Living Well in a Down Economy For Dummies, 2nd Edition
- Length: 464 pages
- Edition: 2
- Language: English
- Publisher: For Dummies
- Publication Date: 2023-02-07
- ISBN-10: 1394159641
- ISBN-13: 9781394159642
- Sales Rank: #660144 (See Top 100 Books)
As the economic pendulum swings, it’s time to start living smart
Living Well in a Down Economy For Dummies offers ideas for keeping more money in your pocket during a topsy-turvy economy. With more than 100 tips, it shows you how to tighten your belt without feeling a big pinch in your day-to-day life. Discover innovative and effective ways to cut expenses and boost your income in today’s economy. It isn’t about making sacrifices. It’s about setting priorities. Gain the skills you need to take control of your spending, make smarter choices, and stop the financial drain that can accompany a downturn in the economy. Inside, you’ll find practical advice on how to live and thrive when prices creep up or your income falls. Get tips for spending less in all areas of life―utilities, groceries, pet care, entertainment, and beyond. And figure out how to slip in some self-care without breaking the bank. You can do this, thanks to this no-judgment For Dummies guide.
- Reduce your expenses by cooking at home, doing your own car maintenance, cutting your own hair, and more
- Discover creative ways to increase your income, interview for better-paying jobs, and continue to save for college or retirement
- Save money on home maintenance, insurance, and other reoccurring costs
- Minimize your tax bill, improve your credit, and avoid foreclosure
If you’re looking for practical tips on how to make ends meet that you can implement today, this For Dummies guide is for you.
Cover Title Page Copyright Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1: Facing Off Against a Recession #1: Determining Your Net Worth #2: Calculating Spendable Income #3: Calculating Required Expenses #4: Calculating Discretionary Spending #5: Tracking Expenses #6: Setting Spending Practices Delve into Your Dreams Determine Which Dreams Matter Most Develop an Action Plan #7: Creating a Budget Step 1: Categorize Your Expenses Step 2: Estimate What You Spend Step 3: Calculate and Adjust #8: Breathing Away Tension Change the Way You Breathe Breathe through an Emergency #9: Tensing Your Way to Relaxation Relax Your Body, Part by Part Use the Quickie Method #10: Stretching Away Your Stress #11: Practicing Habits of Effective Stress Managers Part 2: Bumping Up Your Bring-Home #12: Updating Your Resume Step 1: Prepare Your Core Resume Step 2: Study the Job Description Step 3: Customize Each Spinoff Resume #13: Choosing the Right Resume Format #14: Making Your Resume Stand Out Don’t Tell It — Sell It Reach Out with Strength Use Keywords Discover the Art of Lost Articles Delete the Leave-Outs #15: Preparing for a Job Interview #16: Standing Out during an Interview #17: Dealing with Video Interviews #18: Employing Post-Interview Tactics Write an Influencing Letter Follow Up #19: Trying Quick Ways to Find Good Jobs Call-Email-Call Phone a Friend (Okay, Ten Friends) Blast Your Social Media #20: Looking into Federal Jobs #21: Checking Out Best Career-Changing Tips Change by Retraining Use Your Network Work Up from the Bottom #22: Figuring Out Whether You Should Change Your Career Course #23: Telecommuting as an Alternative to Traditional Work #24: Persuading Your Organization to Let You Work from Home #25: Considering Self-Employment #26: Getting Acquainted with Home-Based Businesses #27: Setting Up Your Home-Based Business Develop a Business Plan Consult Outside Professionals Choose a Legal Structure Decide on a Name Take Care of the Red Tape Get the Insurance You Need Decide on an Accounting System Develop a Marketing Plan #28: Taking a Few Steps Before Leaving Your Job #29: Getting the Cash Flowing #30: Surveying Tax Deductions Available to Home-Based Businesses Home-Office Deduction Other Important Tax Deductions #31: Recognizing Often Overlooked Ways to Save on Your Taxes #32: Ensuring the Survival of Your Home-Based Business in Tough Times #33: Boosting Your Household Income with a Side Hustle Part 3: Putting Your Personal Finances on Firm Footing #34: Categorizing Your Financial Records #35: Setting Up a Filing System for Your Financial Records #36: Finding an Insurance Agent #37: Having a Balanced Insurance Program #38: Deciding between Permanent and Term Life Insurance Permanent