Introduction

PART 1: Getting started with getting out of debt. Eliminating debt: the basics ; Facing financial facts ; Breaking down the parts of a budget ; Creating a new budget ; Spending less and saving more

PART 2: Making sense of credit reporting and scoring. Discovering how credit reporting works ; Understanding credit reports and scores ; Monitoring your credit reports and scores

PART 3: Taking action on high debt and bad credit. Getting the best help for bad credit for free ; Coping with debt collection ; Reducing credit damage in a crisis

PART 4: Successfully managing your debt and credit for life. Starting or restarting your credit in real life ; Putting yourself in control of your credit

PART 5: The part of tens. Ten debt don'ts ; Ten ways to deal with a mortgage meltdown ; Ten strategies for dealing with student loans.