88 | (2) |
|
#29 Getting the Cash Flowing |
|
|
90 | (2) |
|
#30 Surveying Tax Deductions Available to Home-Based Businesses |
|
|
92 | (2) |
|
#31 Recognizing Often Overlooked Ways to Save on Your Taxes |
|
|
94 | (2) |
|
#32 Ensuring the Survival of Your Home-Based Business in Tough Times |
|
|
96 | (4) |
|
#33 Boosting Your Household Income with a Side Hustle |
|
|
100 | (3) |
|
PART 3 PUTTING YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES ON FIRM FOOTING |
|
|
103 | (2) |
|
#34 Categorizing Your Financial Records |
|
|
105 | (2) |
|
#35 Setting Up a Filing System for Your Financial Records |
|
|
107 | (5) |
|
#36 Finding an Insurance Agent |
|
|
112 | (3) |
|
#37 Having a Balanced Insurance Program |
|
|
115 | (2) |
|
#38 Deciding between Permanent and Term Life Insurance |
|
|
117 | (2) |
|
#39 Choosing a Permanent Life Insurance Policy |
|
|
119 | (2) |
|
#40 Selecting a Term Life Insurance Policy |
|
|
121 | (2) |
|
#41 Avoiding Life Insurance Mistakes |
|
|
123 | (3) |
|
#42 Saving Money on Your Homeowner's Policy |
|
|
126 | (1) |
|
#43 Looking into Umbrella Policies |
|
|
127 | (1) |
|
#44 Buying an Umbrella Policy Wisely |
|
|
128 | (2) |
|
#45 Reducing Risk and the Expense of Car Insurance |
|
|
130 | (2) |
|
#46 Getting the Right Car Insurance Coverage |
|
|
132 | (2) |
|
#47 Cutting the Cost of Your Car Insurance |
|
|
134 | (2) |
|
#48 Continuing Health Coverage When You Leave Your Job |
|
|
136 | (2) |
|
#49 Capping Out-of-Pocket Health Expenses |
|
|
138 | (1) |
|
#50 Saving on Individual Health Coverage |
|
|
139 | (1) |
|
#51 Using Health Savings Accounts |
|
|
140 | (2) |
|
#52 Tapping into Short-Term Health Insurance |
|
|
142 | (1) |
|
#53 Examining Health Insurance Options for the Self-Employed |
|
|
143 | (2) |
|
#54 Considering Long-Term Care Insurance |
|
|
145 | (1) |
|
#55 Seeing the Tax Benefits of a 401 (k) Plan |
|
|
146 | (2) |
|
#56 Knowing the Limits on 401 (k) Contributions |
|
|
148 | (1) |
|
#57 Reducing the Amount You Invest in a 401 (k) |
|
|
149 | (1) |
|
#58 Timing Investment Allocations to Match Employer Contributions |
|
|
150 | (2) |
|
#59 Protecting Your Retirement Goals with a 401 (k) |
|
|
152 | (3) |
|
#60 Withdrawing Money from Your 401 (k) with the Fewest Penalties |
|
|
155 | (2) |
|
#61 Borrowing from Your 401 (k) |
|
|
157 | (3) |
|
#62 Taking a Hardship Withdrawal |
|
|
160 | (4) |
|
#63 Rolling Over Your 401 (k) to Avoid Taxes |
|
|
164 | (2) |
|
#64 Leaving Money in Your Old Employer's Plan |
|
|
166 | (2) |
|
#65 Avoiding Lump-Sum Withdrawals |
|
|
168 | (2) |
|
#66 Taking Your 401 (k) Plan with You to Your New Job |
|
|
170 | (2) |
|
#67 Investigating Tax-Deferred Ways to Save for College |
|
|
172 | (3) |
|
#68 Considering Costs of Different Colleges |
|
|
175 | (3) |
|
#69 Working Part-Time and Summer Jobs |
|
|
178 | (2) |
|
#70 Applying for Financial Federal Aid |
|
|
180 | (2) |
|
#71 Squeezing Out Every Drop of Available College Money |
|
|
182 | (3) |
|
#72 Looking into Federal Assistance Programs |
|
|
185 | (1) |
|
|
186 | (2) |
|
