Books in Get Smart With Your Money series

Through this engaging book, students learn how to make a good budget, one that includes income, expenses, and savings. Knowing how to earn, spend, and save money are important money management skills. Using good money management sills can help a person become financially independent. Readers also learn that making and following a budget can help them reach their short-term and long-term goals. This book explains how to set up a weekly expense record (how to set up categories), make a monthly budget, use budgeting tools (including those available online), setting financial goals, evaluating and adjusting budgets, and wise savings and spending strategies.

Today, the average person cannot buy a car or a house without borrowing money. Many people cannot go to college unless they have loans. Even small purchases, if made online, require a credit card. Borrowing, or credit, is a fact of modern life. Students learn about the ways to take control of credit, making it work for them. This compelling book about credit and credit card smarts provides a thorough explanation of secured and unsecured credit, the types of accounts, calculating interest, understanding statements, choosing the right card, traps and trip-ups, fees, billing cycles, minimum payments, balance transfers, and cash advances. Readers will learn about credit scores and credit reports, whether they are a good credit risk. The book describes the steps readers can take in guarding their credit and personal information, and the steps that need to be taken if ID theft happens to them.

Teens make many purchasing decisions every day. These small transactions can add up over time and impact their financial well-being. Over the long term, smart decisions can mean the difference between having significant savings and struggling with debt. Practical ideas and strategies for getting high quality goods at reasonable prices are one discussion topic. In venues such as the mall, grocery stores, discount stores, thrift shops, and online retailers, readers learn to stretch their dollars when buying consumer products and entertainment. Sidebars provide additional information about finding true deals and avoiding scams and poor merchandise. Buying the things they want at prices they can afford is a consumer skill teens can carry with them for life.

One of the most difficult times in a high school student's life is trying to decide about the future. A big part of that is money concerns, including how students pay for college when tuition is constantly on the rise. The basics, like the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, to the more complicated, like seeking out those hard-to-find scholarship options—readers will find all the information they need for a good balance.

One of the most difficult times in a high school student's life is trying to decide about the future. A big part of that is money concerns, including how students pay for college when tuition is constantly on the rise. The basics, like the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, to the more complicated, like seeking out those hard-to-find scholarship optionsreaders will find all the information they need for a good balance.

The book provides approachable advice for sound investing. Saving and investing are important parts of planning for a person's future. They are ways of increasing an individual's wealth, in addition to working and earning a salary. This book discusses banking and bank accounts (how to open an account, the types of accounts that are available, simple and compound interest, how to make a deposit and to write a check, how to use ATM cards, budgeting strategies, and managing accounts, including online). It also explains investing both for retirement and to increase wealth. Readers learn about a variety of investment types and how to analyze a stock.

The Internet can be a consumer's friend, but it can also hold dangers. Teens learn how to use the Web and digital tools to their benefit when making purchases, by researching products, comparing prices, and participating safely in online auctions and swaps. In addition, teens learn how to manage finances digitally, through online banking, bill paying, budgeting, and investing. The text explains consumers' legal rights when doing business online, as well as steps to take to protect money and personal information.

Teens make many purchasing decisions every day. These small transactions can add up over time and impact their financial well-being. Over the long term, smart decisions can mean the difference between having significant savings and struggling with debt. Practical ideas and strategies for getting high quality goods at reasonable prices are one discussion topic. In venues such as the mall, grocery stores, discount stores, thrift shops, and online retailers, readers learn to stretch their dollars when buying consumer products and entertainment. Sidebars provide additional information about finding true deals and avoiding scams and poor merchandise. Buying the things they want at prices they can afford is a consumer skill teens can carry with them for life.