A SAMPLE CHAPTER FROM GET A FINANCIAL LIFE
CRIB NOTES
A Cheat Sheet for Time-Pressed Readers Who Need Help Now
If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of delving into chapter after chapter on personal finance, this section’s for you. The advice below cuts to the chase and puts you on the road to a solid financial life. Adopting even one or two of these strategies will leave you ahead of the game, whether the economy is soaring or suffering. Of course, as someone’s mother once said, cheaters only cheat themselves. And while this chapter is a good launching pad, ignoring the remaining nine chapters is a little like relying on the CliffsNotes version of Macbeth: You’ll get the basic plot line but never understand what all the fuss is about. Still, the following will give you the basics. I’ve tried to list them in rough order of importance, but your priorities will depend on your own situation.
Insure yourself against financial ruin
Pay off your debt the smart way
Start contributing to a tax-favored retirement savings plan
Build an emergency cushion using an automatic savings plan
Consider investing in stock and bond funds
Find out your credit score and improve it
Think about buying a house or an apartment
Get smart about income tax