Liz Weston on Personal Finance (Collection), 2/e

Table of contents

1. Title Page
2. Copyright Page
3. Contents
4. Your Credit Score: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number That Shapes Your Financial Future
   1. Copyright Page
   2. Dedication Page
   3. Praise for the Previous Edition of Your Credit Score
   4. Acknowledgments
   5. About the Author
   6. Introduction
   7. 1. Why Your Credit Score Matters
      1. How Your Credit Score Affects You
      2. What It Costs Long Term to Have a Poor or Mediocre Credit Score
      3. How Credit Scoring Came into Being
      4. How Credit Use Has Changed over the Years
      5. Consumer’s Fight for Truth About Credit Scores
      6. Credit Controversies
   8. 2. How Credit Scoring Works
      1. What Is a Good Score?
      2. Your Credit Report: The Building Blocks for Your Score
      3. How Your Score Is Calculated
      4. The Five Most Important Factors
      5. Your Credit Scorecard
      6. Your Results Might Differ
      7. How Do I Get My Score?
      8. What Hurts, and for How Long
      9. New Versions of the FICO Score
   9. 3. FICO Versus “FAKO”—Competitors to the Leading Score
      1. The VantageScore Scale
      2. How VantageScores Are Calculated
      3. Comparing the Scoring Systems
      4. Some Rules Remain the Same
      5. So Which Is Better?
      6. VantageScore’s Future
      7. Other Scores Lenders Use
   10. 4. Improving Your Score—The Right Way
       1. Step 1: Start with Your Credit Report
       2. Step 2: Pay Your Bills on Time
       3. Step 3: Pay Down Your Debt
       4. Step 4: Don’t Close Credit Cards or Other Revolving Accounts
       5. Step 5: Apply for Credit Sparingly
       6. Credit Scores Without Credit\
   11. 5. Credit-Scoring Myths
       1. Myth 1: Closing Credit Accounts Will Help Your Score
       2. Myth 2: You Can Boost Your Score by Asking Your Credit Card Company to Lower Your Limits
       3. Myth 3: You Can Hurt Your Score by Checking Your Own Credit Report
       4. Myth 4: You Can Hurt Your Score by Shopping Around for the Best Rates
       5. Myth 5: You Don’t Have to Use Credit to Get a Good Credit Score
       6. Myth 6: You Have to Pay Interest to Have a Good Credit Score
       7. Myth 7: Adding a 100-Word Statement to Your File Can Help Your Score if You Have an Unresolved Dispute with a Lender
       8. Myth 8: Your Closed Accounts Should Read “Closed by Consumer,” or They Will Hurt Your Score
       9. Myth 9: Credit Counseling Is Worse Than Bankruptcy
       10. Myth 10: Bankruptcy Hurts Your Score So Much That It’s Impossible to Get Credit
   12. 6. Coping with a Credit Crisis
       1. Step 1: Figure Out How to Free Up Some Cash
       2. Step 2: Evaluating Your Options
       3. The Real Scoop on Credit Counseling
       4. Debt Settlement: A Risky Option
       5. Should You File for Bankruptcy?
       6. The Effects of Bankruptcy Reform
       7. The Type of Bankruptcy That You File Matters
       8. Should You Walk Away from Your Home?
       9. Step 3: Choose Your Path and Take Action
   13. 7. Rebuilding Your Score After a Credit Disaster
       1. Part I: Credit Report Repair
       2. Scrutinize Your Report for Serious Errors
       3. Know Your Rights
       4. Part II: Adding Positive Information to Your File
       5. Part III: Use Your Credit Well
   14. 8. Identity Theft and Your Credit
       1. New Options That Might Help
       2. How to Reduce Your Exposure to Identity Theft
       3. What to Do if You’re Already a Victim
       4. What to Do if the Credit Bureau Won’t Budge
   15. 9. Emergency! Fixing Your Credit Score Fast
       1. Repairing Your Credit in a Matter of Hours: Rapid Rescoring
       2. Boosting Your Score in 30 to 60 Days
       3. What Typically Doesn’t Work
   16. 10. Insurance and Your Credit Score
       1. History of Using Credit Scores to Price Insurance Premiums
       2. But What’s the Connection?
       3. What Goes into an Insurance Score
       4. Keeping a Lid on Your Insurance Costs
   17. 11. Can Bad Credit Cost You a Job?
