"Deal with Your Debt is an objective, practical, and insightful book on a vitally important topic to many Americans. I recommend it highly and without reservation."

—Eric Tyson, syndicated columnist and author of Personal Finance for Dummies

"The author has managed to cut through the noise and find a helpful and friendly way to advise consumers on the best way to manage their debt. If you're looking for a way to lower your debt, this book will prove indispensable."

—Ilyce Glink, radio talk-show host, financial reporter, and author of 50 Simple Steps You Can Take to Improve Your PersonalFinances

"Liz Pulliam Weston's no-nonsense advice for conquering debt is right on target. It's one of the most comprehensive and straightforward guides available. If you want to get ahead, let Liz show you how."

—Gerri Detweiler, consumer advocate and founder of UltimateCredit.com

"Debt-stressed? No need to be. In her characteristic no-nonsense style, Liz Pulliam Weston explains smart ways to pay off the debts that hurt you and get the best rates and terms on loans that can help you. It's an easy read—and provides news you can use to fix your finances."

—Kathy Kristof, syndicated columnist, Los Angeles Times

Use debt to your advantage—and make yourself richer, not poorer!

Live without debt? On what planet? For most people, it's just not practical. Here's the good news: you can manage your debt so it actually improves your financial well-being. You can pay off debts that are truly toxic and cut the costs of the debts you keep. You can keep debt from getting out of hand, and get smarter about every debt you incur from now on. Read Deal with Your Debt and learn how.

Most people will carry debt for much of their lives...that's just reality. But most books on debt focus mainly on how to pay it all off, and live forever without it. Too often, following that advice leads only to failure. People either give up or pay off the wrong kinds of debt. They strand themselves with too little flexibility to survive a financial crisis and land in bankruptcy court. They neglect saving for retirement, homes, or college, and end up poorer than they should have been.

For most people, it's more realistic—and smarter—to manage debt effectively, rather than eliminate it completely. In Deal with Your Debt, award-winning personal finance columnist Liz Pulliam Weston shows you how. Weston explodes the myths surrounding debt and reveals which debts can actually contribute to your wealth and flexibility. At the same time, she identifies your truly "toxic" debts, helping you pay those off as rapidly as possible.

Deal with Your Debt offers realistic (and often surprising) guidance on everything from home equity loans and 401K borrowing to small business loans. Follow Weston's guidance and you can make debt work for you, not against you!

• Debt free...is it really the way to be?

  Not always, and here's why

• Build your personal three-step debt management plan

  Know what you owe, how it fits into your overall portfolio, and what to do next

• Questions to ask before you tap your home equity

  Avoid the hidden pitfalls of home equity borrowing

• The truth about student loans, car loans, and retirement loans

  Know the small print, and save thousands

• Are you getting in too deep?

  Recognize debt trouble on the horizon—and prevent it

• Loans to stay away from at all costs

  Stay away from today's new legal loan sharks

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

 1. Isn’t Debt-Free the Way to Be?

 2. Your Debt Management Plan.

 3. Credit Cards.

 4. Mortgages.

 5. Home Equity Borrowing.

 6. Student Loans.

 7. Auto Loans.

 8. 401(k) and Other Retirement Plan Loans.

 9. Loans You Don’t Want to Get–or Give.

10. Dealing with a Debt Crisis.

11. Putting Your Debt Management Plan into Action.