9780132383837

Pulliam Weston (Your Credit Score), columnist for MSN Money and author of the nationally syndicated column "Money Talk," provides a practical, easy-to-understand guide to taking control of personal finances and establishing financial security. Like most financial advice books, this collection covers the basics, such as creating a financial toolkit, investing, planning for retirement and saving for college. While Pulliam Weston provides insights into these areas-especially for those without a financial background-she also charts new territory with her "60 Percent Solution" and "50/30/20 Plan," both aimed at spending control, as well as getting the most out of your credit cards and what to do if you've overspent on a car purchase. An advocate of online banking, Pulliam Weston maps out the right way to pay bills and advocates account aggregation and consolidation. She also provides a useful resource guide for finding a financial planner, a tax professional and an estate planning attorney. Checklists are included in each chapter, as well as helpful charts and tables that aid in getting and staying organized. This book will be a valuable guide on the path to financial control and security. --Publishers Weekly "If you want to simplify your life and make solid decisions-fast-this book is your answer. Itrs"s one more reason Liz remains one of Americars"s most trusted financial columnists. Quick, easy, and empowering!" -Jennifer Openshaw, Author ofThe Millionaire Zoneand CEO, WinningAdvice.com "As usual, Liz cuts to the chase to provide readers with practical, easy to implement tips for living a rich life. If you follow only half of her on-the-money recommendations yours"ll be exponentially better off tomorrow than you are today." -Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., Author ofNice Girls Donrs"t Get Richand Nice Girls Donrs"t Get the Corner Office Simplify your financial lifehellip; now and forever! bull; By the Internetrs"s #1 personal finance expert, MSNrs"s Liz Pulliam Weston bull; Stop feeling overwhelmed by your finances: take control, the easy way! bull; Save time, avoid mistakes, and help secure your future Common sense. Easy solutions. Plain English.Best selling author, Liz Pulliam Weston, takes on the problem everyone has, and nobody talks about: the sheer hassle of managing your money! Weston offers practical guidance and easy checklists for every decision: investments, credit cards, insurance, mortgages, retirement, college savings, and more! Discover how to consolidate, delegate, and automate your financeshellip;save time and moneyhellip;and live a more rewarding, secure life! www.lizweston.com

Liz Pulliam Weston is the most-read personal finance columnist on the Internet, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. She’s also an award-winning, nationally syndicated personal finance columnist who can make the most complex money topics understandable to the average reader. She is the author of the national best-seller Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve and Protect the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future and of Deal with Your Debt: The Right Way to Manage Your Bills and Pay Off What You Owe. She also was a contributor to The Experts’ Guide to the Baby Years.

Liz’s columns run twice a week on MSN Money, which reaches more than 12 million readers each month. Millions more read her question-and-answer column “Money Talk,” which appears in newspapers throughout the country, including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Palm Beach Post, the Portland Oregonian, the Newark Star-Ledger, Stars & Stripes, and others.

Liz appears regularly on numerous television and radio programs, including American Public Media’s “Marketplace Money” and NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and “All Things Considered.” She was for several years a weekly commentator on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” and has been quoted in numerous publications, including Consumer Reports, Real Simple, Family Circle, Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, Parents, Christian Science Monitor, the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, Forbes.com, and others.

Weston is a graduate of the certified financial planner training program at University of California, Irvine. She can be reached via the “contact Liz” form on her Web site, www.asklizweston.com.

Introduction	p. 1
Setting Up Your Financial Life	p. 3
Your Financial Toolkit	p. 3
Consider Two Checking Accounts	p. 8
The Right Ways to Pay Your Bills	p. 8
Build Your Control Panel	p. 16
Set Up Your Command Center	p. 20
Staying Up-to-Date	p. 22
Your Checklist	p. 25
Take Charge of Your Spending	p. 27
The 60 Percent Solution	p. 28
The 50/30/20 Plan	p. 31
How Do I Prioritize My Goals?	p. 39
Couples and Money	p. 41
Your Checklist	p. 45
Get the Most Out of Your Credit Cards	p. 47
If You Carry a Balance	p. 47
How to Find the Best Card(s)	p. 57
Your Checklist	p. 60
The No-Sweat Guide to Retirement (and other) Investing	p. 61
How to Manage Risk	p. 62
Why Beating the Market Is So Tough	p. 65
The Three Keys to Successful Investing	p. 66
Why Life-Cycle and Target Maturity Funds May Be the Answer	p. 70
Which Account Do I Use?	p. 73
Coordinating Your Approach	p. 75
Getting Help	p. 76
How Much Should I Save for Retirement?	p. 77
Ballpark E$timatereg;	p. 78
As You Approach Retirement	p. 83
Your Checklist	p. 85
The Easy Way to Save for College	p. 87
Why 529 College Savings Plans Rock	p. 90
Picking the Right College Savings Plan	p. 92
Prepaid Tuition Plans	p. 93
Your High School Game Plan	p. 95
What to Do If Yoursquo;re Starting Late	p. 95
Your Checklist	p. 97
Insurance: Protecting What You Have--And Will Have	p. 99
Auto Insurance	p. 99
Renters Insurance	p. 103
Condo Owners Insurance	p. 104
Homeowners Insurance	p. 104
Umbrella Liability Policies	p. 107
Health Insurance	p. 107
Disability Insurance	p. 109
Life Insurance	p. 110
Your Checklist	p. 115
Buying Homes and Cars	p. 117
When Yoursquo;re Ready to Buy a Home	p. 117
The Home-Buying Timeline	p. 119
Picking the Right Mortgage	p. 121
The Smart Way to Buy Cars	p. 128
Why We Overspend on Cars	p. 129
What to Do i
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Easy Money How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want out of Life

Easy Money How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want out of Life

0132383837

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