   18. 12. Keeping Your Score Healthy
       1. The Do’s of Credit Health
       2. The Don’ts of Credit Health
       3. Credit and Divorce: How Your Ex Can Kill Your Score
       4. In Conclusion: The Three-Year Solution
   19. Index
   20. Footnotes
       1. Chapter 1
5. Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want out of Life
   1. Copyright Page
   2. Dedication Page
   3. Acknowledgments
   4. About the Author
   5. Introduction
   6. 1. Setting Up Your Financial Life
      1. Your Financial Toolkit
      2. Consider Two Checking Accounts
      3. The Right Ways to Pay Your Bills
      4. Build Your Control Panel
      5. Set Up Your Command Center
      6. Staying Up-to-Date
      7. Your Checklist
   7. 2. Take Charge of Your Spending
      1. The 60 Percent Solution
      2. The 50/30/20 Plan
      3. How Do I Prioritize My Goals?
      4. Couples and Money
      5. Your Checklist
   8. 3. Get the Most Out of Your Credit Cards
      1. If You Carry a Balance
      2. How to Find the Best Card(s)
      3. Your Checklist
   9. 4. The No-Sweat Guide to Retirement (and other) Investing
      1. How to Manage Risk
      2. Why Beating the Market Is So Tough
      3. The Three Keys to Successful Investing
      4. Why Life-Cycle and Target Maturity Funds May Be the Answer
      5. Which Account Do I Use?
      6. Coordinating Your Approach
      7. Getting Help
      8. How Much Should I Save for Retirement?
      9. Ballpark E$timate
      10. As You Approach Retirement
      11. Your Checklist
   10. 5. The Easy Way to Save for College
       1. Why 529 College Savings Plans Rock
       2. Picking the Right College Savings Plan
       3. Prepaid Tuition Plans
       4. Your High School Game Plan
       5. What to Do If You're Starting Late
       6. Your Checklist
   11. 6. Insurance: Protecting What You Have—And Will Have
       1. Auto Insurance
       2. Renters Insurance
       3. Condo Owners Insurance
       4. Homeowners Insurance
       5. Umbrella Liability Policies
       6. Health Insurance
       7. Disability Insurance
       8. Life Insurance
       9. Your Checklist
   12. 7. Buying Homes and Cars
       1. When You're Ready to Buy a Home
       2. The Home-Buying Timeline
       3. Picking the Right Mortgage
       4. The Smart Way to Buy Cars
       5. Why We Overspend on Cars
       6. What to Do if You've Already Overspent
       7. Your Checklist
   13. 8. When You Need Help
       1. How to Find a Financial Planner
       2. When You Need a Tax Pro
       3. Working with an Estate Planning Attorney
       4. Your Checklist
   14. 9. Be a Savvy Shopper
       1. Sites Worth Paying For
       2. Price Comparison Sites
       3. Internet Shopping 101
       4. Sites to Bookmark
       5. Check for Coupons
       6. When You're in the Market for Real Bargains
       7. A Word about Price Guarantees
       8. How to Be a Savvy Traveler
       9. When Things Go Wrong
       10. Your Checklist
   15. 10. Changing Your Uneasy Mind
       1. "The One Who Dies with the Most Toys Wins"
       2. "We'd Be Fine If Our Income Was Just a Little Higher"
       3. "I'll Never Have Enough"
       4. "I'm Such a Loser; I'd Be So Much Farther Ahead If I Hadn't Made So Many Mistakes with Money"
       5. "I'll Never Understand This Money Stuff"
       6. "It's Not My Fault"
       7. Money and Your Brain
       8. Your Checklist
   16. 11. Setting Goals, Or What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
       1. Visualizing Your Ideal Life
       2. Setting the Timer
       3. The End Game
       4. What It's All About
   17. Resources and Recommendations
   18. The Basics
   19. College
   20. Couples & Money
   21. Credit & Debt
   22. Estate Planning
   23. Investing
   24. Real Estate
   25. Retirement
   26. Savings Tips
   27. Index
   28. FT Press
6. Deal with Your Debt: Free Yourself from What You Owe, Updated and Revised
   1. Copyright Page
   2. Dedication Page
   3. Praise for the First Edition of Deal with Your Debt
   4. Acknowledgments
   5. About the Author
   6. Introduction
   7. 1. Isn’t Debt-Free the Way to Be?
