Managing Your Money All-in-One For Dummies
xii
Chapter 5: Fixing Up Your Credit Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Understanding Why a Credit Report Is Important .................................... 81
What Is a Credit Report, Anyway? ............................................................... 83
Understanding How Bad Stuff Gets in Your Credit Report ...................... 86
Deciphering Your Credit Score .................................................................... 90
Examining Specialized Credit Bureaus ....................................................... 93
Book II: Managing Home and Personal Finances ........... 97
Chapter 1: Running a Money-Smart Household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Reaching Out to Touch Someone ................................................................ 99
Saving on Climate Control .......................................................................... 101
Cutting Back on Electricity and Gas Use .................................................. 106
Trash Talk: Controlling Garbage Costs ..................................................... 108
Reducing Television and Cable Expenses ................................................ 110
Cutting Down on Water Use ....................................................................... 110
Keeping a Ceiling on Housing Budgets ..................................................... 111
Cutting Transportation Costs .................................................................... 115
Purchasing Appliances ............................................................................... 120
Chapter 2: Home Ownership and Choosing the Right Mortgage. . . .123
Mortgage Basics ........................................................................................... 124
Assessing Your Financial Situation ........................................................... 125
Is a Fixed-Rate Mortgage in Your Future? ................................................. 130
Adjusting to an Adjustable-Rate Loan ....................................................... 133
Deciding What Loan Is Best for You .......................................................... 136
Chapter 3: Avoiding Foreclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Understanding That Mortgages Are a Different Credit Animal .............. 140
Alternatives to Going Down with the Ship ............................................... 147
Dealing with Defi ciencies ............................................................................ 151
Chapter 4: Keeping a Lid on Medical Costs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Saving on Medical Expenses ...................................................................... 153
Discovering What Makes a Great Health Insurance Plan ....................... 155
Deciding Between Individual and Group .................................................. 156
Saving Money on Individual Coverage ...................................................... 158
Coping with Health Insurance Problems .................................................. 161
Taking Decisive Action ............................................................................... 172
Chapter 5: Using the Internet to Help Manage Your Finances. . . . . .177
Giving Yourself an Online Financial Makeover ........................................ 178
Using the Internet to Budget ...................................................................... 180
Finding Online Resources to Track Your Income and Expenses ........... 183
Using the Internet to Get Free Financial Advice ...................................... 185
Finding Out What You're Worth ................................................................ 186
