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Managing your money all-in-one for dummies - Coggle Diagram
Managing your money all-in-one for dummies
Book 1. Taking charge of your finances
Chapter 1. Assessing where you are financially
Some Preliminary questions
Your relationship with money
Recognizing emotional spending
Living for the moment
Checking your credit reports
Getting copies of your credit reports
Knowing why your reports matter
Finding out your FICO score
Comparing spending and income
Gathering the necessary materials
Categorizing your expenses
Figuring out the fritter factor
Totaling spending and earnings
Calculating your financial bottom line
Assessing your spending habits
Cataloging what you own
Adding up what you owe
Chapter 2. Improving your relationship with money
Working with you partner to achieve financial goals
Recognizing your financial strengths and weaknesses
Identifying long-term goals
Establishing savings goals
Finding peaceful solutions to differences
Pulling together your spouse or partner
Talking money with your children
Believing in yourself
Handling setbacks
Asking for help
Digging out of debt
Step 1: Acknowledge the problem
Step 2: Cut the cards
Step 3: Set a good budget and live within it
Step 4: Contact your creditors
Budgeting for the future
Step 1: Categorize your expenses
Step 2. Estimate what you spend
Step 3. Calculate and adjust
Chapter 3. Building and sticking to a budget
Comparing monthly spending and income
Tackling a budget deficit
Cutting expeses
Reducing debt before saving
Using other strategies
Paying the important stuff if you can't pay everything
Distinguishing between secured and unsecured debt
Knowing when to prioritize an unsecured debt
Examining a budget surplus
Finalizing and sticking to your budget
Steeling your resolve
Checking your progress each month
Chapter 4. Cutting spending and boosting income
Finding ways to spend less
Looking for good deals
Spending less on your housing
Lowering your utility bills
Eating for less
Paying less for transportation
Having fun for less
Looking good for less
Dressing for less
Reducing your phone costs
Saving on prescription drugs
Inching down your insurance costs
Bringing in more bucks
Earning more at your current job
Looking for a new job
Getting (and surviving) a second job
Considering freelancing
Chapter 5. Fixing up your credit report
Understanding why a credit report is important
What is credit report, anyway?
What your credit report says about you
Uncovering your credit report's details
Who uses the info in your credit report?
Understanding how bad stuff gets in your credit report
Nobody is perfect: Don't expect a straight-A report card
Checking for errors: creditors aren't perfect, either
Looking at the accurate information
Deciphering your credit score
Fleshing out credit score components
If you're too thin: The expansion score
Examining specialized credit bereaus
Getting to know national check registries
Gambling with central credit services
Book 2. Managing home and personal finances
Chapter 1. Running a money-smart household
Reaching out to touch someone
Saving on phone bills
Using email to stay in touch
Rediscover the joys of letter writing
Saving on climate control
Dressing for the weather
Keeping your cool when weather's not
Warming the house
Cutting back on electricity and gas use
Improving your appliance efficiency
Shedding some light on the subject
Trash talk: Controlling garbage costs
Reducing what you throw away
Reusing household items in creative ways
Reducing television and cable expenses
Cutting down on water use
Keeping a ceiling on housing budgets
Saving money on rent
Saving money on home ownership
Cutting transportation costs
Finding a deal on a set of wheels
Using public transportation
Biking and walking
Finding bargains an airfare and rental cars
Opting to travel by train or bus
Purchasing appliances
Keeping energy efficiency in mind
Shopping for scratch-and-dent and secondhand
Thinking twice about renting-to-own
Chapter 2. Home ownership and choosing the right mortgage
Mortgage basics
Assessing your financial situation
Typical loan expenses
Determining whether you can afford to buy a home
Is a fixed-rate mortgage in your future?
