The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beating Debt, 2E,9781592571161

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beating Debt, 2E

by ;
Edition: 2nd
ISBN13: 9781592571161
ISBN10: 1592571166
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2003-09-02
Publisher(s): DK Publishing, Inc.
  • Free Shipping Icon

    This Item Qualifies for Free Shipping!*

    *Excludes marketplace orders.

List Price: $19.90

Rent Book

Select for Price
Add to Cart
There was a problem. Please try again later.

New Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

Used Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

eBook

We're Sorry
Not Available

Buy from our Marketplace starting at $3.70

How Marketplace Works:

  • This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
  • Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
  • Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
  • Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
  • Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.

Summary

In this easy-to-use book, readers will learn that not all debt is bad debt and figure out which debt to keep, which debt to get rid of, and how to get rid of it easily. New chapters for the 2nd edition feature current information on: The new bankruptcy laws Cleaning up credit reports Handling college loans How to deal with predatory lending practices

Author Biography

Steven Strauss is a nationally recognized lawyer specializing in bankruptcy and IRS negotiations. He is the author of more than 25 financial books.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Money and Debt 1(30)
1 Not All Debt is Bad Debt
3(8)
Why Are You in Debt?
4(1)
Good and Bad Debt
5(3)
Good Debt
5(1)
Bad Debt Blues
6(2)
Debts You Want to Keep
8(1)
Debts to Get Rid Of
9(1)
The First Rule of Holes: Stop Digging!
9(1)
Long-Term Goals
10(1)
2 Early Warning Signs of Trouble
11(10)
Where Have All the Dollars Gone?
11(6)
But I Still Have Room on My Card
12(1)
The Balance Transfer Shuffle
12(2)
Dog Logic
14(1)
Bye-Bye Savings
14(1)
What's My Balance?
15(1)
End of the Line
16(1)
Your Money or Your Life
17(4)
Marriage and Money
17(1)
Test Yourself
17(4)
3 Take That Paper Bag Off Your Head When You Drive
21(10)
The Check Is in the Mail
22(1)
Congratulations, You've Been Approved
23(1)
Savings? Who Needs Savings?
24(1)
I Believe in Santa Claus
25(1)
Believing in Scarcity
26(1)
Working for Others
26(1)
Time for a Plan
27(1)
The Overspender
27(4)
Part 2: Changing Your Relationship with Money 31(60)
4 A Frank Talk with Dollar Bill
33(8)
Your Money History
34(1)
Do as I Say, Not as I Do
34(1)
What Were You Taught About Money?
35(3)
Money Stories
36(1)
Money Makes the World Go 'Round
37(1)
Money Beliefs
38(1)
Other Sources of Money Beliefs
39(1)
A Heart-to-Heart Talk with Money
39(2)
5 Money Affirmations
41(10)
Fake It 'Til You Make It
41(4)
Creative Visualization
43(1)
The Process
43(1)
Money Affirmations
44(1)
New Beliefs
45(3)
Think and Grow Rich
48(3)
6 Money Is a Family Matter
51(8)
For Richer, for Poorer
51(4)
Who Are You?
52(1)
When Worlds Collide
53(2)
Kids Are People, Too
55(2)
Whistle While You Work
55(1)
You Teach Best What You Most Need to Learn
56(1)
No Lessons Required
57(1)
Teen Time
57(2)
7 The "B" Word
59(12)
Budget Is Not a Four-Letter Word
60(4)
Keep a Good Record
62(1)
Your Plan
63(1)
Creating a Budget
64(5)
Income
64(1)
Fixed Expenses
65(1)
Discretionary Expenses
65(2)
A Sample Budget
67(2)
Budgets and Your Computer
69(2)
8 Now and Where to Cut Back
71(10)
A Good Attitude
72(1)
Food for Less
72(2)
Is It Possible to Save Money If You Have Kids?
74(1)
It Takes Money to Make Money
75(1)
Traveling on a Budget
76(2)
The Only Way to Fly
76(1)
Traveling Cheaply
77(1)
Young, Broke, and in Love
78(1)
Pleasure on the Cheap
78(1)
Money Can't Buy You Love
79(2)
9 Call Your Creditor and Say "Hi" (The Plan)
