Personal Finance Books

Published 05-30-2023

Get smart and start saving—without sacrificing the things you love With high prices for everything from food to gas, how can you make ends meet—and still have enough for the things you love? 500 Great Ways to Save For Dummies is packed with creative ideas for cutting costs in small and big ways, in dozens of categories, ranging from groceries and healthcare to education, travel, and major purchases. This fun book helps you get into a saving mindset, know where your money goes, and whittle down debt. These quick tips are so easy you can start saving today! Reduce everyday costs of groceries, restaurant meals, gas, utilities, home maintenance, healthcare, and insurance Save money on fitness, pet care, entertainment, and all your hobbies Cut costs on big-ticket items including vacations, cars, and appliances Find free stuff, special discounts, and money-saving apps This is the only book you need to save money throughout the year!

Published 04-24-2023

Build a budget that puts you on solid financial footing Ask any financially successful person how they achieved their goals, and chances are they’ll tell you it all started with a budget. And that’s exactly where you should start. Budgeting For Dummies shows you how to create a plan that fits your lifestyle, manages everyday needs, and builds your savings. Author Athena Valentine, founder of the Money Smart Latina blog, offers step-by-step details for creating and following a budget without feeling like you’re depriving yourself and your family of all the things that make life worth living. This book shows you how to figure out where your money comes from and where it goes so you can live the life you want and work toward your financial goals. Find out how to establish an emergency fund, eliminate debt, improve your credit score, and stick to your budget through economic ups and downs. Discover budgeting methods that work so you can live within your means Create a budget for your unique situation to get a handle on your income and expenses Deal with common budgeting challenges without taking on more debt Increase your credit score and save toward a major purchaseYou don’t need to make six figures to achieve your financial goals. Valentine, who also writes for Slate.com, knows the struggle of trying to make ends meet and is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge with anyone who wants to improve their financial literacy. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to managing your money, you can depend on Valentine’s tried-and-true advice in Budgeting For Dummies to set you on the right path.

Published 04-18-2023

Don’t let money get in the way of your kids’ best education 529 & Education Savings Plans For Dummies helps you sort through the vast amount of information about education savings accounts and choose the plans that are best for you and your family. A college or private K-12 education is generally parents’ single largest expense for their children. 529 plans and 530 plans (Coverdell accounts) are relatively solid investment vehicles that can make saving for college much easier, providing tax advantages that other types of investments can’t match. Education savings can be part of your overall wealth accumulation strategy, and this book can show you which plans are right for you, help you decide when to start saving, and guide you through determining how much to save per year in order to meet your goals—and help your kids meet theirs. Learn about the different types of tax-sheltered and tax-advantaged ways to save for education Create a saving and investment strategy that makes sense for your family Demystify the 529 and 530 plan rules and maximize your tax advantage Help set your kids on the path to success and to their college of choiceThis is the perfect Dummies guide for parents or family members who want to begin saving for a college or K-12 education and who may want to supplement their current savings with tax-sheltered, education-specific accounts, or tax-advantaged investment accounts that may be used for education funding.

Published 01-23-2023

As the economic pendulum swings, it’s time to start living smart Living Well in a Down Economy For Dummies offers ideas for keeping more money in your pocket during a topsy-turvy economy. With more than 100 tips, it shows you how to tighten your belt without feeling a big pinch in your day-to-day life. Discover innovative and effective ways to cut expenses and boost your income in today’s economy. It isn’t about making sacrifices. It’s about setting priorities. Gain the skills you need to take control of your spending, make smarter choices, and stop the financial drain that can accompany a downturn in the economy. Inside, you’ll find practical advice on how to live and thrive when prices creep up or your income falls. Get tips for spending less in all areas of life—utilities, groceries, pet care, entertainment, and beyond. And figure out how to slip in some self-care without breaking the bank. You can do this, thanks to this no-judgment For Dummies guide. Reduce your expenses by cooking at home, doing your own car maintenance, cutting your own hair, and more Discover creative ways to increase your income, interview for better-paying jobs, and continue to save for college or retirement Save money on home maintenance, insurance, and other reoccurring costs Minimize your tax bill, improve your credit, and avoid foreclosureIf you’re looking for practical tips on how to make ends meet that you can implement today, this For Dummies guide is for you.

Published 12-12-2022

Build wealth through real estate Real Estate Investing All-in-One For Dummies will show new and seasoned real estate investors how to make smart decisions. With seven books in one, this complete resource will teach you how to purchase real estate, flip houses, invest in commercial real estate and foreclosures, sell your house, buy real estate internationally, and more. We even explain the ins and outs of short-term rentals like Airbnb, so all your passive income options are covered. With this book, you can start investing in real estate quickly and easily, thanks to user-friendly information and expert tips that will help you avoid costly mistakes. It’s your one-stop resource for all things real estate. Learn how to buy and sell real estate, including how to find the best deals Determine whether flipping houses or short-term rental management is for you Maximize your earnings and minimize your tax bill in real estate investment Extend your reach outside the United States by investing in real estate globallyThis is the perfect Dummies guide for amateur real estate investors who need a hand getting started, and for seasoned investors looking to up their game with commercial, international, and other investment strategies.

