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Part 1: Money and Debt 1
1 Not All Debt Is Bad Debt 3
Learn the difference between good debt and bad debt.
2 Early Warning Signs of Trouble 11
Money troubles are hard to ignore, but you can employ certain strategies to ease the tension.
3 Take That Paper Bag Off Your Head When You Drive 21

From late payments to poor planning to minimum payments to overspending, learn the most common mistakes people make that get them into debt.
Part 2: Changing Your Relationship with Money 31
4 A Frank Talk with Dollar Bill 33
How you think about money has as much to do with your financial health as anything else.
5 Money Affirmations 43
These simple techniques will help you to think about money the way people with no debt problems do.
6 Money Is a Family Matter 53
You learned more about money from your family than anywhere else. Make sure you are teaching your kids healthier money attitudes.
7 The “B” Word 61

Budget is not a bad word.
8 How and Where to Cut Back 71

Yes, you can cut back your expenses without radically affecting your lifestyle.
9 Call Your Creditor and Say “Hi” (The Plan) 81

Creating a solid plan of action will get you out of debt.
Part 3: When Cutting Back Is Not Enough 91
10 Refinancing Your Home 93
Under the right circumstances, refinancing your home can reduce your indebtedness.
11 Taming the Credit Card Goliath 103

Learn how to avoid the credit card trap and what to do if credit cards are your problem.
12 Talking to the Lion: Dealing With Creditors 113
Learn the inside secrets of credit collectors and find out
how to get them off your back.
13 IRS Folks Are People, Too 123

Find out how the IRS works and learn how to get rid of basic tax problems.
14 Beat the IRS! 133

Learn how to settle your tax debts for pennies on the dollar.
15 Handling Business Debts 145

Raise prices? Cut overhead? Figure out the best way to handle business debts.
16 Debtors Anonymous 155

Debtors Anonymous can be a lifesaver for those whose overspending is out of control.
Part 4: A Last Option: Bankruptcy 163
17 Bankruptcy Basics 165

Learn what bankruptcy is, how it works, and what to expect.
18 Chapter 7 Pre-Filing Considerations 175
A Chapter 7 may be right for you, if you have the right sorts of debts and don’t own too much property.
19 How a Chapter 7 Case Proceeds 187
Discover how much the case will cost, what your hearing will be like, and more.
20 Chapter 13 Bankruptcy 197
In the right circumstances, a Chapter 13 repayment plan can get you out of debt.
21 What Can Go Wrong? 207

Although problems rarely crop up in a bankruptcy, you need to know how to avoid them and what to do when they occur.
Part 5: Getting Ahead of the Game 215
22 Getting Credit Again 217

Getting credit after a financial crisis doesn’t have to be so hard.
23 What the Rich Know That You Don’t 227

The rich know a few things about money that a lot of people don’t. Read this chapter to learn the secrets of the very rich.

Real Estate Investing 237
Investing in real estate is a great way to get ahead financially.
25 Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds 247

Learn the basics of investing in equities, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
26 Starting Your Own Business 257

Working for yourself can be one of the most satisfying things you may ever do and can go a long way toward creating financial security.
27 Life After Debt 267
Get some tips on living a debt-free life and find out what resources are available beyond this book.

Appendixes
A Bankruptcy Petition and Schedules 275
See what your bankruptcy paperwork may look like.
B Sample Chapter 13 Plan 305
See what a Chapter 13 plan looks like.
C Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:
Relevant Sections 307
The salient portions of this important consumer protection law are in this appendix.
D Fair Credit Reporting Act: Relevant Sections 317
Learn what credit agencies can and cannot legally do.
E Recommended Resources 335
Financial books and Web sites can provide help beyond this book.
F Glossary 337
A listing of some of the more important terms that you may not already know.
Index 341