      1. Debt Isn’t the Enemy
      2. When “Good Debt” Isn’t
      3. Which Debts Should You Tackle First?
      4. Why Debt Management Sounds Strange
      5. When Debt Repayment Plans Go Awry
      6. Addressing the Ants as Well as the Grasshoppers
      7. Debt-Free Is the Way to Be—Eventually
      8. Summary
   8. 2. Your Debt Management Plan
      1. Get Intimate with Your Debt
      2. Assess Your Financial Situation
      3. Save or Pay Off Debt First?
      4. Case Studies
      5. Create Your Game Plan
      6. If You’re Already Drowning
      7. Summary
   9. 3. Credit Cards
      1. Our Love Affair with Credit
      2. The True Cost of Carrying a Balance
      3. Gotchas for Those Who Pay Their Balances
      4. The Right Way to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
      5. Getting the Right Reward Card
      6. Summary
   10. 4. Mortgages
       1. Myth #1: It’s a Good (or Lousy) Time to Buy a Home
       2. Myth #2: A House Is a Great Investment
       3. Myth #3: Buying Is Always Better Than Renting
       4. Myth #4: Homeownership Comes with Great Tax Breaks
       5. The Right Reasons to Buy
       6. How Much House Should I Buy?
       7. What Kind of Mortgage Should I Get?
       8. How Do I Get a Good Mortgage Deal?
       9. When and How Should I Refinance?
       10. When Should I Prepay a Mortgage?
       11. Summary
   11. 5. Home Equity Borrowing
       1. The Dangers of Home Equity Lending
       2. Home Equity Loans Versus Lines of Credit
       3. Questions to Ask Before You Borrow
       4. Summary
   12. 6. Student Loans
       1. So What’s the Good News?
       2. How Much Should I Borrow?
       3. Where Should I Get My Loans?
       4. What If It’s Already Too Late?
       5. What About Paying Off My Student Loans with Home Equity Debt—or Credit Cards?
       6. Summary
   13. 7. Auto Loans
       1. How Cars Cost Us
       2. Why It’s Bad to Owe More on Your Car Than It’s Worth
       3. How Often You Buy Cars Matters, Too
       4. The Proper Role of Cars in Our Spending
       5. Ways to Keep Costs Down
       6. Summary
   14. 8. 401(k) and Other Retirement Plan Loans
       1. Types of Plans That Offer Loans
       2. The Real Cost of Retirement Plan Loans
       3. Cracking Your Nest Egg Early
       4. The Hidden Cost of Withdrawals
       5. Summary
   15. 9. Loans You Don’t Want to Get—or Give
       1. Three More Loans to Beware Of
       2. Why You Don’t Want to Cosign a Loan
       3. The Right Way to Make a Personal Loan
       4. Summary
   16. 10. Dealing with a Debt Crisis
       1. Dealing with Your Creditors
       2. Dealing with Collection Agencies
       3. What If Your Creditors Won’t Budge?
       4. Summary
   17. 11. Putting Your Debt Management Plan into Action
       1. Lower Your Interest Rates
       2. Track Your Spending
       3. Trim Your Expenses
       4. Look for Cash
       5. Review Your Priorities
       6. Stay on Track
       7. Some Final Thoughts
   18. Index
   19. FT Press
7. There Are No Dumb Questions About Money: Answers and Advice to Help You Make the Most of Your Finances
   1. Copyright Page
   2. Dedication Page
   3. About the Author
   4. Introduction
   5. 1. Balanced Budget, Balanced Life: Setting Your Financial Priorities
      1. How to Stick to a Budget
      2. For a Budget That Works, Get Control of Your Debt
      3. What Do Average Families Spend?
      4. Balancing Your Budget in the Big City
      5. Income Dropped? Expenses Have to Drop, Too
