Personal finance in your 20s & 30s

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Getting Started with Personal Finance
	Chapter 1 Your Financial Checkup
		Calculating Your Financial Worth
			Defining net worth
			Figuring what you own: Financial assets
			Determining what you owe: Financial liabilities
			Netting the difference
		Grasping the Importance of Savings
			Netting your income and spending
			Assessing the change in your net worth
		Understanding and Improving Your Credit Score
			Deciphering how lenders use credit reports and scores
			Obtaining your credit reports and fixing errors
			Getting your credit score
			Improving your credit reports and score
		Comprehending Your Investment Options
		Examining Insurance Coverage
		Identifying Common Financial Mistakes Young Adults Make
	Chapter 2 Budgeting, Goal Setting, and Valuing Saving
		Developing a Savings Mind-Set
		What It’s Worth: Valuing Savings over Time
			The difference of continual savings
			The difference a few percentage points on your return makes to your investment
		Budgeting and Boosting Your Savings
		Setting and Prioritizing Your Savings Goals
			Identifying common goals of accomplished savers
			Valuing retirement accounts
			Dealing with competing goals
		Saving When You’re Strapped
	Chapter 3 Using Loans and Paying Down Debts
		Eyeing the Causes of Generational Debt
		Making the Most of Loans
		Dealing With Student-Loan Debt
			Tracking your student loans and making timely payments
			Prioritizing the payback of student loans
			Using education tax breaks
			Weighing the costs and benefits of education expenditures
			Making the most of student loans, grants, and other financial aid
			Benefits for military people
		Working Off Consumer Debt
			Kicking the credit-card habit
			Discovering debit cards: Convenience without credit temptation
			Lowering the interest rate on consumer debt
			Negotiating better rates from your current credit card
			Tapping investments to reduce consumer debt
			Paying down balances
		Getting Help for Extreme Debt
			Seeking counseling
			Considering bankruptcy
		Preventing Consumer Debt Relapses
	Chapter 4 Everything Credit: Scores and Reports
		A Primer on Credit Reports and Credit Scores
			Differentiating between credit reports and credit scores
			Understanding how credit scores are determined
			Knowing the value of a good credit score
			Jump-starting your credit score as a young adult
		Getting Your Hands on Your Credit Reports and Scores
			Recommended websites for free credit scores
			Websites to avoid
		Scrutinizing Your Credit Reports to Improve Them
			Identifying errors and getting them fixed
			Boosting your credit score
		Preventing Identity Theft
Part 2 Saving and Earning More
	Chapter 5 Proven Ways to Spend Less and Save More
		Containing Housing Costs
			Reducing rental costs
			Slicing homeowner expenses
		Cutting Your Taxes
		Managing Food Costs
		Trimming Transportation Expenses
		Finessing Fashion Finances
		Relaxing on a Budget
		Taming Technology Spending
		Keeping Down Insurance Costs
		Getting Professional Advice
		Handling Healthcare Expenses
	Chapter 6 Taxes: Reduce Them or Else!
		Understanding Taxable Income
		Comparing Marginal Taxes
		Reducing Taxes on Work Income
			Contributing to retirement plans
			Using health savings accounts
			Deducting self-employment expenses
		Increasing Your Deductions
		Lowering Investment Income Taxes
			Investing in tax-free money market funds and bonds
			Selecting other tax-friendly investments
			Making your profits long term
		Enlisting Education Tax Breaks
		Preparing Your Tax Return and Minimizing Your Taxes
	Chapter 7 Housing: Comparing Renting and Buying
		The Ins and Outs of Renting
			Seeing the benefits of renting
			Considering the long-term costs of renting
			Completing your rental application
		Figuring the Costs of Owning and Making It Happen Financially
			Deciding to buy
			Comparing the costs of owning versus renting
			Considering your overall financial health
			Calculating how much you can borrow
			Accumulating your down payment
		Finding the Right Property
			Points to research
		Working with Real-Estate Agents
		Financing Your Home
			Understanding your mortgage options
			Deciding which mortgage type is best for you
			Avoiding negative amortization and interest-only loans
			Getting your mortgage approved
		Putting Your Deal Together
	Chapter 8 Relationships and Money
		Handling Roommates
		Living-Together Contracts
		Getting Married
		Understanding Your Money Beliefs and Practices
			Examining your money history
			Exploring your attitudes toward money
			Understanding your friends and money
			Making sense of your environment and money
		Getting a Grip on Procrastination Where Money is Concerned
			Diagnosing procrastination
			Coming to terms with why you may procrastinate with money issues
			Overcoming money avoidance
	Chapter 9 Making the Most of Your Career
		Getting Your Career Going
			Putting everything in order
			Educating and training your way to career success
			Seeking value for your education dollars
			Investing in your career
		Exploring Entrepreneurial Options
			Starting a small business
			Purchasing a small business
			Investing in a small business
		Changing Jobs or Careers
		The Young and the Unemployed
			Understanding how joblessness can hit younger adults harder
			Accessing unemployment benefits
			Taking action
Part 3 Investing for Your Future Goals
	Chapter 10 Successful Investing Principles
		Understanding Investments
			Examining bonds and other lending investments
			Exploring stocks, real estate, and small-business investments
		Getting a Handle on Investment Risks
			Establishing goals and risks
			Comparing the risks of stocks and bonds
		Spreading Your Investment Risks
			Understanding why diversification is key
			Allocating your assets
			Holding onto your investments and shunning the herd
		Selecting an Investment Firm
		Evaluating Pundits and Experts
	Chapter 11 Making the Best Use of Bank Accounts
		Identifying Your Options
			Brick-and-mortar banks
			Online banks
			Other choices
		Understanding Your Bank Account Options
			Transaction accounts
			Options for getting cash
			Savings accounts
		Banking Online
			Evaluating a bank: What to look for
			Protecting yourself online
		Considering Your Alternatives
			Brokerage accounts with check writing
			Money market funds
	Chapter 12 Portfolios for a Purpose
		Before You Begin Investing
		Investing Nonretirement Account Money
			Emergency money
			Long-term money
		Investing Retirement Account Money
			Establishing and prioritizing retirement contributions
			Allocating money in employer plans
			Designating money in plans you design
		Investing for Education
			Understanding the importance of applying for financial aid
			Paying for educational costs
	Chapter 13 Real-Estate Investing
		Understanding Real-Estate Investment Pros and Cons
		Evaluating Simpler Real-Estate Investments
		Assessing Residential Housing Investments
		Investing in Commercial Real Estate
		Shunning Sure-to-Lose Real-Estate Investments
		Researching Where and What to Buy
			Considering economic issues
			Taking a look at the real-estate market
			Examining property valuation and financial projections
		Digging for a Good Deal
Part 4 Insurance: Protect Yourself, Your Loved Ones, and Your Assets
	Chapter 14 The Lowdown on Health Insurance
		Making Sure You’re Covered
			Transitioning your coverage
			Seeing how the 2010 healthcare laws (Obamacare) changed your coverage
			Trumpcare?
