Don't Break the Bank: A Student's Guide to Managing Money (27 page)

Table of Contents

Contents

A Letter to Students

Part I :

Money, Money, Money...

Chapter 1:

Money Makes the World Go Around

The History of Money
Timeline of Money in the United States
How Does Money Get Printed?
Mutilated Money
The Lifespan of a Bill
A Look at Each Bill
The $100 Bill
The $50 Bill
The $20 Bill
The $10 Bill
The $5 Bill
The $2 Bill
The $1 Bill
Major U.S. Coins
Penny
Nickel
Dime
Quarter
Half-Dollar
Dollar
Inflation and How It Affects Your Money
Inflation and Buying Power
1990 Prices
Money Around the World
Global Money Math Challenges
Other Forms of Currency
Gamer Currency: Currency for a Virtual World
iTunes Cards
Gift Cards

Part II:

Ways to Earn Your Own Cash

Chapter 2

Earning Money at Home

Focus Groups
Online Surveys
Have a Yard Sale
Sell Stuff on eBay®
Sell Crafts and Other Items Online
Sell Your Photos
YouTube Videos
Web Design
Start Your Own Web Site or Blog
Tutoring
Quiz: What Type of Home-Based Job Would Be the Best Fit?
Watch Out for Work-at-Home Scams!
Sneak Peek: Get Money for Gaming
Crossword: Working World

Chapter 3

Part-Time Jobs and Other Ways to Make Money

Gigs and Occasional Work vs. Official Jobs
How to Find a Job
Classified Ads
Bulletin Boards
You Can Find Anything on Craig’s List (for Better or for Worse)
Help from a Monster (and Other Job Sites)
Twitter™ and Facebook®
Word of Mouth
Common Jobs for Teens
Babysitting
Mowing Lawns
Running Errands
Pet-sitting: Who Let the Dogs Out?
Restaurant Jobs: The Best Kind of Tips
Retail Jobs: Time for the Big Sale
Car Wash—Going to the Car Wash, Yeah!
Things to Consider with a Part-Time Job
Getting Paid (and Being Prepared for Your First Paycheck)

Chapter 4

Analyzing Your Paycheck

Working for the Man: Mandatory Deductions
Voluntary Deductions
Year-to-Date Totals
Where Does This Money Go?
The Most Common Payroll Deductions
Federal Income Tax
State/Local Income Tax
Social Security Tax

Part III

Banking 101

Chapter 5

Making Cents Out of Banking

How Banks Work
Now this is Interesting: Understanding Interest Rates
72 Reasons to Love Banking
How to Choose a Bank
Bank vs. Credit Union
Reading Your Bank Statement
Common Terms Used by Banks
Check, Please!
Farewell to the Float
Attack of the Killer Fees
Practice Makes Perfect—Filling out a Check
What Does It Mean to Be Overdrawn?
Putting Things in Balance
BTW, You Can Use an ATM
Debit or Leave It

Chapter 6

Online Banking and Bill Paying

Advantages of Online Banking
Disadvantages
Direct Deposit
Automatic Savings
Online-Only Banks
Online Bill Paying
Safety First
Watch Your Account Activity Closely
Identity Theft
Protect Yourself
Ten Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft
Watch Out for Phishing and Online Scams
How to Avoid Getting “Hooked” by a Phishing Scam
Keep an Eye on Your Credit Reports

Part IV

Being Financially Responsible

Chapter 7

Saving for a Rainy Day

The Importance of Savings
Where to Put Your Savings
Savings Accounts
Investment Account
Opening a Savings Account
How to Start Saving
Take Baby Steps
Get Your Family (or Friends) Involved
Save It Before You See It
Keep (and Stash) the Change
Cut Expenses to Save Money

Chapter 8

Don’t Spend It All in One Place: Creating (and Sticking to) a Budget

How to Set Up a Budget
The Best Laid Plans
How Far Would $100 Go?
Pinpoint Your Priorities
Make It a Family Affair
Needs vs. Wants
Common Expenses—The Stuff We All Want
Go Go Gadgets!
Can You Hear Me Now? Cell Phone Expenses
Food
Bored to Death, Excited to Debt
I Get Around: Gas and Transportation Costs
Clothing
Ways to Save Money and Cut Expenses
3 Things You Can Do to Make Your Money Last

Part V

Credit Cards and Debt

Chapter 9

Understanding Debt and Credit

What Is Credit?
Good and Bad Credit
Credit Reporting Agencies
Contacting the Credit Bureaus
Your Credit Report
Your Credit Score
Checking Out Your Credit Report
How Bad Credit Can Hurt You
How Is Your Credit Score Used?
Landlords
Employers
Score vs. Report: Which Is Better?
What to Do If Your Report Isn’t Perfect
If There Are Errors in Your Report
Deciding What to Pay First
Building Good Credit

Chapter 10

Charge It! (Paying with Plastic)

Can You Get a Card?
Credit Card Pros and Cons
Advantages
Disadvantages
Credit Card Terms
Interest Will Sneak Up on You
Remember Your Credit Limit
Uncover the Hidden Charges
Increased Interest
Do’s and Don’ts of Credit Cards
Choosing a Credit Card
Secured Credit Cards
Prepaid Cards
Student Prepaid Debit Cards
The CARD Act and What It Means to You
Safeguards Against Rate Increases
Improved Billing Practices
Fee Restrictions
Increased Disclosures
Protections for Consumers Under 21
Quiz: What’s Your Credit Card I.Q.?

Part VI

Money U: Paying for Your College Years

Chapter 11

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Types of Financial Aid
Grants
Scholarships
Loans
Applying for Financial Aid
Online Financial Aid Resources
FAFSA Online
Nelnet, Inc.
FinAid
Common Questions About Student Loan Repayment

Chapter 12

Managing Your Finances While in College

Practice Being Independent
No Such Thing as Normal
For the Dorm Dwellers
Off-Campus Living
Are You Ready for Roommates?
Roommate Money Questions to Consider
Keep Credit Cards Under Control
Be Smart with Student Loan Debt
Your Income May Affect Your Financial Aid
Save Money on Textbooks
Beware the Unpaid Internship
Maintain Your Money Habits

Part VII

Taking Stock of Your Financial Future: Investing

Chapter 13

Investing: How to Make Your Money Grow

The Game of Risk
Doing the Diversification Dance
Liquidity
Stock Market
Some Important Stock Market Terms
Check Out My CDs
Money Market Accounts
Mutual Funds
Government Bonds
Real Estate
Collectibles

Glossary

Resources

Books
Web Sites

Special Advertising Section

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