      6. How to Beat “Frugal Fatigue”
      7. Fast Ways to Cut Cable, Cell Bills
      8. What to Do with an Extra $5,000 a Month
      9. Planning a Family? How to Prepare Financially
      10. Facing a Layoff? Rule #1: Conserve Cash
      11. Living Paycheck to Paycheck? Knock It Off
      12. Why Your Budget Doesn’t Work
   6. 2. Slay the Debt Dragon
      1. What Comes First?
      2. What Comes First, Savings or Debt Payoff?
      3. Why You Shouldn’t Pay Down Your Mortgage
      4. Don’t Drain Your Retirement to Pay Debts
      5. Use Inheritance to Pay Down Debt, Boost Savings
      6. How to Stop Collection Calls
      7. Garnishments Are Taking Food off This Family’s Table
      8. Massive Debts Mean Gambling Is More Than a “Habit”
      9. Debt Doesn’t Disappear After Lender Write-off
      10. How Long Bad Debt Can Haunt You
      11. What to Do When You Can’t Afford Your Life
      12. Young Widow Struggles with Late Husband’s Debts
      13. Dealing with After-Death Creditors
      14. Fighting an Aggressive Collection Agency
      15. Student Drowning in Debt Needs Professional Help
      16. How to Cope with a Big Medical Bill
      17. When Bankruptcy Is the Best of Bad Options
      18. What to Do When Bankruptcy Won’t Work
   7. 3. Burnish Your Credit Score
      1. Improving Bad Scores Takes Time, Patience
      2. Why “Free” Credit Scores Aren’t
      3. How Credit Card Balances Affect Your Scores
      4. Does a Credit Card Make You a Slave to Lenders?
      5. Why Carrying a Balance Is Stupid
      6. No Credit Cards? You May Not Get the Best Rates
      7. How to Use Credit Cards to Improve Your Scores
      8. Should You Stay in Debt to Help Your Scores?
      9. Don’t Close Accounts If You’re Trying to Improve Your Scores
      10. Close Cards the Smart Way
      11. Debts Rising? It’s Time to Cut Spending
      12. Big Debts Mean You Can’t Afford Your Life
      13. Marriage Doesn’t Combine Your Credit Reports
      14. Unwanted Time Share Can Lead to Credit Score Hit
      15. “Piggybacking” Can Pose a Serious Risk
      16. Skimping on Credit Card Payments Can Damage Scores for Years
      17. Short Sale Causes Credit Scores to Plunge
      18. Finding an Apartment After Foreclosure
      19. Recovering from Bankruptcy Takes Five to Ten Years
      20. Installment Loans Can Boost Credit Scores
      21. Not All Loans Help Your Scores
      22. How to Score 800+
      23. Credit Scores Not Perfect? Don’t Sweat It
      24. Zombie Debt May Still Hurt Credit Scores
      25. Insurance Scores Differ from Credit Scores
      26. “Too Many Credit Cards” Boosts Insurance Premiums
   8. 4. Couples and Money
      1. When Savers Marry Spenders
      2. Credit Concerns or Just Cold Feet?
      3. Fiancé’s Reluctance May Be Just Prudence
      4. His, Hers, or Ours? Setting Up Finances As a Couple
      5. Time Share Causes Financial Woes
      6. Adding Fiancé As “Authorized User” May Help His Scores, but Be Careful
      7. New Wife Could Help His Credit, but She’s Not Obligated
      8. Marriage Didn’t Trash Son’s Credit Score
      9. Spouse’s Debt May Be Yours—or It May Not Be
      10. Separate Your Finances Before Divorce Is Final
      11. Couples’ Big Age Difference Affects Retirement Planning
      12. Choosing Pension Payout? Get Expert Help
      13. How Marriage, Divorce, and Death Affect Your Social Security Check
   9. 5. Family Money: Keeping the Financial Peace
      1. When Grandpa Reneges on Promised Money
