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Beating Debt

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ISBN-10: 0028627326

ISBN-13: 9780028627328

Edition: 1999

Authors: Jennifer Basye Sander, Peter J. Sander, Steven D. Strauss

List price: $16.95
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Description:

You're no idiot, of course. You know the "grace period" for your bills better than you know how to say grace. And if there were an Olympic competition for "credit surfing"--transferring your credit debt from one card to another--you'd bring home the gold metal. But when it comes to paying off that debt, you're afraid it will take a gold-medal winner's endorsements. Don't head for bankruptcy court just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beating Debt shows you not only how to eliminate the debt you have, but how to create a workable plan of "financial health". In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:
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Book details

List price: $16.95
Copyright year: 1999
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date: 11/1/1999
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 352
Size: 7.36" wide x 9.13" long x 0.79" tall
Weight: 1.342
Language: English

Steven D. Strauss is an attorney, business writer, commentator, and bestselling author with eight books to his credit. A nationally recognized business columnist, his columns regularly appear at USAToday.com, Entrepreneur.com, Bloomberg Financial, Visa.com, Franchise1, AllBusiness.com, Bizland.com, and many more. As a popular repeat media guest, he has appeared on MSNBC, the BBC, Court TV, Leesa, ABC, and the CBS Radio Network, and in the pages of Investor's Business Daily, USA Today, Inc., Time, the New York Daily News, and the Los Angeles Times, among others. He owns The Strauss Law Firm, a business law practice with offices in San Francisco and Sacramento.

