The Infographic Guide to Personal Finance

INDEX

A types of, 92–93
B
C Budget

Assets “50-30-20 rule” for, 14–15

calculating, 16 adjusting, 32–33
45, 49
protecting, for baby, 32
100
reevaluating,

for college savings, 32

creating, 14–15, 18–19

determining, 14–15

Banking

developing, 18–19

access to, 20

emergency funds, 15, 28–33

ATMs, 20

expenses, 14–15, 18–19, 32, 42,

basics of, 20–21

52–57

certificates of deposit, 21

goals for, 18–19

checking accounts, 21–23, 55

income, 18

credit unions, 20

investments, 15

fees, 20–21, 55

needs, 14–15

loan rates, 20–21

realistic budget, 19

money market accounts, 21, 25

reevaluating, 32–33

savings accounts, 21

tracking expenses, 14–15, 18–19

savings rates, 20–21

wants, 14–15, 52

Bear market, 98. See also Stocks

Bull market, 98. See also Stocks

Bills. See also Expenses

cell phone bill, 54

grocery bill, 56–57

Car costs

medical bills, 15, 29, 30, 40, 45, 78

fees/licenses, 47

paying, 40, 53, 73, 78

gasoline costs, 46

tracking, 22

insurance, 44, 46, 48–49

utility bills, 42, 54

loan payments, 17, 47

Bonds. See also Stocks

new car costs, 47

buying, 92–93

tire costs, 46

corporate bonds, 93

used car costs, 47

municipal bonds, 93

Car insurance

returns on, 97

bundling policies, 48

savings bonds, 92

collision insurance, 49

treasuries, 92

comprehensive insurance, 49 fraud and, 64, 78–79
D
E of, 46 freezing spending on, 53

cost

coverages, 49 identity theft and, 34–35, 78–79

discounts on, 48–49 interest rates on, 30, 64, 67

dos and don’ts for, 48–49 paying down, 3 0 , 3 2 , 3 3 , 6 4 , 67, 73

driving record and, 49 reading monthly statements, 35

liability insurance, 49 secured cards, 71

quotes on, 48–49 shopping for, 60–61

shopping for, 44, 48–49 tax refunds for, 30

Cash transferring balances on, 66–67

cash-back rewards, 61 uses for, 41

dos and don’ts for, 40–41 using, 64–65

paying with, 40–41, 53 Credit history, 68–73

Certificates of deposit (CDs), 21 Credit reports, 35, 68, 72

Charitable donations, 50 Credit scores, 68–69, 16

Checking accounts Credit unions, 20

access to, 21 Credit-builder loans, 71

bank fees, 55

joint accounts, 22–23

College credit, 51 Data breaches, 34

College savings, 32 Data encryption, 35

Compound interest, 24–25, 95. See also Data protection, 34–35

Interest Debit cards

Corporate bonds, 93 benefits of, 40

Costs, hidden, 54–55 dos and don’ts for, 41

Credit fees on, 55

bad credit, 72–73 freezing spending on, 53

building, 70–72 Debt

credit scores, 68–69, 16 paying down, 30, 32, 33, 40, 76–77

establishing, 70–71 repairing credit, 72–73

paying with, 40–41 student loan debt, 62–63

repairing, 72–73 tax refunds for, 30

tips on, 59–79 tips on, 59–79

Credit cards Debt-to-income ratio (DTI), 74–75

authorized user of, 71 Disability insurance, 45

benefits of, 41, 61

best choices, 60–61

credit limits on, 60–61

dos and don’ts for, 4 0 – 4 1 , 64–66 Education, funding, 31
Emergency funds 120
for emergencies, 120
features of, 28
fees on, 40, 55, 60–61, 64, 66 for home repairs,

Emergency funds— continued public settings and, 34
F RFID protection and, 34
G of, 28–32 securing
H securing apps, 35
sharing, computer data,
importance spyware 35
Freelance and,
for living expenses, 28 income,

replenishing, 33 34

savings for, 15

tax refunds for, 30 34
26
Expenses. See also Spending

cable costs, 43, 55

cell phone bill, 54

cutting, 42–43, 52–57 Grocery bill, 56–57
Gross domestic product
determining, 19 (GDP), 99

grocery bills, 56–57

heating/cooling costs, 42, 54

hidden costs, 54–55

Health insurance, 45

needs, 14–15, 53

Hidden costs, avoiding, 54–55

shopping tips, 42–43

Home, refinancing, 116–17

tracking, 14–15, 18–19

Home, renting out, 27

utilities, 42, 54

Home, selling, 118–19

wants, 14–15, 52

Home buying. See also Housing

cautions on, 110–11

closing on, 109, 116–21

Finance first home, 108–10

assets, 16, 45, 49, 100 funding for, 109

budget for, 14–15, 18–19 home inspections, 110–11

importance of, 10–11 home repairs, 120–21

liabilities, 16 home searches, 108

managing, 10–11 moving expenses, 114–15

needs, 14–15, 53 offer on home, 109

net worth, 16–17 preapproval, 108

understanding, 10–11 renting vs. buying, 104–5

wants, 14–15, 52 Home equity line of credit (HELOC), 121

Financial adviser, choosing, 88–89 Home equity loan, 120

Financial future, 10–11 78–79 Home improvements, 120–21
34
Financial information Home inspections, 110–11

