WINNER 2013 INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD GOLD MEDAL for the best new book in Finance/Budgeting. Do you have a credit card? Roughly 70% of adults in the U.S. do. In fact, Americans average 3.5 credit cards per person - that's a lot of plastic Even with all that buying power in their wallets, most consumers have no idea the ways that they use (or misuse) their credit cards can affect their health, their relationships, and their credit scores. Many factors go into mounting credit card debt: impulse shopping, health emergencies, the loss of a job, marriage, divorce, a death in the family. With this debt comes stress, arguments, loss of sleep, inability to pay other bills, worry, health problems, crumbling relationships... Does any of this sound familiar? Increasing credit card debt and a lack of knowledge about how credit cards really work have created a new social phenomenon called "The Plastic Effect." And if you have a credit card, The Plastic Effect can affect YOU. In this new book, internationally recognized credit card expert, Polly A. Bauer, CPCS and attorney Stephen Lesavich, PhD, JD, have selected 25 of the most common urban legends influencing the use and misuse of credit cards. The authors, as business leaders and credit card users, walk you through these urban legends about how credit cards are used and misused, explaining what is true and what is likely to cause you trouble. You'll get access to resources and additional information about each urban legend, tips from industry experts, and guidance that will help you use your credit cards more intelligently and effectively. You'll also learn how to understand your credit reports, improve your credit score and manage your debt in a way that puts the power back in YOUR hands. In short, this book will help you break free of The Plastic Effect.

Basic financial knowledge is one of the most important educational and training needs in South Africa, but thousands of people enter the working world without this knowledge. Financial skills are the best skills you can acquire, since you will be able to use them to your benefit throughout your life. Learn how to draw up a budget, use debt wisely and escape debt, borrow money from a micro-lender, provide for your family, buy your own car and home and make good investments. It also teaches you to protect yourself and your assets, plan your retirement wisely, protect your job and start your own business, use a bank's services and products, and create a positive financial future.

By unlocking the mortgage industry's trade secrets, this indispensable book will help readers understand credit scoring and learn how to obtain-and improve-their credit reports. Many consumers don't understand the basics of credit reporting and scoring or how this information is used by lenders and service providers today. This book was written to remedy that. A no-nonsense guide, it teaches readers about credit reports and scores, shows them how to obtain and read their credit reports, and outlines ways to remove negative and inaccurate items. Readers will also learn about the latest consumer protection legislation concerning credit and lending and about changes in lending practices that can impact their financial well-being. The book details credit's impact on nearly every aspect of life, including employment; insurance; love relationships; services such as mobile phones and utilities; apartment leases; and auto, business, and home mortgage loans. It walks readers through the process of disputing negative items on credit reports and includes letter templates that can be used for that purpose. Finally, it provides readers with credit- and debt-management tips and describes state-of-the-art tools that can be used to foster better money- and credit-management habits. With this book in hand, a consumer should be able to achieve the higher credit score that is a person's greatest financial asset. Includes the latest information on banking and lending requirements in the post-credit-crisis environment Explains how new regulations and guidelines, such the Dodd-Frank Act, are impacting banks, credit, and lending Shows readers what will improve a consumer's credit score and what will damage it Spells out debt management strategies and debt solutions and shares tips on technologies that help with credit and money management Exposes common credit reporting and lending myths and secrets

Do terms like "stock market volatility," "bond bubble," "hyperinflation," "government debt," "unemployment," "low interest rates," "rising tax rates," "disappearing company pension plans," "nursing home care," and "the uncertainty of Social Security and Medicare," make you feel stress-free and happy? More than likely, they make you feel full of stress and unhappy. That's why it's crucial to learn the simple steps that can lead to a stress-free, happy retirement, no matter what the economy has in store. This book will lead you through simple yet powerful concepts that, if applied, could lead to a more stable, happy retirement.