Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedications -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: Assessing Your Situation -- Debt-The American Way -- Dealing with Debt Emergencies -- Get a Clear Picture of Your Finances -- Understanding Debt -- Dealing with Your Emotions -- Your Rights -- Creditor Tactics -- Dealing with Collection Agencies -- Chapter 2: Becoming a Wise Consumer -- Credit Cards -- Shopping in Stores -- Rebates -- Dispute Resolution Programs -- Shopping in Catalogs or Online -- Chapter 3: Understanding Your Credit Report -- Credit Reporting Agencies -- Your Credit Report -- Your Credit Score -- Reading Your Reports -- What Makes a Good Credit Report -- Chapter 4: Changing Your Credit Report -- Disputing Bills -- Dealing with a Collection Agency -- Correcting Your Credit Report -- Disputing after Reinvestigation -- Adding Accounts to Your Credit Report -- Removing Inquiries -- Adding a Statement to Your Credit Report -- Suing a Credit Agency -- Organizing Your Correspondence -- Chapter 5: Reducing Your Debt and Improving Cash Flow -- Prioritizing Your Debts -- Dealing with Your Creditors -- Dealing with Specific Types of Debt -- Student Loans -- General Negotiating Tips -- Eliminating Debts You Do Not Owe -- Negotiating Settlements -- Finding Cash -- Options to Avoid -- Dealing with Judgments and Liens -- Closing Your Accounts -- Chapter 6: Getting Help -- Where to Turn -- Agencies that Can Assist You -- Other Credit Repair Agencies -- Government Agencies -- When to Get a Lawyer -- Bankruptcy -- Chapter 7: Coping with Marriage, Divorce, and Debt -- Your Credit Rights during Marriage -- Divorce is not a Debt Solution -- Death of a Spouse -- Chapter 8: Recognizing Identity Theft -- Preventing Identity Theft -- Identity Theft Prevention Checklist -- Dealing with Identity Theft -- Looking at the Identity Theft Risk Realistically.

Checklist for Lost or Stolen Purse or Wallet (FTC) -- Chapter 9: Creating a Good Credit Record -- Understanding Credit Terms -- Obtaining New Credit -- Improving Current Credit -- How to Use Your New Credit Cards -- Choosing a Card -- Cash Advances -- Tracking Your Cards -- Obtaining Loans -- Bank Accounts -- Name and Address Changes -- Negotiation with Past Creditors -- Scams to Avoid -- Reducing Unsolicited Offers for Credit -- Chapter 10: Budgeting -- Why You should have a Budget -- Creating a Budget -- Making Changes to Your Budget -- Getting Organized -- Paying Your Bills -- Following Your Budget -- Living on a Budget and Using Credit -- Tips fos Using Credit Responsibly -- Chapter 11: Facing the Future -- Changing Your Outlook and Mindset about Money -- Dealing with Changes -- Dealing with Self-Esteem and Compulsion Issues -- Educating Children about Debt -- Move Forward -- Glossary -- Appendix A: State-by-State Resources -- Appendix B: State-by-State Criminal Law Statutes Regarding Identity Theft -- Appendix C: Forms and Letters -- Index -- About the Author -- How to Use the CD-ROM -- Back Cover.