      2. When a Sibling Wants a Loan
      3. Supporting the Family Spendthrift
      4. Quit Trying to Change a Deadbeat
      5. Helping Parents Support a Freeloader
      6. Saying No to Handouts for Adult Children
      7. Daughter’s Family Is Bleeding Them Dry
      8. Could Son’s Unpaid Bills Harm Parents’ Credit? Maybe
      9. When It Makes Sense to Let Your Adult Kids Live at Home
      10. How to Buy Stocks for Children
      11. Dealing with Parents’ Financial Crisis
      12. Beware Becoming Trustee of a Sibling’s Money
      13. Are Family Heirlooms Worth the Fight?
      14. Stepdaughter Wants “Everything”: What Does She Deserve?
      15. How Can I Resolve a Spat with My Siblings over an Inherited Home?
   10. 6. How to Stop Working Someday: Saving and Investing for Retirement
       1. With Retirement, There’s No Making Up for Lost Time
       2. $25 Is Enough to Get Started Saving for Retirement
       3. There’s No Such Thing as “Risk-Free” Retirement Investing
       4. Stocks: A Must or a Gamble?
       5. Dependents Can Fund Roths Even If Their Parents Can’t
       6. Don’t Tap Retirement Funds for a Bigger Down Payment
       7. Build Retirement Funds Before Paying Down a Mortgage
       8. Don’t Suspend 401(k) Contributions to Pay Down Loan
       9. Retirement Planning Without a Retirement Plan
       10. Self-employed? You’ve Got More Retirement Savings Options
       11. Roll Your 401(k) into an IRA? Maybe Not
       12. Windfall in Your 50s? Don’t Blow It
       13. Get a Second Opinion Before Buying a Variable Annuity
       14. Don’t Count on an Inheritance to Fund Your Retirement
       15. What’s a “Safe” Withdrawal Rate?
       16. Is a 3% Withdrawal Rate Too Conservative?
       17. Social Security: Grab It Early, or Wait for Bigger Checks?
   11. 7. Protect What You Have
       1. Should a 29-Year-Old Buy Life Insurance?
       2. Don’t Buy Life Insurance If You Don’t Need Life Insurance
       3. Help Your Pet Without Risking Your Finances
       4. Going Bare on Health Insurance Isn’t Smart
       5. “Eating Healthy” Won’t Protect Against Medical Bills
       6. Is Disability Insurance Worth the Cost?
       7. Why You Shouldn’t Buy Cellphone Insurance
       8. Get a Second Opinion Before Buying an Annuity
       9. When You Can Skip Rental Car Insurance
       10. Stick with Insurance Minimums or Buy More Coverage?
       11. Is Disaster Insurance Worth the Cost?
   12. 8. Identity Theft
       1. Don’t Trust Your Tax Papers to the U.S. Mail
       2. Sometimes You Have to Cough Up Your SSN
       3. Credit Account Closure May Be Cause for Alarm
       4. Credit Freezes May Be Your Best Defense Against ID Theft
       5. What Should I Do If My Sister Is an Identity Thief?
       6. What to Do When Your Wallet Is Stolen
       7. Do Dead People Have to Worry About ID Theft?
       8. 101 for Identity Theft Victims
       9. Redact Your Medicare Card to Reduce ID Theft Risk
       10. Are Businesses Protecting Your Social Security Number?
   13. 9. Home Sweet Home: What You Need to Know About Real Estate
       1. How Much House Can I Afford to Buy?
       2. No Down Payment Saved? You’re Not Ready to Buy a Home
       3. Student Loan Debt May Limit Mortgage
       4. Shop Hard Before You Refinance
       5. When to Pay Down Your Mortgage
       6. Should You Refinance a Mortgage That’s Almost Paid Off?
       7. When Shorter Loans Make Sense
       8. Adjustable Mortgage May Not Be Affordable for Long