Understanding common fixed-rate mortgage loans
The good news about fixed-rate morgages
The bad news about fixed-rate mortgages
Adjusting to and adjustable-rate loan
Understanding common adjustable-rate mortgage loans
The good news about adjustable-rate mortgages
The bad news about adjustable-rate mortgages
Deciding what loan is best for you
Traditional fixed-rate mortgage
Traditional 5/1 ARM
5/1 interest-only ARM
Payment-option ARM (Example 1)
Payment-option ARM (Example 2)
Chapter 3. Avoiding foreclosure
Understanding that mortgages are a different credit animal
Seeing a foreclosure coming
Counting to 90
Knowing where to turn for help
Alternatives to going down with the ship
Starting with short-term solutions
Considering solutions for long-term problems
Looking at longer-than-long-term solutions
Handling a foreclosure if one has started
Dealing with deficiencies
Chapter 4. Keeping a lid on medical costs
Saving on medical expenses
Keeping a close eye on bills
Looking into payment plans
Coordinating insurance benefits
Finding less-expensive prescription
Discovering what makes a great health insurance plan
Deciding between individual and group
Pricing
Underwriting
Benefit levels
Renewability
Coverage flexibility
Saving money on individual coverage
Saving directly
Saving indirectly with self-care
Coping with health insurance problems
Insuring the uninsurable
Staying insured through hard times
Insuring your kids when your policy no longer covers them
Evaluating insurance available through college
Understanding temporary health insurance
Continuing coverage following a divorce
Deciding on a conversion policy
Consider HIPAA instead
Taking decisive action
Reviewing bills with a fine-tooth comb
Making your plan pay what it should
Taking advantage of hospital discouts
Reducing your medical debt
Chapter 5. Using the internet to help manage your finances
Giving yourself an online financial makeover
Using the internet to budget
Finding online resources to track your income and expenses
Using the internet to get free financial advice
Finding out what you're worth
Book 3. Dealing with debt
Chapter 1. Tackling what you owe
Taking stock of your finances
Using a budget to get out of debt
Taking the right steps when you have too much debt
Handling debt collectors
Realizing your rights
Understanding why debt collectors behave as they do
Getting a financial education
The difference between good debt and bad debt
Distinguishing between types of credit
Seeing yourself through a creditor's eyes
Building a better credit history
Chapter 2. Understanding how credit works
Defining credit: Spending tomorrow's money today
Meeting the cast of characters in the credit story
The buyer: I want that now!
The creditors: Heroes to the rescue
The credit bureaus: In a supporting role
Understanding the consequence of bad credit
Paying fees
Being charged higher interest rates
Losing employment opportunities
Facing increased insurance premiums
Getting a divorce
Dealing with a thin credit file
When you're new to the country
After one of life's many transitions
Identity theft: the crime that turns good credit bad
Protecting your identity from theft
Taking action if you're victimized
Chapter 3. Consolidating your debts
Knowing when debt consolidation makes sense
Considering your options
Transferring balances
Getting a bank loan
Borrowing against your life insurance policy
Borrowing from your 401(k) retirement plan
Avoiding dangerous debt-consolidation possibilities
Chapter 4. Negotiating with creditors and getting help
Getting ready to negotiate
Listing all your debts
Zeroing in on certain debts first
Reviewing your budget
Pulling together your financial information
Getting down to business: contacting creditors
Making the agreement official: putting it in writing
Knowing the deal with credit counseling
Finding a reputable credit counseling agency
Telling the good from the bad
Locating agencies in your area
Knowing what to ask and what to expect
Working with a credit counselor
Sharing your financial situation
Whittling down your debt with a debt-management plan
Avoiding debt settlement firm
Being wary of false promises
Preventing worse financial problems
Getting relief if you get ripped off
Chapter 5. Considering bankruptcy
Viewing bankruptcy in a historical context
Debunking bankruptcy myths
"People who go bankrupt are sleazy deadbeats"
"Bankruptcy is the easy way out for folks who can pay their bills"