Life Insurance Term Life Insurance #39: Choosing a Permanent Life Insurance Policy #40: Selecting a Term Life Insurance Policy #41: Avoiding Life Insurance Mistakes #42: Saving Money on Your Homeowner’s Policy #43: Looking into Umbrella Policies #44: Buying an Umbrella Policy Wisely #45: Reducing Risk and the Expense of Car Insurance #46: Getting the Right Car Insurance Coverage #47: Cutting the Cost of Your Car Insurance #48: Continuing Health Coverage When You Leave Your Job #49: Capping Out-of-Pocket Health Expenses #50: Saving on Individual Health Coverage #51: Using Health Savings Accounts #52: Tapping into Short-Term Health Insurance #53: Examining Health Insurance Options for the Self-Employed #54: Considering Long-Term Care Insurance #55: Seeing the Tax Benefits of a 401(k) Plan #56: Knowing the Limits on 401(k) Contributions #57: Reducing the Amount You Invest in a 401(k) #58: Timing Investment Allocations to Match Employer Contributions #59: Protecting Your Retirement Goals with a 401(k) Meet Minimum Standards Avoid Losses in Bankruptcy #60: Withdrawing Money from Your 401(k) with the Fewest Penalties #61: Borrowing from Your 401(k) Figure Out How Much You Can Borrow Determine How Much Interest You Pay Know Repayment Rules #62: Taking a Hardship Withdrawal Know the Definition of a Hardship Determine the Amount #63: Rolling Over Your 401(k) to Avoid Taxes #64: Leaving Money in Your Old Employer’s Plan #65: Avoiding Lump-Sum Withdrawals #66: Taking Your 401(k) Plan with You to Your New Job #67: Investigating Tax-Deferred Ways to Save for College Section 529 Plans Coverdell Accounts #68: Considering Costs of Different Colleges Career and Vocational Training Schools Community College and Continuing Education Classes A Four-Year Public Education A Private Education #69: Working Part-Time and Summer Jobs #70: Applying for Financial Federal Aid #71: Squeezing Out Every Drop of Available College Money Time the Receipt of Taxable and Tax-Exempt Income Pay Down Debt Anticipate Your Expenses Spread Your Available Assets across Multiple Students #72: Looking into Federal Assistance Programs #73: Using Federal Loans #74: Deferring or Discharging Student Loan Debt #75: Consolidating Your College Loans #76: Getting Tuition Discounts and Waivers Eligibility-Based Discounts Incentive-Based Discounts #77: Finding College-Based Scholarships #78: Accessing State and Local Scholarships #79: Looking into Charitable Foundations for College Funds #80: Tapping Organizations for Scholarships #81: Accepting Work-Study Opportunities #82: Receiving College Funding in Exchange for Service #83: Searching Out Merit-Based Financial Aid #84: Negotiating Better Financial Aid Need-Based Money Merit-Based Money #85: Carefully Considering Retirement Accounts for College Expenses #86: Knowing When to Refinance Your Mortgage #87: Calculating the Cost of Refinancing Tabulate Loan Fees (Including Those Notorious Hidden Fees) Calculate Interest Over the Life of the Loan Calculate the Total Cost of the Loan Part 4: Living a Recession-Busting Life #88: Developing Good Shopping Habits #89: Buying Store Brands and in Bulk #90: Seeing through the Gimmicks Grocery Stores Use #91: Using Coupons and Rebates #92: Targeting Seasonal Grocery Sales #93: Planning Your Meals Economically Find a Breakfast You and Your Wallet Will Love Brown-Bag It in Style Save on Scrumptious Dinners #94: Stretching One Meal into Two (Or More) #95: Finding Alternatives to Store-Bought Food Grow Your Own Produce Make Your Own Mixes and Convenience Items #96: Saving on Baby Food #97: Cooking Up Money Savings Cook in Bulk Use a Slow Cooker Use an Instant Pot #98: Canning and Preserving Your Food #99: Freezing Fruits and Vegetables Fruits Veggies #100: Trying Other Ways to Save in the Kitchen #101: Getting Toiletries on a Budget #102: Saving on Salon Expenses #103: Cutting Your Kids’ Hair #104: Expanding Your Wardrobe #105: Getting Stains Out of Kids’ Clothing #106: Reconstructing Your Clothes #107: Shopping for Secondhand Clothes #108: Utilizing Community Resources #109: Having Fun in Your Own Backyard and Beyond Take a Family Field Trip Discover the Games People Play Plan a Movie Night #110: Saving for a Family Vacation #111: Traveling on a Few Dollars a Day Choose Less-Expensive Travel Times Book Affordable Accommodations Eat Well for Less #112: Finding Transportation Bargains Find a Deal on a Set of Wheels Use Public Transportation Bike or Walk #113: Saving on Phone Bills #114: Staying Cool on the Cheap #115: Keeping Warm Turn Down the Thermostat Deal with Drafts #116: Making Your Own Cleaning Solutions White Vinegar Baking Soda Bleach #117: Fixing Squeaky Floors #118: Extending the Life of Your Roof #119: Fixing Roof Leaks #120: Prolonging the Life of Your Siding Vinyl Siding Stucco Wood Siding #121: Using Less Energy #122: Keeping Your Fridge Running Well Take Care of the Condenser Coils Clean the Gasket Defrost the Freezer and Drain Line Maintain Inline Water Filtration #123: Insulating to Save Energy Costs Attic Insulation Wall Insulation Floor Insulation #124: Insulating Pipes #125: Insulating Heat Ducts #126: Stopping Air Leaks Air Leaks around Windows Air Leaks around Doors #127: Identifying and Fixing Plumbing Leaks #128: Improving Water Heater Efficiency #129: Helping Your Furnace Work More Efficiently #130: Saving on Your Vehicle Fuel Expenses Take a Look under the Hood Start Up without Warming Up Fill ’Er Up Keep Your Side Windows Shut and the AC Turned off Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated #131: Adding Antifreeze #132: Checking and Changing Your Oil Check Your Oil Change Your Oil #133: Taking Care of Your Tires Check Tire Pressure Add Air to Your Tires #134: Easily Making Other Automotive Checks and Fixes Do a Monthly Under-the-Hood Check Keep the Interior Clean Wash the Vehicle Frequently and Keep It Out of the Sun Change the Filters #135: Choosing an Automotive Service Facility Dealerships Chain and Department Stores Independents Specialists #136: Finding and Evaluating a New Automotive Service Part 5: Making the Most of Holidays and Other Special Events #137: Entertaining on a Shoestring #138: Throwing a Party on a Budget #139: Making Inexpensive Easter Baskets #140: Creating Frightfully Affordable Halloween Costumes #141: Celebrating a Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving #142: Trying Creative Hanukkah and Christmas Ideas #143: Hosting a Frugal Birthday Bash #144: Packing Up Treats on the Cheap #145: Finding Inexpensive Gifts for Your Sweetheart #146: Checking Out Frugal Gift Ideas for Any Occasion #147: Making Great Gift Baskets #148: Cutting Costs with a Birthday Box #149: Exploring Alternative Gift Ideas #150: Looking at Gifts for Bridal and Baby Showers Part 6: Staying Afloat If the Boat Starts to Sink #151: Spotting Signs of Financial Trouble #152: Avoiding Credit Pitfalls #153: Getting Copies of Your Credit Report and Scores Your Credit Report Your Credit Score #154: Checking Your Credit Report #155: Disputing Inaccurate Info on Your Credit Report The Dispute Process How to Correct All Your Credit Reports #156: Adding Positive Info to Your Credit Report Add Utility and Cellphone Payments to Your Report Open New Credit Accounts #157: Taking the First Steps to Dig Out of Credit Card Debt #158: Gauging Your Need for Help with Credit Situations #159: Taking Debt Situations into Your Own Hands Credit Cards Mortgages Student Loans #160: Working with a Credit Counseling Agency Debts Credit Counseling Can Help With How to Find a Great Credit Counseling Agency #161: Creating a Debt Management Plan #162: Talking to Creditors to Work Out a Solution Contact Your Creditor Promptly Explain Your Situation Offer a Solution Cover All the Bases #163: Negotiating a Payback Arrangement with Collectors #164: Avoiding Debt Settlement #165: Keeping Credit Under Control While Unemployed Prepare Your Credit for the Worst-Case Scenario Refigure the Family Budget Protect Your Credit Lines #166: Consolidating Debts Discover Consolidation Options Compare the Costs of Loans #167: Taking Control When Foreclosure Looms Freeze Your Finances Prioritize Your Bills Know Who to Contact Gather Important Documents #168: Drafting a Plan of Attack to Offset Foreclosure #169: Understanding Types of Bankruptcy Qualifying for Chapter 7 Qualifying for Chapter 13 #170: Avoiding Bankruptcy Make a Budget Allow Your Family to Bail You Out Sell Your Assets Transfer Credit Card Balances Restructure Home Mortgages #171: Choosing Which Bills to Pay When You File for Bankruptcy #172: Negotiating with Creditors to Avoid Bankruptcy Workout Agreements A Threat of Bankruptcy #173: Handling IRS Debts Part 7: The Part of Tens #174: Ten Ways to Trim the Money Tree #175: Ten Ways to Handle Financial Emergencies Index Connect with Dummies End User License Agreement
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