Your Financial Action Plan

<p>Acknowledgments vii</p>
<p>Foreword ix</p>
<p>Introduction xi</p>
<p>Chapter 1: Rainy Day Funds and Sunny Day Savings 1</p>
<p>Prepare for an Emergency</p>
<p>Understand Asset Allocation</p>
<p>Build a Financial Plan</p>
<p>Chapter 2: Bills and Chills 11</p>
<p>Gain Control of Your Expenditures</p>
<p>Chapter 3: Budget Bingo 15</p>
<p>Create a Comfortable Budget</p>
<p>Recognize Shopping Pitfalls</p>
<p>Chapter 4: Hanging It Up 25</p>
<p>Build Your Retirement Savings</p>
<p>Understanding 401(k)s, Defined Benefit Plans,</p>
<p>Social Security, IRAs, and Other Pension Plans</p>
<p>Chapter 5: Bank On It 41</p>
<p>Check Up on Your Bank</p>
<p>Know What Records to Keep and Where to Keep Them</p>
<p>Chapter 6: Willing It 45</p>
<p>Decide Who Gets What</p>
<p>How to Give It to Them</p>
<p>A Look at the Deadly Business of Funerals</p>
<p>Chapter 7: Got Insurance? 51</p>
<p>Disability Insurance: The Gory Details</p>
<p>Life Insurance: How Much Do You Need?</p>
<p>Other Insurance You Need or Not</p>
<p>Chapter 8: Driving Mr. Washington 63</p>
<p>Lease or Buy?</p>
<p>Showroom Errors</p>
<p>Insure Your Wheels</p>
<p>Chapter 9: Take Credit Carefully 73</p>
<p>Borrow Responsibly</p>
<p>Understand Your Credit Report</p>
<p>Chapter 10: Dealing with Debt 85</p>
<p>Borrowing Responsibly</p>
<p>Credit Card Bill of Rights</p>
<p>Chapter 11: April 15 Blues 93</p>
<p>Manage Your Withholding Better</p>
<p>Use Tax Deductions and Credits</p>
<p>Chapter 12: This Old House 109</p>
<p>Should You Buy?</p>
<p>Create a Realistic Budget for Homeownership</p>
<p>Make the Most of Your Mortgage</p>
<p>Afterword: 12 Steps to Money Success 125</p>
<p>Appendix: Bankrate Form Letters 127</p>
<p>Glossary 173</p>
<p>About the Author 193</p>
<p>Index 195</p>