Table of Contents
Introduction 10
Chapter 1 Curb Mindless Spending 11
1 Avoid the Spending Trap! 12
2 Make a Financial Bucket List 13
3 Don't Quit Cold Turkey-Cut Back 15
4 Never Miss a Payment 15
5 Make a Wish List 16
6 Do the 10/10 Rule 17
7 Simplify Your Coffee 17
8 Hack Your Spending with the Envelope Method 18
9 Aim for Zero 19
10 Carry Big Bills 20
11 Declutter Your Phone 20
12 Unfollow Your Favorite Brands 21
13 Keep Temptation Out of Your Inbox 22
14 Don't Fall for the Free Shipping Trap 23
15 Streamline Your Subscriptions 24
16 Ditch the Shopping Cart! 25
17 Write It Down 26
18 Save 100 Percent 27
19 Reconsider Whether Membership Is Worth It 28
20 Stop Those Free Trials 29
21 Make a List 30
22 Check Your Bank Account 31
23 Never Start a Tab 31
24 Think Big with "Bonus" Money 32
25 Frame a Positive Narrative 33
26 Stop Trying to Be Perfect 34
27 Sweat the Big Stuff 35
28 Savor a Splurge All Month 36
29 Recalculate Prices As Hours of Work 36
30 Opt Out of Overdraft Protection 37
31 Live in the Future 37
32 Spend on the Buddy System 38
33 Save Money on Settling Up 39
34 Make the Holidays Stress-Free 40
35 Swear Off Spending 41
36 Live the Cash-Only Life 42
37 Make It Harder to Shop Online 43
38 Hit the Gym 44
39 Start a New Hobby 45
40 Join a Buy-Nothing Group 46
41 Use the Stranger Test 47
42 Outsmart Pricing Tricks 47
43 Avoid Temptation by Enjoying Convenience 48
44 Pay Yourself to Splurge 49
45 Don't Shop When You're Tired 50
46 Focus On Your Financial Goals 51
47 Pay Now or Not at All 52
Chapter 2 Be a Savvy Saver 53
48 Choose Two Savings Goals 54
49 Get Free Movies at the Library 54
50 Save 10 Percent of Every Paycheck 55
51 Automate Your Savings 56
52 Round Up to Boost Your Savings 57
53 Never, Ever Pay Bank Fees 58
54 Get Cash Back 59
55 Pay Your Bills Up Front 60
56 Keep the Best interest Rates 61
57 Make Your Money Work for You 62
58 Make Tuesday Your New Movie Night 62
59 Install a Browser Extension 63
60 Team Up for Greater Savings 64
61 Reap the Benefits of Loyalty 65
62 Earn Rebates 66
63 Browse Your Local Pawn Shops 67
64 Roll Your Own Coins 67
65 Buy Refurbished Electronics 68
66 Visit Tourist Attractions for Free 69
67 Share Your Ride 70
68 Be the Host with the Most 71
69 Save Money at a Repair Café 71
70 Pay Less for Prescription Drugs 72
71 Budget Your Utility Bill 73
72 Clean the Back of Your Fridge 74
73 Turn Down the Heat 75
74 Save Money by Moving on a Weekday 76
75 Get an Energy Audit 76
76 Use Ceiling Fans Strategically 77
77 Never Forget a Bill Again 78
78 Stop Buying Books 78
79 Spend Money to Save Money (and Time) 79
80 Score Double Savings on Groceries 79
81 Make Your Shopping Trips Count 80
82 Avoid Convenience Stores 81
83 Enjoy Fresh Herbs with Every Meal 81
84 Shop Clockwise at the Grocery Store 82
85 Fly on the Cheapest Days 82
86 Buy Lunch Twice a Week 83
87 Shop Your Pantry Instead of the Store 84
88 Fill Your Gas Tank on Monday 84
89 Try Every Weird Tip Once 85
90 Always Buy the Biggest Pizza 86
91 Stock Your Garden for Free 87
92 Tune In to New Skills 88
93 Buy a Transit Pass 89
94 Take Out Your Cell Phone 89
95 Cut Insurance You Don't Need 90
96 Make Your Airfare "Typical" or "Cheap" 91
97 Never Prepay for Gas 92
98 Negotiate Car Prices by Email 93
99 Haggle the Best Price 94
Chapter 3 Get Debt-Free 95
100 Check Your Free Credit Report 96