81(10)
Get Out of Debt, Now
82(1)
Commitment
82(1)
The Plan
83(1)
Calculating the Plan
84(2)
Remember Me?
86(2)
Keeping Good Records
88(5)
Keeping Track of Creditors
88(1)
Keep a Tally of Your Payments
89(2)
Part 3: When Cutting Back Is Not Enough 91(94)
10 Cleaning Up Your Credit
93(12)
Understanding Your Credit Report
93(5)
Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report
95(1)
Reading Your Credit Report
96(1)
Your FICO Score
97(1)
Your Friend: The Fair Credit Reporting Act
98(5)
Challenging Your Credit Report
98(1)
The Process
99(3)
When Worlds Collide
102(1)
Beware of "Credit-Fixing" Scams
103(2)
11 Refinancing Your Nome
105(10)
When Refinancing Makes Sense
106(3)
"The Lowest Rates We've Seen in Years!"
106(1)
Risky Business
107(2)
Types of Loans
109(2)
A New World Order
109(1)
Equity Lines of Credit
110(1)
Qualifying for a New Loan
110(1)
How Much Will This Cost?
111(1)
Winning at Refinancing
112(1)
Lender or Broker?
112(1)
Lock It In
113(1)
Final Thoughts
113(2)
12 Taming the Credit Card Goliath
115(10)
Credit Quicksand
115(3)
Read the Fine Print
116(1)
The Worst Trap of All
117(1)
There Has to Be a Better Way
118(2)
The Balance Transfer Dance
118(1)
The Cost of High Interest Rates
118(1)
Negotiate Like a Pro
119(1)
Introductory Rates Are Best
120(1)
Fees, Fi, Foe, Fum
120(2)
A Real Grace Period
121(1)
When Disputes Arise
121(1)
Bankruptcy
122(1)
The Smart Way to Use Credit Cards
123(2)
13 Talking to the Lion; Dealing with Creditors
125(8)
Dealing with the Original Creditor
125(3)
The Payment Plan
126(1)
We Can Work It Out
126(2)
Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain
128(5)
Empty Threats
128(1)
Turn the Tides
129(1)
Know Your Rights
129(1)
Stopping All Creditor Harassment
130(1)
Do Nothing
131(2)
14 Student Loan Strategies
133(10)
How Student Loans Work
133(2)
Repayment Options
134(1)
Formulating a Plan
135(3)
Service with a Smile
136(2)
Double Your Payments
138(1)
When in Doubt, Delay!
138(3)
Deferment
138(2)
Forbearances
140(1)
Consolidation
140(1)
Avoiding Default
141(2)
Already in Default
142(1)
15 IRS Folks Are People, Too
143(12)
Know Thy Foe
144(1)
IRS Employees Are People, Too
144(1)
The IRS Is Inefficient
145(1)
The First Commandment: Thou Shalt File Thy Taxes
145(2)
Filing for an Extension of Time
146(1)
Failing to File
146(1)
If You Do Not Have Records
147(1)
Payment Plans
147(2)
The Dreaded 500 Notices
148(1)
ACS
148(1)
The Taxman Cometh
149(3)
Types of Audits
150(1)
Preparing for an Audit
151(1)
It Is Appealing
152(3)
16 Beat the IRS!
155(12)
The Penalty Box
155(2)
Ridding Yourself of Liens and Levies
157(2)
Lien on Me
157(1)
Before the Levy Breaks
158(1)
Appealing a Collection Action
159(1)
Let's Make a Deal
160(3)
The Value of Your Assets
161(1)
How Much Can You Afford to Pay?
162(1)
Preparing the OIC
163(1)
The Bankruptcy Option
163(1)
Tax Court
164(3)
17 Handling Business Debts
167(10)
Reduce Your Overhead
167(1)
Begin with the Right Attitude
168(2)
Time for Some New Sources of Income
170(1)
Alternate Sources of Income
171(3)
Give Yourself a Raise
172(1)
Receive Your Receivables
173(1)
Business Loans
174(1)
Keeping Business Debts and Personal Debts Separate
175(1)
Closing Up Shop
176(1)
18 Debtors Anonymous
177(8)
Roots
178(1)
Alcoholics Anonymous
178(1)
Debtors Anonymous
178(1)
Does This Sound Familiar?
179(1)
How the Program Works
179(1)
Is DA Right for You?
180(2)
The Meeting
182(1)
The Magic Number: 12
183(4)
How to Contact Debtors Anonymous
184(1)
Part 4: A Last Option: Bankruptcy 185(56)
19 Bankruptcy Basics
187(4)
It's Not So Bad
188(1)
A Caveat
189(1)
The Argument
189(1)
The Proposed Solution
190(1)
Your Creditors Will Survive
190(1)
Is Bankruptcy Right for You?
191(3)
Bankruptcy Benefits
191(2)
The Dark Side of Bankruptcy
193(1)
Types of Bankruptcies
194
Chapter 7
194(1)
Chapter 13
195
20 Chapter 7 Prefiling Considerations
191(20)
