The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Your Money

Book excerpt: You're no idiot, of course. You know how to write a check, make a deposit, and read a monthly statement. With financial markets in flux and many Americans mired in debt, you're looking for better ways to manage your money, but learning the financial ropes is testing the limits of your time and patience. Save your money and your life! The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Managing Your Money, Third Edition, is written by two experts who know the world of saving, investing, and credit inside and out. You'll learn savvy strategies to fatten your wallet and cut your costs from credit cards, mortgages, car-buying, and checking. In this Complete Idiot's Guide®, you get: Common-sense advice on how to decipher-and profit from-economy and market reports. Tips on maintaining a sound credit rating and winning loan approval. Idiot-proof ways to protect your personal and financial information from fraud. Ten money-making secrets your banker won't tell you.