credit report and, 35 Home repairs, 120–21

data breaches and, 34 Homeowners insurance, 44, 121

data encryption, 35 Housing

data protection, 34–35 buying first home, 108–10

identity theft and, 34–35, buying vs. renting, 104–5

password protection and, closing costs, 116–21

protecting, 34–35 home improvement, 120–21

home inspections, 110–11 bonds, 92–93, 97
I repairs,
J 120–21 brokers, 86–87
L

home

homeowners insurance, 44, 121 bull market, 98

leases, 106–7 buying stocks, 31, 85–87

mortgage options, 112–13 calculating returns on, 96–97
114–15
moving expenses, compound interest, 24–25
104–5
refinancing mortgage, 116–17 diversification, 31, 83, 95

renting vs. buying, economic impact on, 98–99

selling home, 118–19 fees on, 51

tenant rights, 107 financial adviser on, 88–89

tips on, 103–21 index funds, 90–91

inflation and, 92, 99

market bubble, 98

Identity theft, 34–35, 78–79 markets, 98

Income nest egg, 94–95

boosting, 26–27, 32 path to, 82–83

determining, 18 portfolio, 85, 98–99

freelance income, 26 researching stocks, 84–85

second income, 26–27 “Rule of ,72” 25

Index funds, 90–91 selling stocks, 86–87

Inflation, 92, 99 stock returns, 96

Insurance tax refunds for, 30–31

car insurance, 44, 46, 48–49 tips on, 81–101

disability insurance, 45

health insurance, 45

homeowners insurance, 44, 121 Jobs

life insurance, 44 direct sales, 27

long-term disability insurance, 45 entrepreneurial skills, 27
22–23.
medical insurance, 45 freelance work, 26

renters insurance, 44 job-hunting costs, 50

shopping for, 44–45, 48–49 second job, 26–27

umbrella policy, 45 Joint checking accounts, See

Interest also Checking accounts

compound interest, 24–25, 95

on credit cards, 30, 64, 67

mortgage interest, 50, 13 Liabilities, calculating, 16
Life insurance, 71
“Rule of ,72” 25 Loans 44

stock prices and, 99 car loans,
consolidating,
Investing. See also Retirement plan credit-builder 17, 47
63
401(k), 24, 94–95, 100–101
loans,
bear market, 98

Loans— continued Retirement plan
M
N
P
R
S

mortgage loan, 17, 50, 112–13 401(k), 24, 94–95, 100–101
insurance,
rates on, 20–21 borrowing from, 101

refinancing, 63, 116–17 investing in, 15

student loans, 17, 62–63 IRA, 101

Long-term disability (LTD) 45 matching contributions, 94
94
maximum contributions,

nest egg, 94–95

Market bubble, 98. See also Investing rebalancing, 100
Medical
Medical bills, 15, 29, 30, 40, 45, 78 re-evaluating, 100
Money,
Money insurance, 45 saving for, 24
Mortgage,
Mortgage growth of, 24–25 tax refunds for, 30
Mortgage
Mortgage market accounts, 21, 25 “Rule of 50-30-20”, 14–15
Moving
Municipal refinancing, 63, 116–17 “Rule of ,72” 25

interest, 50, 13

loan, 17, 50, 112–13

options, 112–13 Savings

expenses, 114–15 access to, 21

bonds, 93 boosting, 33

emergency funds, 15, 28–33

rates on, 20–21

Nest egg, 94–95. See also Investing; tax refunds for, 31
16–17
Retirement plan Savings bonds, 92

Net worth, calculating, Spending. See also Expenses

cable costs, 43, 55

cash for, 40–41

cell phone bill, 54

Personal finance

credit card for, 40–41

assets, 16, 45, 49, 100

cutting, 42–43, 52–57

budget for, 14–15, 18–19

dos and don’ts for, 40–41

importance of, 10–11

extended warranties and, 43

liabilities, 16

freezing, 52–53

managing, 10–11

grocery bills, 56–57

needs, 14–15, 53

heating/cooling costs, 42, 54

net worth, 16–17

hidden costs, 54–55

understanding, 10–11

needs, 14–15, 53

wants, 14–15, 52

resist temptations, 53

Portfolio, 85, 98–99

shopping lists, 53

shopping tips, 42–43

tax refunds, 30

Radio-frequency identification (RFID), 34
Renters 44
tracking, 14–15, 18–19

insurance,

wants, 14–15, 52 mortgage interest, 50
T habits, 36–39,
U tips, 37–57 56–57 state/local taxes, 50
Spending
Spending tax preparation fees, 51
Stocks
volunteerism, 50
buying,
interest 31, 85–87 work uniforms, 50
portfolio
researching, rates and, 99 Tax deductions, 50–51
returns
selling, of, 85, 98–99 Tax refund
Student
84–85 for credit card debt, 30

on, 96 for educational purposes, 31

86–87 for emergency fund, 30

loan debt, 17, 62–63 for retirement, 30

for savings, 31

uses for, 28–31

Tax credits Treasuries, 92
charitable
child donations, 50
college
investment care, 50
job-hunting
credit, 51 US savings bonds, 92
Utility bills, 42, 54. See
fees, 51 also Expenses

costs, 50