All Debts Are Not Created Equal
198(4)
Secured Debts
198(2)
Unsecured Debts
200(1)
Special Debts
201(1)
Can You Keep Your Property?
202
Your Bankruptcy Estate
203(1)
What Property Is Exempt?
204(2)
How Much Is Your Property Really Worth?
206
Protecting Your House
201(10)
Exempting Your House
208(1)
If You Have Too Much Equity
208(3)
21 How a Chapter 7 Case Proceeds
211(10)
Relief Is in Sight
211(1)
Steps in the Process
212(4)
"If It Pleases the Court . . . "
212(1)
Getting Your Case Filed
213(1)
The First Meeting o Creditors
214(1)
The Reality of Reaffirmation
214(2)
Understanding Your Paperwork
216(2)
Amending Your Paperwork
218(1)
The Discharge
219(2)
22 Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
221(10)
Chapter 13 Overview
222(1)
Dealing With Secured Creditors
222(2)
Is Your Home Worth Keeping?
223(1)
Taxes and Other Debts
223(1)
Protecting Nonexempt Assets
224(1)
Other Reasons
225(1)
Bad Reasons for Choosing a Chapter 13
225(1)
Pros and Cons to Filing Chapter 13
226(1)
Requirements
226(1)
How Things Proceed
227(1)
Failure to Complete the Plan
228(3)
23 What Can Go Wrong?
231(10)
Problems with the Automatic Stay
231(2)
Relief from Stay Motions
232(1)
Acting Without Court Permission
233(1)
Bankruptcy Case Dismissals
233(1)
Denial of Discharge
234(1)
Problems After the Discharge
234(3)
Attempts to Collect Discharged Debts
235(1)
Discrimination
236(1)
Debts Not Listed
237(1)
Property Not Listed
238(5)
Property You Already Owned Prior to Filing
238(1)
Property You Recently Inherited or Acquired
238(3)
Part 5: Getting Ahead of the Game 241(40)
24 Getting Credit Again
243(10)
A Credit Card Society
243(5)
Secured Credit Cards
244(1)
Choosing a Secured Card
244(2)
Beware of Scams
246(1)
A Tiger in Your Tank
247(1)
Debit Cards
247(1)
Have We Got a Deal for You!
248(2)
No Money Down
248(1)
Everyone Is Approved!
249(1)
Insurance
249(1)
Passbook Loans
250(1)
A Mortgage?
250(3)
How Much House Can You Afford?
251(1)
Keeping Costs Down
251(1)
Finding Money for a Down Payment
252(1)
25 What the Rich Know That You Don't
253(10)
Start Now
254(1)
Assets and Liabilities
255(2)
Liabilities Are Not Assets
255(1)
Types of Assets
256(1)
Investing 101
257(1)
Investing Is Not Speculating
257(2)
Setting Your Investment Goals
259(1)
Taking the Plunge
259(1)
The 10 Percent Solution
260(3)
26 Staying Out of Trouble
263(12)
The Need for a Plan
264(1)
Insurance
264(1)
Homesteading
265(1)
The Prenup
265(1)
The Recoverable Living Trust
266(2)
Wills vs. Living Trusts
267(1)
Living Trust Benefits
267(1)
The Beauty of Incorporating
268(2)
Pros and Cons of Incorporating
269(1)
Limited Liability Companies
269(1)
Professional Corporations
270(1)
S Corporations
270(1)
Family Limited Partnerships and LLCs
270(2)
Limited Partnerships for Individuals and Families
271(1)
A Word of Caution
272(1)
Now, Therefore
272(3)
27 Life After Debt
275(6)
Be Smart with Your Money
275(3)
Keep rack of Your Spending
276(1)
Staying Out of Debt
277(1)
Ten Percent Is All We Ask
278(1)
On the Proper Use of Credit
278(1)
Help Beyond This Book
279(1)
Debt Counseling
279(1)
Counseling
280(1)
And Now, the End (or a New Beginning) Is Near
280
Appendixes
A Bankruptcy Petition and Schedules
281(30)
B Sample Chapter 13 Plan
311(2)
C Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; Relevant Sections
313(12)
D Fair Credit Reporting Act; Relevant Sections
325(20)
E Recommended Resources
345
F Glossary
341(10)
Index
351

An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.

This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.

By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.

Digital License

You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.

More details can be found here.

A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.

Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.

Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.