101 Know Your Debt 97
102 Keep Your Oldest Credit Card 98
103 Check Your Statement 98
104 Get Your Annual Fee Waived 99
105 Track to Motivate 100
106 Make Every Dollar Count 100
107 Score FICO for Free 101
108 Never Be Late 102
109 Ask Your Landlord to Report Your Rent 103
110 Lower Your Interest 104
111 Aim for Excellence 105
112 Set Smaller Goals 105
113 Boost Your Credit Score 106
114 Start an Avalanche or Build a Snowball 107
115 Kickstart with a Blizzard 108
116 Pay More Often 108
117 Hide Your Credit Cards 109
118 Write a Goodwill Letter 109
119 Look for Balance Transfer Offers 110
120 Partner Up for Accountability 111
121 Reward Yourself 112
122 Remember Why You're Doing This 113
123 Automate Your Payments 114
124 Pay Off Your Debt with Refunds 114
125 Claim Your Missing Money 115
126 Repair Your Credit with a Secured Card 116
127 Track Down Your Student Loans 117
128 Never Skip a Payment 117
129 Never Let Your Student Loans Default 118
130 Choose the Right Repayment Plan 119
131 Make Payments Every Other Week 121
132 Check If You're Eligible for Forgiveness 123
133 Never Buy Rewards 124
134 Max Your Credit Card Rewards 124
135 Never Let Your Rewards Expire 125
136 Find the Best Places to Earn Rewards 125
137 Spread Out Your Balances 126
138 Consider Your Options for Medical Bills 127
139 Reallocate Your Credit 128
140 Take the Shortest Possible Loan Term 129
141 Skip the Extended Warranty 130
142 Ask for Help 131
143 Use Reward Points to Buy Gift Cards 133
144 Ask for a Better Sign-Up Bonus 134
145 Choose the Best Travel Credit Card 135
146 Always Pay in Local Currency 135
Chapter 4 Make More Money 137
147 Find Out What You're Worth 138
148 Take Your Address Off Your Resume 138
149 Build Your Public Portfolio 139
150 Use Every Vacation Day 140
151 Learn a Skill You Can Sell 141
152 Get Credentials in Your Field 142
153 Don't Give the Government a Loan 142
154 Always Negotiate a Job Offer 143
155 Let Strangers Rent Your Time 144
156 Use a Job Offer to Get a Salary Boost 145
157 Set Your Hourly Rate 146
158 Outsource Time-Sucks 147
159 Know Your Target, Alternative, and Reservation 148
160 Add Up Your Benefits 149
161 Let Your Job Pay You to Exercise 149
162 Keep an Eye on the Job Boards 150
163 Get a Mentor 151
164 Skip Your Commute 152
165 Brag a Little 153
166 Work Off Your Student Loans 153
167 Track Your Mileage 154
168 Sell Your Junk Mail 154
169 Find Extra Money in Your Paycheck 155
170 Find the Perfect Side Hustle 156
171 Deliver Groceries, Packages, or People 156
172 Start a Seasonal Side Hustle 157
173 Become a Notary 158
174 Show Off Your Hometown 159
175 Leverage Your Second Language 159
176 Get Paid to Share Your Home 160
177 Stick with a Short-Term Rental 160
178 Tutor Students Around the World 161
179 Hang with a Pet 161
180 Get Cash for Last Year's Phone 162
181 Sell Your Stuff to Your Neighbors 162
182 Sell Your Books, DVDs, and Video Games 163
183 Pay Attention to Class Action Settlements 164
184 Get Paid for Your Opinions 165
185 Get Paid to Sleep Over 166
186 Use Your Hands to Make Extra Cash 167
187 Rent Your Garage, Shed, or Yard 167
188 Become a Shopping Detective 168
189 Let Strangers Rent Your Car 169
190 Wrap Your Car 170
191 Switch Banks for the Bonus 171
Chapter 5 Plan for the Future 173
192 Blow Out Your Money Candles 174
193 Go On a Money Date 175