Money and Debt
Not All Debt Is Bad Debt
Why Are You in Debt?
Good and Bad Debt
Good Debt
Bad Debt Blues
Debts You Want to Keep
Debts to Get Rid Of
The First Rule of Holes: Stop Digging!
Long-Term Goals
Early Warning Signs of Trouble
Where Have All the Dollars Gone?
But I Still Have Room on My Card
The Balance Transfer Shuffle
Dog Logic
Bye-Bye Savings
What's My Balance?
End of the Line
Your Money or Your Life
Marriage and Money
Test Yourself
Take That Paper Bag Off Your Head When You Drive
The Check Is in the Mail
Congratulations, You've Been Approved
Savings? Who Needs Savings?
I Believe in Santa Claus
Believing in Scarcity
Working for Others
Time for a Plan
The Overspender
Changing Your Relationship with Money
A Frank Talk with Dollar Bill
Your Money History
Do as I Say, Not as I Do
What Were You Taught About Money?
Money Stories
Money Makes the World Go 'Round
Money Beliefs
Other Sources of Money Beliefs
A Heart-to-Heart Talk with Money
Money Affirmations
Fake It 'Til You Make It
Creative Visualization
The Process
Money Affirmations
New Beliefs
Think and Grow Rich
Money Is a Family Matter
For Richer, for Poorer
Who Are You?
When Worlds Collide
Kids Are People, Too
Whistle While You Work
You Teach Best What You Most Need to Learn
No Lessons Required
Teen Time
The "B" Word
Budget Is Not a Four-Letter Word
Keep a Good Record
Your Plan
Creating a Budget
Income
Fixed Expenses
Discretionary Expenses
A Sample Budget
Budgets and Your Computer
How and Where to Cut Back
A Good Attitude
Food for Less
Is It Possible to Save Money If You Have Kids?
It Takes Money to Make Money
Traveling on a Budget
The Only Way to Fly
Traveling Cheaply
Young, Broke, and in Love
Pleasure on the Cheap
Money Can't Buy You Love
Call Your Creditor and Say "Hi" (The Plan)
Get Out of Debt, Now
Commitment
The Plan
Calculating the Plan
Remember Me?
Keeping Good Records
Keeping Track of Creditors
Keep a Tally of Your Payments
When Cutting Back Is Not Enough
Refinancing Your Home
When Refinancing Makes Sense
"The lowest rates we've seen in years!"
Risky Business
Types of Loans
A New World Order
Equity Lines of Credit
Qualifying for a New Loan
How Much Will This Cost?
Winning at Refinancing
Lender or Broker?
Lock It In
Final Thoughts
Taming the Credit Card Goliath
Credit Quicksand
Read the Fine Print
The Worst Trap of All
There Has to Be a Better Way
The Balance Transfer Dance
The Cost of High Interest Rates
Negotiate Like a Pro
Introductory Rates Are Best
Fee, Fi, Foe, Fum
A Real Grace Period
When Disputes Arise
Bankruptcy
The Smart Way to Use Credit Cards
Talking to the Lion: Dealing With Creditors
Dealing with the Original Creditor
The Payment Plan
We Can Work It Out
Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain
Empty Threats
Turn the Tides
Know Your Rights
Stopping All Creditor Harassment
Do Nothing
Credit Reporting
Common Errors
Correcting the Report
Beware of "Credit-Fixing" Scams
IRS Folks Are People, Too
Know Thy Foe
IRS Employees Are People, Too
The IRS Is Inefficient
The First Commandment: Thou Shalt File Thy Taxes
Filing for an Extension of Time
Failing to File
If You Do Not Have Records
Payment Plans
The Dreaded 500 Notices
ACS
The Taxman Cometh
Types of Audits
Preparing for an Audit
It Is Appealing
Beat the IRS!
The Penalty Box
Ridding Yourself of Liens and Levies
Lien on Me
Before the Levy Breaks
Appealing a Collection Action
Let's Make a Deal
The Value of Your Assets
How Much Can You Afford to Pay?
Preparing the OIC
The Bankruptcy Option
Tax Court
Handling Business Debts
Reduce Your Overhead
Begin with the Right Attitude
Time for Some New Sources of Income
Alternate Sources of Income
Give Yourself a Raise
Receive Your Receivables
Business Loans
Keeping Business Debts and Personal Debts Separate
Closing Up Shop
Debtors Anonymous
Roots
Alcoholics Anonymous
Debtors Anonymous
Does This Sound Familiar?
How the Program Works
Is DA Right for You?
The Meeting
The Magic Number: 12
How to Contact Debtors Anonymous
A Last Option: Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy Basics
It's Not So Bad
Your Creditors Will Survive
My Legal Rights Trump Yours
Is Bankruptcy Right for You?
Bankruptcy Benefits
The Dark Side of Bankruptcy
Types of Bankruptcies
Chapter 7
Chapter 13
Chapter 7 Pre-Filing Considerations
All Debts Are Not Created Equal
Secured Debts
Unsecured Debts
Special Debts
Can You Keep Your Property?
Your Bankruptcy Estate
What Property Is Exempt?
How Much Is Your Property Really Worth?
Protecting Your House
Exempting Your House
If You Have Too Much Equity
How a Chapter 7 Case Proceeds
Relief Is in Sight
Steps in the Process
"If it pleases the court ..."
Getting Your Case Filed
The First Meeting of Creditors
The Reality of Reaffirmation
Understanding Your Paperwork
Amending Your Paperwork
The Discharge
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 Overview
Dealing With Secured Creditors
Is Your Home Worth Keeping?
Taxes and Other Debts
Protecting Nonexempt Assets
Other Reasons
Bad Reasons for Choosing a Chapter 13
Pros and Cons to Filing Chapter 13
Requirements
How Things Proceed
Failure to Complete the Plan
What Can Go Wrong?
Problems with the Automatic Stay
Relief from Stay Motions
Acting Without Court Permission
Bankruptcy Case Dismissals
Denial of Discharge
Problems After the Discharge
Attempts to Collect Discharged Debts
Discrimination
Debts Not Listed
Property Not Listed
Property You Already Owned Prior to Filing
Property You Recently Inherited or Acquired
Getting Ahead of the Game
Getting Credit Again
A Credit Card Society
Secured Credit Cards
Choosing a Secured Card
Beware of Scams
A Tiger in Your Tank
Debit Cards
Have We Got a Deal for You!
No Money Down
Everyone Is Approved!
Insurance
Passbook Loans
A Mortgage?
How Much House Can You Afford?
Keeping Costs Down
Finding Money for a Down Payment
What the Rich Know That You Don't
Start Now
Assets and Liabilities
Liabilities Are Not Assets
Types of Assets
Investing 101
Investing Is Not Speculating
Setting Your Investment Goals
Taking the Plunge
The 10 Percent Solution
Real Estate Investing
Real Estate and You
Use Other People's Money to Get Rich
Why Real Estate Works
Cash Flow
Tax Deductions
Equity Growth
The Ability to Grow into Even Larger Buildings
Rent Subsidies
Getting a Loan
Getting Started
Study Real Estate
Find an Agent
Research Rates
A Plan of Action
Your First Real Estate Investment
Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds
Stock Market Basics
Types of Stocks
Do Your Homework
Mutual Funds
Types of Funds
A Loaded Question
Bonds, Treasury Bonds
Finding a Broker
A Diversified Portfolio
Starting Your Own Business
Is It Right for You?
What Kind of Business?
What Do You Love?
Other Considerations
Home-Based Businesses
Honey, Let's Have a Talk
Financing
In Praise of Self-Reliance
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Money!
Life After Debt
Be Smart with Your Money
Keep Track of Your Spending
Staying Out of Debt
Ten Percent Is All We Ask
On the Proper Use of Credit
Help Beyond This Book
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
The National Foundation for Consumer Credit Counseling
And Now, the End (or a New Beginning) Is Near
Appendixes
Bankruptcy Petition and Schedules
Sample Chapter 13 Plan
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: Relevant Sections
Fair Credit Reporting Act: Relevant Sections
Recommended Resources
Glossary
Index