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Contents | |
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Introduction | |
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Crib NotesA "Cheat Sheet" for Time-Pressed Readers | |
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Taking Stock of Your Financial LifeFiguring Out | |
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Where You Are and Where You Want to GoPutting a Price Tag on Your GoalsLearning | |
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How to Reach Your GoalsFiguring Out | |
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Where Your Money GoesFinancial | |
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Rules of ThumbGetting | |
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Your Financial Life in Order | |
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Debt and the Material WorldFinding the Best Loans and Getting Yourself | |
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Out of HockTwo Pointers for Anyone with DebtCredit Cards | |
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Student Loans | |
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Car Loans | |
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Home Equity | |
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LoansCredit | |
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Reports | |
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If You're in Serious Debt | |
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Basic BankingLearn | |
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How to Get the Most from Your Bank for the Least Amount of Money | |
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A Bank by Any Other Name | |
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Finding a Low-Cost | |
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Checking Account | |
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Managing Your Checking Account | |
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Using the ATM | |
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WiselyJoint Versus Separate Accounts | |
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Different Ways to Save in a Bank | |
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A Warning About Bank-Sold Investments | |
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All You Really Need to Know About Investing | |
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For New Investors, the Feeling Is Mutual (Funds)Mutual Fund | |
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FundamentalsMoney Market Funds | |
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A Word About InflationStock | |
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FundsBond | |
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FundsThe Right Mix of InvestmentsMutual Fund | |
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ExpensesDeciding | |
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Where to Buy Your Mutual Funds | |
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Socially Responsible Investing | |
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Buying Individual Stocks | |
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Living the Good Life in 2030 | |
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Think It's Crazy to Worry Now About Retirement Then? | |
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It's Crazy Not ToWhat Are Retirement Savings Plans, Anyway? | |
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Contributing to Your 401(k) | |
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Contributing to an IRA | |
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How Your Retirement Savings | |
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GrowSome Drawbacks (and Why They Don't Matter) | |
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A Word About Inflation and TaxationAnswers to Some Common Questions | |
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If You're Self-Employed | |
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Oh, Give Me a HomeAdvice on Getting an Apartment or House of Your Own | |
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What Every Renter Needs to Know | |
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Should You Rent or Buy? | |
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What Lenders Look ForCosts of Owning a HomeSpecial Mortgage | |
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Programs for New Homebuyers | |
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If You Don't Qualify for Special Programs | |
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Shopping for a Mortgage | |
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Making the Process Go Smoothly | |
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Insurance: What You Need and What You Don'tFinding the Right Policies and Forgoing Coverage | |
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You Can Do WithoutShopping for InsuranceChecking | |
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Out CredentialsMaking the Most of Your Employer | |
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PlanHealth InsuranceAuto | |
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InsuranceDisability | |
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InsuranceHome | |
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InsuranceLife | |
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InsuranceInsurance | |
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You Probably Don't Need | |
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How to Make Your Life Less Taxing | |
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Put More Money in Your Pocket and Less in Uncle Sam's | |
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Why Is Your Paycheck So Small? | |
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The Taxes You PayFiguring Out Your Tax | |
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RateFiling Your Tax | |
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ReturnMaximizing Your Tax | |
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BreaksTen | |
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Tax Moves | |
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That Could Save You Money | |
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If You're Self-EmployedGetting Your Tax Life in Order | |
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Do You Need a Tax Preparer? | |
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Further Reading | |
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Acknowledgments | |
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Index | |