Chapter 1Why Do We Have So Much Debt, Anyway? -- Why and How a College Education Has Become a Must -- 1 -- Rising Costs of Education -- 6 -- Internships: aka Indentured Servitude -- 10 -- Competition Choke -- 13 -- Memo to Creditors: Stop Throwing Money at Us! -- 15 -- Stigma Is Gone: Why Big Debt Has Become the Norm -- 16 -- Chapter 2 Get a Grip. Set Goals. Make a Plan -- Identifying Needs vs. Wants -- 20 -- Final Round in the Battle of Expenses vs. Income -- 23 -- Delayed Gratification and the B-Word -- 24 -- Do Your Deal Homework -- 27 -- Automate, Automate, Automate -- 30 -- Creating and Sticking to a Master Plan -- 33 -- Chapter 3 Master Your Student Loans -- Types of Education Loans, the Rules of Engagement, and Your Rights as a Borrower -- 37 -- Payback Options and What to Do if You Can't Pay -- 39 -- How to Consolidate, Again and Again, Pronto -- 42 -- Graduate School? -- 45 -- Chapter 4 Potential Prison of Credit Card Debt -- What Credit Card Companies Think of You (Hint: "Sucka") -- 49 -- Plastic Has Become the Norm -- 52 -- Get Savvy or Get Screwed -- 58 -- Caution! -- 59 -- Report Card for Grown-Ups -- 62 -- "But What if I'm Drowning?" -- 66 -- Invasion of the ID Snatchers -- 70 -- Chapter 5 To Rent, Perchance to Buy -- Where Should I Live? -- 77 -- Renting -- 79 -- Time to Buy? -- 85 -- Mortgages -- 89 -- Home Shopping -- 96 -- Down Payments and Piggybacks -- 97 -- Closing Costs: They're a Doozy -- 99 -- Homeowners Love the Tax Man -- 102 -- Ready to Be a Landlord? -- 103 -- Chapter 6 Need for Wheels -- First the Money, Then the Car -- 108 -- What Should I Buy? -- 113 -- Lowdown on Leasing -- 114 -- Advent of Pre-Owned and the Shock of Depreciation -- 118 -- Buying Used and Trading In -- 120 -- Dealing with Dealers -- 123 -- Getting Rid of What You've Got -- 126 -- Maintenance and Warranties -- 129 -- Auto Insurance -- 132 -- Chapter 7 Honor the Tax Man -- How Your Pay Gets Played -- 141 -- Tax Time: Rules, Options, and Papers -- 145 -- Even You Get Tax Breaks -- 151 -- Time to Get an Accountant? -- 156 -- Chapter 8 Golden Net of Insurance -- Health Insurance: What You Need and How to Find It -- 161 -- Group Health Coverage Options -- 165 -- Individual Health Insurance and Health Care -- 171 -- Pills, Teeth, Eyes, etc. -- 177 -- Life Insurance and Disability Coverage -- 181 -- Renter's and Homeowner's Insurance: Protect What You Have -- 184 -- Chapter 9 Magical 401 (k) -- First, Get Steady -- 195 -- Workings Behind "Growing" Money -- 197 -- Magical 401 (k) and Other Tax-Friendly Plans -- 203 -- Investing Basics: Diversification and the Markets -- 211 -- Chapter 10 A Pricey Future -- Debt for Diplomas: College Trends and Loan Reform -- 231 -- Credit Card Nation: Will It Only Get Worse? -- 234 -- And the Solutions Are ...? -- 236 -- In Parting -- 240.