       9. Should She Walk Away from Her Home?
       10. What Foreclosure Does to Your Credit
       11. Don’t Expect Mortgage Lender to Do the Right Thing
       12. New Rules May Help More Underwater Homeowners
       13. Get Help with a Mortgage Modification
       14. Short Sales Can Trash Your Scores
       15. A Short Sale Isn’t a Bailout
       16. How to Speed Up Foreclosure
       17. Property Loss May Lead to Bankruptcy
       18. Will You Face a Tax Bill after Foreclosure?
       19. Finding an Apartment after Foreclosure
       20. How to Get a House Sold Fast
       21. How to Dump a Time Share
   14. 10. Pay for College Without Going Broke
       1. If You Can Save for College, You Should
       2. 529 College Savings Plans Are a Good Option for Many
       3. Withdrawals from 529s Can Be Tricky
       4. 529s Aren’t Always the Best Way to Save for College
       5. Mom Stole College Fund. What to Do?
       6. Did Grandma Divert the College Fund?
       7. Don’t Overdose on Debt for a Child’s Education
       8. “Free Money” May Not Make School Affordable
       9. It’s Too Late to Borrow for Child’s College Education
       10. Finding a Way to Pay for School
       11. Is It Too Late to Go Back to School?
       12. “Dream School” Can Turn into a Nightmare
       13. Is a “Dream School” Worth Any Price?
       14. Ivy League Tuition Waiver Doesn’t Apply to Our “Dream School” Applicant
       15. Tiny Salary, Big Debt
       16. Degree from For-Profit School Leads to Big Debt
       17. How to Make Headway on Student Loans
       18. Is Graduate School Worth Borrowing For?
       19. Wrestling with Student Loan Debt? Know Your Forgiveness Options
       20. Student Loans in Collections? Here’s Where to Find Help
       21. Settling Student Loan Debt: Tough but Possible
       22. Student Loan Settlement Won’t Be Cheap
   15. 11. Find an Advisor You Can Trust
       1. Variable Annuity for a Dying Woman? I Don’t Think So.
       2. “Unsuitable” Annuity Can Be Undone
       3. Is a Money Manager Worth the Cost?
       4. How to Find an Advisor You Can Trust
       5. Your Broker Is Not a Retirement Expert
       6. How to Invest an Inheritance
       7. Finding Trustworthy Advisors
       8. What to Do Now with Your Extra Cash
   16. 12. At the End: Caring for Elders and Planning Your Estate
       1. Helping an Indigent Parent Navigate “the System”
       2. Son-in-Law Badgers Elderly Couple for Money
       3. Protecting a Parent from Financial Opportunists
       4. Daily Money Managers Can Help Pay the Bills
       5. A Reverse Mortgage Could Keep Mom in Her Home
       6. Asset Transfer Could Delay Medicaid Eligibility
       7. Incapacitated Parent? Tread Carefully
       8. Father’s Living Trust Is Missing
       9. The Documents You Need but Probably Don’t Have
       10. Who Needs an Estate Plan?
       11. Why Estate Plan?
       12. DIY Wills and Trusts Can Backfire
       13. Can the Guardian of Your Kids Change His Mind?
       14. Are Unequal Bequests a Good Idea, or Are They a Disaster in the Making?
       15. Credit Cards Must Be Paid Before Estate Is Distributed
       16. Executor Won’t Have to Pay Mother’s Debts out of Pocket
       17. Dad Died Without a Will. What Now?
       18. A Guide for Executors
       19. What’s the Best Thing to Do with an Inherited IRA?
       20. Social Security Benefits Don’t Last Forever
       21. What Happens to Personal Loans After Lender Dies?
   17. Index