Your Financial Action Plan: 12 Simple Steps to Achieve Money Success

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1: Rainy Day Funds and Sunny Day Savings 1

Prepare for an Emergency

Understand Asset Allocation

Build a Financial Plan

Chapter 2: Bills and Chills 11

Gain Control of Your Expenditures

Chapter 3: Budget Bingo 15

Create a Comfortable Budget

Recognize Shopping Pitfalls

Chapter 4: Hanging It Up 25

Build Your Retirement Savings

Understanding 401(k)s, Defined Benefit Plans,

Social Security, IRAs, and Other Pension Plans

Chapter 5: Bank On It 41

Check Up on Your Bank

Know What Records to Keep and Where to Keep Them

Chapter 6: Willing It 45

Decide Who Gets What

How to Give It to Them

A Look at the Deadly Business of Funerals

Chapter 7: Got Insurance? 51

Disability Insurance: The Gory Details

Life Insurance: How Much Do You Need?

Other Insurance You Need—or Not

Chapter 8: Driving Mr. Washington 63

Lease or Buy?

Showroom Errors

Insure Your Wheels

Chapter 9: Take Credit—Carefully 73

Borrow Responsibly

Understand Your Credit Report

Chapter 10: Dealing with Debt 85

Borrowing Responsibly

Credit Card Bill of Rights

Chapter 11: April 15 Blues 93

Manage Your Withholding Better

Use Tax Deductions and Credits

Chapter 12: This Old House 109

Should You Buy?

Create a Realistic Budget for Homeownership

Make the Most of Your Mortgage

Afterword: 12 Steps to Money Success 125

Appendix: Bankrate Form Letters 127

Glossary 173

About the Author 193

Index 195