"Bankruptcy threatens the ethical foundations of our society
"Honest folks pay a 'tax' to support people who are bankrupt"
Understanding what you can gain through bankruptcy
Stopping creditors in their tracks
Wiping out most of your debt
Catching up on back mortgage and car payment
Filing bankruptcy to pay some debts over time
Using bankruptcy to pay all your debts
Knowing what you can lose in bankruptcy
Considering alternatives to bankruptcy
Introducing the different types of personal bankruptcy
Liquidations (Chapter 7)
Consumer reorganizations (chapter 13)
Weighing the consequence of not filing bankruptcy
Claims secured by you car
Claims secured by your home
Student loans
Support obligations
Fines and restitution
Taxes
Lawsuits
Using the statute of limitations
Book 4. Saving and investing
Chapter 1. Becoming a saver
Eliminating most of the fat
Lowering your debt
Trimming other costs
Changing your perspective and watching your savings grow
Paying yourself first
Educating yourself about investing
Taking advantage of giveaways
Saving while in debt
Chapter 2. Investing in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
Stock: Owning a piece of the rock
Understanding stock
Conducting business in stock exchanges
Brushing up: a quick stock glossary
Picking a stock-investment strategy
Buying bonds for fixed income
Understanding bonds
Sorting out different kinds of bonds
Interpreting bond ratings
Mutual funds: the power of many
Understanding mutual funds
Defining different kinds of mutual funds
Selecting the best mutual funds
Doing it your way versus using a broker
Full-service brokers
Discount brokers
Online brokers
Five common investing mistakes
Investing before you're ready
Investing without goals
Believing those "Hot" tips
Not advertising your portfolio
Selling too soon (or too late)
Chapter 3. Saving for retirement
Setting a target date for retirement
Determining when you can access retirement income
Figuring out what to do when you retire
Keeping the family gene pool in mind
Calculating the size of your nest egg
If you're retiring in the near future
If your retirement is further off
Using a retirement calculator
developing a retirement savings plan
Cutting down on your expenses
Considering sample plans
Sticking with your retirement savings plan for the long haul
Chapter 4. Saving for college
Doing the numbers
Figuring up the costs
Saving efficiently
Exploring section 529 plans
Following the rules
Making your money work for you
Choosing the best options
Checking out coverdell accounts
Understanding the rules and negotiations
Getting the most from a coverdell account
But wait! there's more!
Rediscovering U.S. savings bonds
Saving for college the old-fashioned way
Putting your faith in a trust fund
Saving in your retirement accounts
Accessing your home equity
Identifying sources of free money
Borrowing to fill in the gaps
Maximizing your savings, minimizing your tax
Checking out the cost of college
Tackling tuition
Accounting for housing
Factoring in books and supplies
Looking into the costs of various types of schools
Exploring career and vocational training schools
Taking community college and continuing education classes
Going for a four-year public education
Getting your education in private
Chapter 5. Working with an Online broker
Sorting them out: selecting an online broker
What to look for in brokers
Considering costs
Comparing industry leaders
Checking online brokerage ratings
Opening your online brokerage account
Ready, set, go! making your first online trade
Using the right buying technique to increase profits
A few caveats before you trade
Knowing when to hold and when to fold
Book 5. Protecting your money and assets
Chapter 1. Combating identity theft
Chapter 2. Online banking
Chapter 3. Homeowner's insurance
Chapter 4. Auto insurance basics
Chapter 5. Buying life insurance
Chapter 6. Dealing with the tax man
Book 6. Retiring comfortably
Chapter 1. 401(k) and 403(b) Retirement investing
Chapter 2. Retiring your way: IRAs
Chapter 3. Paychecks from your house: Reverse mortgages
Chapter 4. Managing money in retirement
Chapter 5. Online retirement planning
Book 7. Planning your estate and will
Chapter 1. Fundamentals of estate planning
Chapter 2. Where there's will
Chapter 3. Limitations of wills: what you can and can't do
Chapter 4. Estate planning online
Chapter 5. Taking care of aging parents with durable power of attorney