Power Up: Taking Charge of Your Financial Destiny

INTRODUCTION ixChapter ONE The Path That Led You Here 1Who the Heck Are the Joneses, and Why Are You Trying to Keep Up with Them? 4Adding to the Cart 7Emotional Buying 10Buying What You Can't Maintain 12The Influence of Advertising 14Chapter TWO Start to Become Empowered 23Crafting a Budget 26Examples of Budget Sheets 27Worksheets for Expenses 28Fixed Expenses 28Flexible Expenses 32Discretionary Expenses 34Time to Calculate 37The Frugal Philosophy 39Chapter THREE Discovering a New Outlook on Life and Money 47Identify Your Values: Work, Friends, and Family 50The Value of Money 61The Value of Living for Tomorrow 64Chapter FOUR Staying on the Right Path 67Find a Hobby 70A Life without Credit Cards 78Differentiating Needs from Wants 82Chapter FIVE Teach Your Children Well 109Talk to Your Kids about Money 112Kids and Values 118Prepare Your Teenagers 121Chapter SIX Introduction to Banking 129Choosing a Bank 133Credit Unions 135Types of Accounts 136What Is a Check? 137How to Open an Account 139Electronic Banking 139Types of Loans 141Investing Your Money 144Mutual Funds 146Chapter SEVEN Continuing on Your Financial Freedom Quest 149Find Your Green 153It's Time to Step Out on Your Own 160GLOSSARY 163ABOUT THE AUTHOR 173INDEX 176