Published 12-12-2022

Get to know the building blocks of a new economy The promise of decentralized finance (DeFi for those up on their financial lingo) as a disruptor to financial institutions makes it must-know for anyone involved in finance. DeFi For Dummies provides an easy-to-understand option for unraveling the past, present, and future of DeFi. Understand current DeFi applications, including how to build basic applications on the leading platforms, and get a look into the future’s most promising new DeFi solutions. Staying ahead of the game is critical for finance professionals these days, and this Dummies guide makes it possible, with full coverage of how DeFi affects asset management, lending and borrowing, and investment markets. Wrap your mind around DeFi and start getting hands on, the Dummies way. Learn how the DeFi revolution started and where it’s going Get insight into opportunities for getting started and building value with DeFi Discover the leading assets, exchanges, and marketplaces built on DeFi principles Create secure DeFi applications on established platformsThis book is great for current pros or active investors in the world of finance who need to get up to speed on the world of DeFi as quickly and clearly as possible.

Published 12-01-2022

Systematically secure your financial future—Dummies makes it easy Factor Investing For Dummies helps you go beyond the investment basics, with proven techniques for making informed and sophisticated investment decisions. Using factor investing, you’ll select stocks based on some predetermined, well, factors. Momentum, value, interest rates, economic growth, credit risk, liquidity—all these things can help you identify killer stocks and improve your returns. This book explains it all, and helps you implement a strategic factor investing plan, so you can boost your portfolio’s performance, reduce volatility, and enhance diversification. You’ll also learn what not to do, with coverage of the factors that have failed to deliver consistent returns over time. We explore factor-based ETFS and loads of other ideas for injecting some factors into your investment game. Learn what factor investing is and how you can use it to level up your portfolio Understand the various types of factors and how to use them to select winning stocks Choose from a bunch of factor investing strategies, or build one of your own Generate wealth in a more sophisticated, more effective wayThis is the perfect Dummies guide for beginner to seasoned investors who want to explore more consistent outperformance potential. Factor Investing For Dummies can also help portfolio managers, consultants, academics, and students who want to understand more about the science of factor investing.

Published 11-21-2022

Get the low-down on Canadian savings plans RRSPs & TFSAs For Canadians For Dummies will give Canadians a crash course in saving, investing, and holding their money in RRSPs and TFSAs. Readers will find the latest in Canadian tax laws, get the low-down on minimum and maximum balances, and real life examples to set themselves up for a stable financial future. With this book, you'll learn: The ins and outs of RRSPs and TFSAs How much to contribute to both plans The latest in Canadian tax laws How to improve your chances of an ideal retirement How much salary to put aside How to map out financial goals How to manage risk in investments How to manage investments in retirement

Published 08-30-2022

Everything on bonds, bond funds, and more! Updated for the new economy Whether you're looking for income, diversification, or protection from stock market volatility, bonds can play an important role in any portfolio. Newly updated, Bond Investing For Dummies covers the essentials of getting started and ways to select and purchase bonds for your needs. You'll get up to speed on the different bond varieties and see how to get the best prices when you sell. We’ll help you wrap your mind around bond returns and risk and recognize the major factors that influence bond performance. With easily understandable explanations and examples, you can understand bonds from every angle—yield, credit risk, callability, fund selection, bond broker-dealers, web portals, and beyond. This is the expert information and advice you need to invest in bonds in today’s environment. Learn what bonds are and how you can use them to strengthen and protect your portfolio Understand how interest rates and other shifting sands affect bond investing Minimize your risk and maximize your returns with proven advice from an expert financial advisor Use online investing and apps to buy bonds and bond funds with confidence and easeNovice and experienced investors alike will love this quick-and-easy approach to bond investing.

Published 08-16-2022

Keep your head in the game! Make smarter, confident trades in global markets Trading is 80% psychology and 20% methodology. Trading Psychology For Dummies helps you develop the mindset you need to respond correctly in any market condition. Make more money on your trades as you develop mental strength, act confidently, and avoid the typical mistakes traders make when they don’t understand their own minds. This book is for traders with any portfolio size and any risk tolerance. With the clear and easy approach that has made Dummies investing books so wildly popular, you can take your trading skills to the next level. When you stop underestimating how much your psychology governs your returns, you’ll discover ways to tweak your own thought process for better trading results. Learn how human psychology influences decision making in financial markets and other areas of life Discover advice and techniques that you can try right away to make more rational trades Examine how institutional investors account for market psychology when they predict price movements Earn better returns with the perspective of veteran traders who apply psychology-based techniques dailyTrading Psychology For Dummies gives an edge to novice and experienced traders alike. Gain confidence and maintain a flexible and open mind when trading.