		Finding Your Best Health Plan
			Selection of doctors and hospitals
			Plan benefits and features
		Shopping for Health Insurance
			Uncovering the best policies
			Handling insurance rejection
		Health Savings Accounts: Tax Reduction for Healthcare Costs
	Chapter 15 Safeguarding Your Income
		Protecting Your Income for You and Yours: Disability Insurance
			Understanding disability coverage you may already have
			Determining how much disability insurance you need
			Identifying useful disability policy features
			Shopping for coverage
		Protecting Your Income for Dependents: Life Insurance
			Assessing your current life insurance coverage
			Determining how much life insurance to buy
			Deciding what type of life insurance to buy
			Shopping for life insurance
		Caring for Your Loved Ones: “Peace of Mind” Insurance
	Chapter 16 Home, Auto, Renters, and Other Insurance Policies
		Protecting Your Home and Possessions: Homeowners and Renters Insurance
			Dwelling coverage
			Personal property protection
			Liability insurance
			Natural disaster protection
			Shopping for homeowners insurance
		Insuring Your Car
			Liability protection
			Collision and comprehensive
			Riders you should bypass
			Getting a good buy
Part 5 Your Information Diet
	Chapter 17 Using Media Resources
		Going Online: The Wild West of Advice and Predictions
			Eyeing the real cost of “free”
			Being aware online
			Using the web for gathering information
		Getting Financial Perspectives and Advice from the Media
			Being a smart news consumer
			Separating the best from the rest
			Trusting unnamed “sources” is a bad idea
			Understanding that political partisans are hazardous to your wealth
	Chapter 18 Professionals You Hire
		Seeing the Value of Professional Advice
		Considering Financial Advisors
			Preparing to hire a financial advisor
			Finding good financial advisors
			Interviewing advisors
		Taming Your Taxes with Help
		Working with Real-Estate Agents
		Using Online Resources to Find Service Providers
			Angie’s List
			HomeAdvisor
			Other resources
Part 6 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 19 Ten Ways to Save on a Car
		Don’t Buy a Car in the First Place
		Pay Cash: Shun Leasing and Borrowing
		Consider Total Costs
		Compare New with Used
		Understand a Car’s Real Value Before Negotiating
		Take Care of Your Car
		Explore Your Servicing Options
		Drive Safely
		Take a Lean and Mean Insurance Policy
		Track Tax-Deductible Auto Expenses
	Chapter 20 Ten Things to Value More Than Your Money
		Investing in Your Health
			Staying active and at a healthy weight
			Using fitness trackers to monitor your activity level
		Making and Keeping Friends
		Appreciating What You Have
		Minding Your Reputation
		Continuing Education
		Having Fun
		Putting Your Family First
		Knowing Your Neighbors
		Volunteering and Donating
		Caring for Kids
	Chapter 21 Nearly Ten Things to Know About Apps
		You May Well Get What You Paid for with “Free” Apps
		Conduct and Manage Financial Tasks
		Use Apps Only from Legitimate Companies with Lengthy Track Records
		Consider the Alternatives to an App
		Keep Focused on Your Spending
		Settle up with Friends but Beware Fees
		Save Money on Commonly Purchased Items
		Tap Into the Latest Economic and Financial Data
		Invest With Confidence
Investing in Your 20s & 30s
	Bonus chapter Investing in Funds: Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds
		Understanding the Advantages of Funds
		Maximizing Your Chances for Fund Investing Success
			Understanding the importance of performance and risk
			Examining fund management experience
			Keeping costs down
			Understanding and using index funds
			Understanding exchange-traded funds: Index funds that trade
		Creating and Managing a Fund Portfolio
		Identifying the Best Mutual Funds and ETFs
			Investing in the best ETFs
			Picking the best stock funds
			Balancing your act: Funds that combine stocks and bonds
			Finding the best bond funds
		Considering Alternatives to Investing in Funds
			Your own online fund
			Unit investment trusts
			Brokerage managed accounts
			Hedge funds for the wealthier
Index
EULA