Managing your personal finances

Presents an introduction to money management, defining words related to the topic and explaining how to determine actual income and spending habits, develop a budget that works, set financial goals, and save and invest.

Introduces the elements of a paycheck, explaining deductions; identifying ways to reduce adjusted gross income (AGI); defining "gross" and "net" pay, "taxable income," "withholding," "FICA," "W-2," and "W-4"; and discussing the importance of saving and investing.

An introduction to saving and investing, explaining the difference between simple and compound interest, and offering insights from industry experts on savings accounts and investment strategies.

Provides expert advice on how to buy a car, explaining how to figure a car budget, how to buy on the Web, the pros and cons of buying and leasing, financing, and how to check prices and performance ratings.

Offers guidelines for using credit, discussing simple and compound interest; secured, unsecured, revolving, and installment credit; finance charges; annual fees; credit reports; the disadvantages of too much credit; and the importance of a good credit rating.

An introduction to banking, looking at the differences between commercial banks, credit unions, and savings and loans, and explaining how to use debit cards, ATM cards, and personal checks, how to write a check and balance a checkbook, and how to bank online.