Offers advice on creating a long-term financial plan, shopping for insurance and mortgages, managing credit card debt, and establishing a good credit rating.

Expert financial columnist Robert K. Heady and financial writer Christy Heady take readers step-by-step through the process of getting their finances under control. With new, updated content for today's post-boom, cautious climate, this author team gives readers the knowledge they need to succeed. New content includes expanded and updated coverage on debt and expense management; updated and additional information on financial law; and up-to-date data based on forecasts, trends, and projected economic recovery. 3 million people have lost their jobs and Americans are in 'personal' debt to a record total of $2 trillion. All-new and updated content on the latest developments in investing, the economy, and the markets.

You’re no idiot, of course. Money’s always on your mind; if you’re not working to make more, you’re wondering where it all went. Will you have to give up movies and CDs to get your bank account to grow? Play it smart and you can have it all! Whether you’re saving for something big like college or wondering why you're always broke, this info-packed book has the answers you need. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Money for Teens can show you how to: • Stop the bleeding! Easy ways to get a grip on your expenses. • Make sense of bank and credit card statements. • Work wise and shop smart; get the most of your money. • Pay less for the things you buy—even designer labels! • Learn what it takes to be a teen entrepreneur.

Revised and updated, this new edition clearly explains all the basic information everyone in this age group needs to begin planning their personal finances or enhance their current financial plan to yield better returns on their investments, including completely new material on. Topics Covered Internet banking Budget for spiraling food and fuel costs College loans management Effective 401(k) and retirement planning Debit and prepaid credit cards Tips about online car shopping Online college degrees and what they can get you Investment strategies for the next decade Home-based employment opportunities Financial effects of changing job Financial impact of marriage and children Home ownership options from building your own to townhouses and condos Online mortgage brokers Fully updated resources

You're no idiot, of course. You know how to write a check, make a deposit, and read a monthly statement. With financial markets in flux and many Americans mired in debt, you're looking for better ways to manage your money, but learning the financial ropes is testing the limits of your time and patience. Save your money and your life! The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Managing Your Money, Third Edition, is written by two experts who know the world of saving, investing, and credit inside and out. You'll learn savvy strategies to fatten your wallet and cut your costs from credit cards, mortgages, car-buying, and checking. In this Complete Idiot's Guide®, you get: Common-sense advice on how to decipher-and profit from-economy and market reports. Tips on maintaining a sound credit rating and winning loan approval. Idiot-proof ways to protect your personal and financial information from fraud. Ten money-making secrets your banker won't tell you.