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Organize and simplify personal finances and money management to achieve both greater security and more free time.
Pulliam Weston (Your Credit Score), columnist for MSN Money and author of the nationally syndicated column "Money Talk," provides a practical, easy-to-understand guide to taking control of personal finances and establishing financial security. Like most financial advice books, this collection covers the basics, such as creating a financial toolkit, investing, planning for retirement and saving for college. While Pulliam Weston provides insights into these areas-especially for those without a financial background-she also charts new territory with her "60 Percent Solution" and "50/30/20 Plan," both aimed at spending control, as well as getting the most out of your credit cards and what to do if you've overspent on a car purchase. An advocate of online banking, Pulliam Weston maps out the right way to pay bills and advocates account aggregation and consolidation. She also provides a useful resource guide for finding a financial planner, a tax professional and an estate planning attorney. Checklists are included in each chapter, as well as helpful charts and tables that aid in getting and staying organized. This book will be a valuable guide on the path to financial control and security.
--Publishers Weekly
“If you want to simplify your life and make solid decisions—fast—this book is your answer. It’s one more reason Liz remains one of America’s most trusted financial columnists. Quick, easy, and empowering!”
—Jennifer Openshaw, Author of The Millionaire Zone and CEO, WinningAdvice.com
“As usual, Liz cuts to the chase to provide readers with practical, easy to implement tips for living a rich life. If you follow only half of her on-the-money recommendations you’ll be exponentially better off tomorrow than you are today.”
—Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., Author of Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich and
Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office
Simplify your financial life…
now and forever!
• By the Internet’s #1 personal finance expert, MSN’s Liz Pulliam Weston
• Stop feeling overwhelmed by your finances: take control, the easy way!
• Save time, avoid mistakes, and help secure your future
Common sense. Easy solutions. Plain English. Best selling author,
Liz Pulliam Weston, takes on the problem everyone has, and nobody talks about: the sheer hassle of managing your money! Weston offers practical guidance and easy checklists for every decision: investments, credit cards, insurance, mortgages, retirement, college savings, and more! Discover how to consolidate, delegate, and automate your finances…save time and money…and live a more rewarding, secure life!
www.lizweston.com
Easy Money: Setting Up Your Financial Life
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your Financial Life 3
Your Financial Toolkit 3
Consider Two Checking Accounts 8
The Right Ways to Pay Your Bills 8
Build Your Control Panel 16
Set Up Your Command Center 20
Staying Up-to-Date 22
Your Checklist 25
Chapter 2 Take Charge of Your Spending 27
The 60 Percent Solution 28
The 50/30/20 Plan 31
How Do I Prioritize My Goals? 39
Couples and Money 41
Your Checklist 45
Chapter 3 Get the Most Out of Your Credit Cards 47
If You Carry a Balance 47
How to Find the Best Card(s) 57
Your Checklist 60
Chapter 4 The No-Sweat Guide to Retirement (and other) Investing 61
How to Manage Risk 62
Why Beating the Market Is So Tough 65
The Three Keys to Successful Investing 66
Why Life-Cycle and Target Maturity Funds May Be the Answer 70
Which Account Do I Use? 73
Coordinating Your Approach 75
Getting Help 76
How Much Should I Save for Retirement? 77
Ballpark E$timate® 78
As You Approach Retirement 83
Your Checklist 85
Chapter 5 The Easy Way to Save for College 87
Why 529 College Savings Plans Rock 90
Picking the Right College Savings Plan 92
Prepaid Tuition Plans 93
Your High School Game Plan 95
What to Do If You’re Starting Late 95
Your Checklist 97
Chapter 6 Insurance: Protecting What You Have--And Will Have 99
Auto Insurance 99
Renters Insurance 103
Condo Owners Insurance 104
Homeowners Insurance 104
Umbrella Liability Policies 107
Health Insurance 107
Disability Insurance 109
Life Insurance 110
Your Checklist 115
Chapter 7 Buying Homes and Cars 117
When You’re Ready to Buy a Home 117
The Home-Buying Timeline 119
Picking the Right Mortgage 121
The Smart Way to Buy Cars 128
Why We Overspend on Cars 129
What to Do if You’ve Already Overspent 132
Your Checklist 134
Chapter 8 When You Need Help 135
How to Find a Financial Planner 135
When You Need a Tax Pro 138
Working with an Estate Planning Attorney 141
Your Checklist 144
Chapter 9 Be a Savvy Shopper 145
Sites Worth Paying For 145
Price Comparison Sites 146
Internet Shopping 101 146
Sites to Bookmark 148
Check for Coupons 149
When You’re in the Market for Real Bargains 149
A Word about Price Guarantees 150
How to Be a Savvy Traveler 151
When Things Go Wrong 152
Your Checklist 156
Chapter 10 Changing Your Uneasy Mind 157
“The One Who Dies with the Most Toys Wins” 158
“We’d Be Fine If Our Income Was Just a Little Higher” 159
“I’ll Never Have Enough” 159
“I’m Such a Loser; I’d Be So Much Farther Ahead If I Hadn’t Made So Many Mistakes with Money” 160
“I’ll Never Understand This Money Stuff” 162
“It’s Not My Fault” 162
Money and Your Brain 164
Your Checklist 166
Chapter 11 Setting Goals, Or What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? 167
Visualizing Your Ideal Life 170
Setting the Timer 170
The End Game 171
What It’s All About 171
Resources and Recommendations 175
The Basics 175
College 175
Couples & Money 176
Credit & Debt 176
Estate Planning 177
Investing 177
Real Estate 178
Retirement 178
Savings Tips 179
Index 181
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