#74 Deferring or Discharging Student Loan Debt |
|
|
188 | (1) |
|
#75 Consolidating Your College Loans |
|
|
189 | (1) |
|
#76 Getting Tuition Discounts and Waivers |
|
|
190 | (3) |
|
#77 Finding College-Based Scholarships |
|
|
193 | (1) |
|
#78 Accessing State and Local Scholarships |
|
|
194 | (1) |
|
#79 Looking into Charitable Foundations for College Funds |
|
|
195 | (2) |
|
#80 Tapping Organizations for Scholarships |
|
|
197 | (1) |
|
#81 Accepting Work-Study Opportunities |
|
|
198 | (1) |
|
#82 Receiving College Funding in Exchange for Service |
|
|
199 | (2) |
|
#83 Searching Out Merit-Based Financial Aid |
|
|
201 | (2) |
|
#84 Negotiating Better Financial Aid |
|
|
203 | (3) |
|
#85 Carefully Considering Retirement Accounts for College Expenses |
|
|
206 | (2) |
|
#86 Knowing When to Refinance Your Mortgage |
|
|
208 | (1) |
|
#87 Calculating the Cost of Refinancing |
|
|
209 | (4) |
|
PART 4 LIVING A RECESSION-BUSTING LIFE |
|
|
213 | (2) |
|
#88 Developing Good Shopping Habits |
|
|
215 | (2) |
|
#89 Buying Store Brands and in Bulk |
|
|
217 | (2) |
|
#90 Seeing through the Gimmicks Grocery Stores Use |
|
|
219 | (2) |
|
#91 Using Coupons and Rebates |
|
|
221 | (2) |
|
#92 Targeting Seasonal Grocery Sales |
|
|
223 | (2) |
|
#93 Planning Your Meals Economically |
|
|
225 | (4) |
|
#94 Stretching One Meal into Two (Or More) |
|
|
229 | (2) |
|
#95 Finding Alternatives to Store-Bought Food |
|
|
231 | (2) |
|
|
233 | (2) |
|
#97 Cooking Up Money Savings |
|
|
235 | (3) |
|
#98 Canning and Preserving Your Food |
|
|
238 | (3) |
|
#99 Freezing Fruits and Vegetables |
|
|
241 | (3) |
|
#100 Trying Other Ways to Save in the Kitchen |
|
|
244 | (2) |
|
#101 Getting Toiletries on a Budget |
|
|
246 | (2) |
|
#102 Saving on Salon Expenses |
|
|
248 | (1) |
|
#103 Cutting Your Kids' Hair |
|
|
249 | (2) |
|
#104 Expanding Your Wardrobe |
|
|
251 | (2) |
|
#105 Getting Stains Out of Kids' Clothing |
|
|
253 | (2) |
|
#106 Reconstructing Your Clothes |
|
|
255 | (2) |
|
#107 Shopping for Secondhand Clothes |
|
|
257 | (2) |
|
#108 Utilizing Community Resources |
|
|
259 | (1) |
|
#109 Having Fun in Your Own Backyard and Beyond |
|
|
260 | (2) |
|
#110 Saving for a Family Vacation |
|
|
262 | (1) |
|
#111 Traveling on a Few Dollars a Day |
|
|
263 | (3) |
|
#112 Finding Transportation Bargains |
|
|
266 | (4) |
|
#113 Saving on Phone Bills |
|
|
270 | (1) |
|
#114 Staying Cool on the Cheap |
|
|
271 | (2) |
|
|
273 | (2) |
|
#116 Making Your Own Cleaning Solutions |
|
|
275 | (3) |
|
#117 Fixing Squeaky Floors |
|
|
278 | (3) |
|
#118 Extending the Life of Your Roof |
|
|
281 | (1) |
|
|
282 | (2) |
|
#120 Prolonging the Life of Your Siding |
|
|
284 | (5) |
|
|
289 | (2) |
|
#122 Keeping Your Fridge Running Well |
|
|
291 | (4) |
|
#123 Insulating to Save Energy Costs |
|
|
295 | (3) |
|
|
298 | (1) |
|
#125 Insulating Heat Ducts |
|
|
299 | (1) |
|
|
300 | (2) |
|
#127 Identifying and Fixing Plumbing Leaks |
|
|
302 | (2) |
|
#128 Improving Water Heater Efficiency |
|
|
304 | (2) |
|
