Introduction: The Spending Smart Philosophy xiv
Chapter 1 Financial FITness: Whacking the Worst Offenders 1
Stockpiling Food for Savings: Bodega in the Basement 3
Coupon Clipping Conundrum: Hassle or Goldmine? 6
Dining Out: Celebrations Versus Poor Meal Planning 9
Life Insurance: It's Your Money and Your Life 12
Home and Auto Insurance: Don't Pay Too Much 16
Phone at Home: Pay Less for Your Landline 19
Wireless Mobile Phone: Don't Let Them Cell You a Bad Plan 23
Chapter 2 Know Thine Enemy; It Is Us: The Problem Between Our Ears 27
Smart People, Dumb Spending: Fire the Accountant in Your Head 28
Evaluating Value: Psychological Income 32
Impulse Spending: Harness the Urge to Splurge 34
No Excuses: The Lies We Tell Ourselves 37
Money Personalities: What Type Are You? 39
Shopping Addiction: “Shop Till You Drop” Ain't Funny 43
Chapter 3 What a Waste!: Pet Peeves and Hot Buttons 45
Bottled Water: Tap into Savings 46
Junky Insurance: Extended Warranties and Other Insurance You Don't Need 49
Timeshare Vacations: The Worst Real Estate Deal Ever 52
Smoking: Your Money, Up in Smoke 54
Ink-Jet Cartridges: Refill Rage 57
Lottery: Winning the Jackpot Isn't a Financial Plan 59
Textbooks: Get Schooled in the Alternatives 60
Hybrid Vehicles: Have a Nonfinancial Reason for Buying One 62
Greeting Cards Discarded: Special-Occasion Cardboard Rethought 64
Chapter 4 The Big Picture: Strategies for Spending Smart 67
Comparison Shopping: What's a Good Price? 68
Tracking Spending: Forensics on Your Finances 71
Rules of Thumb: Benchmarks for Spending Smart 74
Buying Tactics: When the Price Isn't Really the Price 77
Curse of Automatic Payments: Monthly Commitments Will Haunt You 79
Buying Used: Secondhand Gives You a Leg Up 81
Spending Windfalls: Don't Blow It 84
Membership Has Its Privileges: Savings by Association 86
Shopping Online: Geek Your Way to Savings 89
Chapter 5 Around the House Everyday Spending 93
Running Hot and Cold: Keep Your Bought Air Indoors 94
Gasoline: Fuel Savings with Better Mileage 98
Television: Tune In to Savings 100
Pets: Don't Let Fido Sink Your Finances 104
Prescription Drugs: Just Say No to High Prices for Meds 106
Library: Free Stuff Galore 109
Compact Fluorescents: See the Light 111
Lawn and Garden: Grow Your Savings 114
Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses: See the Price Difference 117
Clothing: Better Duds for Less 120
Chapter 6 Financial Foolishness: Overspending for Financial Services 123
Bank Accounts: Don't Pay Anyone to Hold Your Money 124
Credit Cards: Play the Game Right 127
Credit Cards II: Advanced Tactics 130
Debt Reduction: Finish Paying for Your Purchases 131
Index Mutual Funds: You Can't Beat 'em, So Join 'em 134
Identity Theft: What Protections are Worthwhile? 137
Chapter 7 That Time of Year: Seasonal Strategies for Spending Smart 143
Back to School Spending: School Daze 144
Holiday Spending: Ho, Ho, Ho. Where'd My Money Go? 146
Valentine's Day on the Cheap…Without Ending Up in the Doghouse 148
Tax Preparation: Frugal Ways to Pay Uncle Sam 151
Wedding Gifts: An Invitation Is Not an Invoice 154
Kid Birthday Parties: Rein in the Ridiculous 155
Amusement Parks: Costs Shouldn't Take You for a Ride 157
Vacation Accommodations: Hotel Versus Home Rental 159
Chapter 8 Life Happens: Big-Ticket Infrequent Spending 163
How Much Car Can I Afford?-Less Than You Think 164
Why Buy Used? You're Not Buying Someone Else's Problem 167
How Much House Can I Afford? Don't Be “House Poor” 170
Moving Costs: Getting Your Stuff from Here to There 172
Wedding Spending: Like Marriage, It's About Compromise 174
College Tuition: The Two-Year, Two-Year Plan 178
Divorce: Spending Less on Splitting Up 181
Hospital Bills: Rampant Mistakes Are Sickening 183
Funerals: Try to Bury the Pain and Guilt 185
A Final Thought: Buying Happiness 189
Index 195