194 Merge with Caution 176
195 Choose Equitable over Equal 177
196 Determine Your Investing Risk 177
197 Go Mortgage Hunting 178
198 Get Financially Fit 179
199 Get Free Money from Your Boss 180
200 Don't Watch the Market 181
201 Start with a Robo-Advisor 181
202 Pay Taxes Now to Save Later 182
203 Use Your Investment Time Machine 182
204 Work for Yourself? Don't Forget to Save 183
205 Invest In the 5 Percent Rule 184
206 Choose a Target 185
207 Double Your Money 186
208 Celebrate Your Money Anniversary 187
209 Don't Overlook Money Market Funds 188
210 Don't Forget to Actually Invest Your Money 189
211 Become a Homebuying Pro 190
212 Keep Company Stock Out of Your Portfolio 191
213 Ask Your Employer for Lower Fees 192
214 Ditch PMI ASAP 192
215 Go On a Retirement Treasure Hunt 193
216 Wed Wisely 194
217 Get Vested 195
218 Don't Rob Your Retirement 196
219 Save for Graduate School 196
220 Prepare Your Baby for College Costs 197
221 Aim for 80 Percent in Retirement 198
222 Save Money on Financial Planning 198
223 Make Sure Your Money Lasts 199
224 Create a Backup Investing Account 200
225 Protect Your Finances with a Fiduciary 201
226 Let Your Money Be Boring 202
227 Lock Down Your Credit 202
228 Get Your FICO Mortgage Score 203
229 Request a Rapid Rescore 203
230 Make a Big Down Payment 204
231 Pay Points Now to Save Later 204
232 Figure Out Your PITI 205
233 Buy a House for Less 206
234 Save Thousands on Your Mortgage 207
Chapter 6 Protect Your Money 209
235 Put Your Credit on Ice 210
236 Set Up Banking Alerts 211
237 Choose Better Passwords 212
238 Cover the ATM PIN Pad 213
239 Avoid Tax Phishing Scams 214
240 File Your Tax Return As Early As Possible 215
241 Don't Do Financial Tasks on Public Wi-Fi 216
242 Don't Click on Text Messages from Your Bank 217
243 Make a Will While You're Healthy 217
244 Never Give Out Your PIN 218
245 Kick Up Credit Card Fraud Help 219
246 Consider Spending Extra for Wedding Insurance 220
247 Protect Your New Car Purchase 221
248 Hold On to Your Gains 222
249 Don't Be Fooled by the January Effect 223
250 Don't Get Duped by Funeral Homes 223
251 Look Up Your Insurance Profile 224
252 Avoid Permanent Life Insurance 225
253 Protect Your Final Wishes with a Trust 225
254 Buy Term Life Insurance Early 226
255 Buy More Life Insurance Than You Think You Need 227
256 Get an Insurance Discount 228
257 Protect Your Salary 229
258 Cover Your Own Occupation 230
259 Grab an Umbrella (Policy) 231
260 Name Names on Your Financial Accounts 232
261 Go Window Shopping 233
262 Hold On to Your Car Keys 234
263 Create an Emergency Folder 235
264 Consider Final Expense Insurance 236
265 Buy Travel Insurance, but Only Sometimes 237
266 Review Your Health Insurance Plan Every Year 238
267 Learn the Difference Between HMOs and PPOs Once and for All 239
268 Get the Most Expensive Deductible You Can Afford 240
269 Talk to Your Parents about Their Money 241
270 Talk about Long-Term Care Plans for Mom and Dad 242
271 Think about Long-Term Care Plans for Yourself 242
272 Leave a Legacy 243
273 Don't Let the Market Upset You in September 243
274 Take an Inventory 244
275 Value Your Valuables 245
276 Save Claims for Big Mishaps 246
277 Prepare for Disasters 247
278 Think Twice Before You Loan Money 248
279 Check Your Child's Credit 249
280 Keep Scammers and Solicitors Out of Your Phone 250
Index 251