#129 Helping Your Furnace Work More Efficiently |
|
|
306 | (2) |
|
#130 Saving on Your Vehicle Fuel Expenses |
|
|
308 | (4) |
|
|
312 | (2) |
|
#132 Checking and Changing Your Oil |
|
|
314 | (5) |
|
#133 Taking Care of Your Tires |
|
|
319 | (4) |
|
#134 Easily Making Other Automotive Checks and Fixes |
|
|
323 | (3) |
|
#135 Choosing an Automotive Service Facility |
|
|
326 | (5) |
|
#136 Finding and Evaluating a New Automotive Service |
|
|
331 | (2) |
|
PART 5 MAKING THE MOST OF HOLIDAYS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS |
|
|
333 | (2) |
|
#137 Entertaining on a Shoestring |
|
|
335 | (2) |
|
#138 Throwing a Party on a Budget |
|
|
337 | (2) |
|
#139 Making Inexpensive Easter Baskets |
|
|
339 | (1) |
|
#140 Creating Frightfully Affordable Halloween Costumes |
|
|
340 | (2) |
|
#141 Celebrating a Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving |
|
|
342 | (1) |
|
#142 Trying Creative Hanukkah and Christmas Ideas |
|
|
343 | (2) |
|
#143 Hosting a Frugal Birthday Bash |
|
|
345 | (2) |
|
#144 Packing Up Treats on the Cheap |
|
|
347 | (2) |
|
#145 Finding Inexpensive Gifts for Your Sweetheart |
|
|
349 | (2) |
|
#146 Checking Out Frugal Gift Ideas for Any Occasion |
|
|
351 | (2) |
|
#147 Making Great Gift Baskets |
|
|
353 | (2) |
|
#148 Cutting Costs with a Birthday Box |
|
|
355 | (1) |
|
#149 Exploring Alternative Gift Ideas |
|
|
356 | (2) |
|
#150 Looking at Gifts for Bridal and Baby Showers |
|
|
358 | (3) |
|
PART 6 STAYING AFLOAT IF THE BOAT STARTS TO SINK |
|
|
361 | (2) |
|
#151 Spotting Signs of Financial Trouble |
|
|
363 | (2) |
|
#152 Avoiding Credit Pitfalls |
|
|
365 | (2) |
|
#153 Getting Copies of Your Credit Report and Scores |
|
|
367 | (4) |
|
#154 Checking Your Credit Report |
|
|
371 | (3) |
|
#155 Disputing Inaccurate Info on Your Credit Report |
|
|
374 | (4) |
|
#156 Adding Positive Info to Your Credit Report |
|
|
378 | (2) |
|
#157 Taking the First Steps to Dig Out of Credit Card Debt |
|
|
380 | (2) |
|
#158 Gauging Your Need for Help with Credit Situations |
|
|
382 | (2) |
|
#159 Taking Debt Situations into Your Own Hands |
|
|
384 | (3) |
|
#160 Working with a Credit Counseling Agency |
|
|
387 | (3) |
|
#161 Creating a Debt Management Plan |
|
|
390 | (2) |
|
#162 Talking to Creditors to Work Out a Solution |
|
|
392 | (5) |
|
#163 Negotiating a Payback Arrangement with Collectors |
|
|
397 | (2) |
|
#164 Avoiding Debt Settlement |
|
|
399 | (1) |
|
#165 Keeping Credit Under Control While Unemployed |
|
|
400 | (4) |
|
|
404 | (2) |
|
#167 Taking Control When Foreclosure Looms |
|
|
406 | (3) |
|
#168 Drafting a Plan of Attack to Offset Foreclosure |
|
|
409 | (3) |
|
#169 Understanding Types of Bankruptcy |
|
|
412 | (4) |
|
|
416 | (3) |
|
#171 Choosing Which Bills to Pay When You File for Bankruptcy |
|
|
419 | (2) |
|
#172 Negotiating with Creditors to Avoid Bankruptcy |
|
|
421 | (2) |
|
|
423 | (2) |
|
|
425 | (2) |
|
#174 Ten Ways to Trim the Money Tree |
|
|
427 | (2) |
|
#175 Ten Ways to Handle Financial Emergencies |
|
|
429 | (2) |
Index |
|
431 | |