Title Details

Why Do You Need This Book?

How to Use This Book.

Chapter 1: Setting Realistic Expectations.

Figuring Out What Your Goals Are.

Determining Your Goals: A Five-Year Plan.

Setting Priorities.

Managing your money to accomplish your goals.

Managing your time.

Forming Strategies for Success.

Be flexible but focused.

Learn to live on less.

Write This Down!

Chapter 2: Distinguishing Needs and Wants.

What I Really Need Is ... .

Housing.

Food.

Transportation.

Clothing.

Adding it up.

What I Really Want Is ... .

Understanding what discretionary spending is.

Factoring in the influence of advertising.

Making Good Choices.

D: Distinguish between needs and wants.

I: Identify the opportunity costs and benefits.

C: Choose what’s best for you.

E: Evaluate your choices.

Chapter 3: Putting Together a Budget.

Looking at Your Income.

Gross income.

Net income.

Taking Your Monthly Expenses into Account.

Fixed expenses.

Discretionary expenses.

Factoring in the Need for Savings.

Forming strategies for savings.

Saving for big-ticket items.

Chapter 4: Dealing with Debt.

Sources of Debt.

Car loans.

Weddings.

A university or college education.

Mortgages.

Home equity loans.

Getting Out of Debt.

Reduce your spending.

Start saving.

Taking action to pay off your debts.

Chapter 5: Getting Credit (Where Credit Is Due).

The Pros and Cons of Credit.

First-time Credit.

Deciding on an Acceptable Level of Credit.

Avoiding the Credit Card Trap with the Two-Card System.

Finding a good card.

Using the two-card system.

Understanding the Cost of Credit.

Recognize signs of trouble.

Cut credit costs.

Chapter 6: Creating a Savings Plan.

The Benefits of Saving.

Savings Plans on the Job.

Ten Tips for Saving Money.

Set up a separate savings account.

Learn to live on less.

Use automatic deductions for savings.

Avoid credit cards.

Reduce your taxes.

Save all "found" money.

After you pay a debt, save the same amount.

Do your research.

Use a piggy bank.

Set up a money-saver buddy system.

Building a Nest Egg for the Future.

Step 1: Save $100.

Step 2: Save $1,000.

Step 3: Save $10,000.

Chapter 7: Creating an Investment Strategy.

Avoiding the Roller-Coaster Approach to Investing.

Getting Some Free Practice at Investing by Doing a Rehearsal.

GICs: safe investments.

Mutual funds: diversified, managed stocks.

Managing Your Investments.

Watching your money grow.

Using the Rule of 72.

Keeping track of your investments.

Chapter 8: Making Your Bank Work for You.

Looking at Bank Services.

Starting a Bank Account.

Chequing Accounts.

Savings Accounts.

Linking your savings and chequing accounts.

Building up your savings painlessly.

Electronic Banking and Using Automatic Banking Machines.

Electronic services.

Banking machines.

Dealing with Bank Statements.

Reconciling your bank account.

Handling mistakes.

Chapter 9: Planning for the Inevitable: Taxes.

Income Taxes.

Staying informed.

Getting organized.

Getting the records you need.

Knowing what gets taxed.

Reducing How Much Tax You Pay.

Avoiding Tax Trouble.

Staying alert to audits.

Doing the right thing.

Chapter 10: Keeping It All Together by Keeping Records.

Getting Organized.

Creating folders for keeping your financial records.

Keeping personal records.

Staying Organized.

Final Review.

Q&A.

Scenarios.

Answers.

Consider This.

Practice Projects.

Resource Centre.

Internet.