Your money life: Your 30s

Chapter 1. The Path

Dealing with Financial Distractions

Goals Aren't Just for January First

Three Essential Truths to Carry through Your Thirties

What You Will Learn

Debt

Spending

Budgeting

Major Purchases

Credit

Saving and Investing

Insurance

A Plan

Your Removable Guide

Get Started

Chapter 2. The Past: Debt

The Cheap-Money Fallacy

Types of Debt

Student Loans

Bank Credit Card Debt

Store Credit Card Debt

Car Loan

Home Loan (Mortgage)

Medical Debt

Lines of Credit (Secured and Unsecured)

401(k) Loans

Payday Loans

Personal Loans (from a Financial Institution)

Personal Loans (from a Family Member or Friend)

Tax Debt

Collection Debt

Judgments

A Closer Look at Debt and Paying It Down

Debt Pay-Down Process

The Math Method

The Momentum Method

The Shotgun Method

Getting Out of Debt

Step 1: Map Out Your Debt

Step 2: Build Momentum with Small Debt Victories

Step 3: Commit to a Debt-Payment Schedule

Your Perspective Needs to Shift

What Now?

Chapter 3. The Present: Spending

How Using a Credit Card Complicates Spending

If Not a Credit Card, Then What?

Should You Select Debit or Credit When Swiping Your Debit Card?

How Do You Actually Reduce Spending?

Groceries

Dining Out

Utilities

The New Necessities

Is It Ever Okay to Splurge?

Chapter 4. The Pie: Budgeting

Is It Time to Relent?

Three Great Reasons to Start Budgeting

The Ideal Household Budget

Rent/Mortgage, Including Property Taxes and Property Insurance: 25 Percent

Transportation: 15 Percent

Groceries and Dining Out: 12 Percent

Savings: 10 Percent

Utilities: 10 Percent

Charity: 5 Percent

Clothing: 5 Percent

Medical: 5 Percent

Entertainment: 5 Percent

Holidays and Gifts: 5 Percent

Miscellaneous: 3 Percent

The Expense Categories You Don't See

Student Loans

Education

Debt Reduction

Vacation

Daycare

Kids

But I Do All My Shopping at One Store

How Do Your Expenses Stack Up?

Chapter 5. The Possessions: Major Purchases

Housing

Your Monthly Commitment

The Key to Housing Success

The Importance of a Good Realtor

Home Improvements

What Really Adds Value to Your Home

Car

But Really, Should You Buy or Lease a New Car?

Your Next Car Purchase

The Final Factor in Making Big Purchases

Chapter 6. The Picture: Credit

How Do I Find Out Where I Stand with Creditors?

What to Look for on Your Credit Report

Repair and Build Your Credit

What Your Credit Score Means

Is It Really Fixed?

What Credit Scores and Dieting Have in Common

Three Steps to Improving Bad Credit (or to Maintaining Good Credit)

How Your Score Is Calculated

Beyond Credit

Chapter 7. The Piggy Bank: Saving and Investing

The Role of Net Worth as a Wealth-Building Tool

The Three Buckets

Bucket #3

Bucket #1

Bucket #2

Types of Investments and Investment Vehicles

Stock

Bond

Mutual Fund

Exchange Traded Fund

Index Fund

Target-Date Fund

IRA

Roth IRA

401(k)

529 College Savings Plan

Why You Can't Wait to Invest

One More Note on the Match

Saving for College

Hiring a Financial Advisor

Fees for a Financial Advisor

Risk

Dealing with Reality

Chapter 8. The Pitfalls: Insurance

Consider Getting an Insurance Agent

Types of Insurance

Health

Car

Renters

Homeowners

Life

Disability

Review Your Coverage Annually

Chapter 9. The Plan

Choose Your Own Adventure

Questions

Plans

Excellent Goals to Hit by the Time You're Forty

Your Diligence and Discipline Will Pay Dividends

Index